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One of California’s most well-rounded cities, Riverside is at once charming, energetic, sophisticated, and historic. Riverside was ranked as one of America’s 100 Best Cities in the 2025 Best Cities Report, as well as coming in a #76 on the list of Happiest Cities in America. But those rankings only scratch the surface. There’s more to Riverside than you might realize, and more to the Inland Empire.
If you’re moving Riverside, California, and are searching for a moving guide to this innovative, sunshine-filled city, read on. NSA Storage has all the greatest Riverside attractions and the answers to your questions about the City of Arts and Innovation.
Arts, Culture, and Local Flavor
One of the best perks of living in Riverside is the abundance of art and culture. Whether you love the theatre, art galleries, or museums, you’ll find it in this eclectic city. Thousands of local artists, artisans, and craftspeople call Riverside home, imparting a local flair that’s unique to the city.
Some of the must-see sites to enjoy a bit of culture in Riverside include:
- Riverside Art Museum– Located in a Mission-style building that’s itself stunning, this lovely museum showcases contemporary and regional art.
- Fox Performing Arts Center– You’ll enjoy concerts, plays, and touring shows in this 1920’s theatre that’s been fully restored to its original glory.
- Mission Inn Hotel & Spa– While not a museum or gallery, locals flock to this hotel for the building’s spectacular architecture and their annual Festival of Lights. That makes it more than just a luxury hotel but a true Riverside landmark.
- Riverside Metropolitan Museum– Focused on Native American culture, this museum also takes you on an interesting journey into Riverside’s history.
Proximity to Exciting Outdoor Recreation Areas
Adventurers and explorers would say that the best part of living in Riverside is that it’s close to so many natural attractions. In less than two hours you can reach the mountains, the desert, and the beach, all from downtown Riverside. Thanks to California’s sunny, mild climate, you can enjoy outdoor recreation year-round!
Living here opens up a wide range of adventure sport opportunities to enjoy, from surfing to snowboarding and much more! Some of the top recreation locations within easy driving distance of Riverside include:
- Joshua Tree National Park– This world-famous desert park is the perfect place for hiking and photography. Plus, once the sun goes down, the stargazing is simply amazing.
- Big Bear Lake– This man-made lake, built in 1885, is one of the area’s most popular spots for skiing, sun, and fun. Even though Big Bear gets about 120 inches of snow per year, they also get 300 days of sunshine!
- Temecula Valley Wine Country– One of the loveliest parts of California, the scenery in Temecula Valley is magnificent. Located just south of Riverside, the area offers stunning vineyards, exciting hot air balloon rides, and relaxing day trips.
- Southern California Beaches– Looking for a day at the beach, surfing and sunning with friends and family? If you live in Riverside, you’ll have Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and Huntington Beach all within easy driving distance!
Affordable California Living
In one of the most expensive states in the county, it’s difficult to find an affordable city that also has all the amenities you need nearby. Riverside is like the Goldilocks of California cities. Living here will be significantly easier on your budget than Los Angeles, San Diego, and other large CA cities. Here are a few examples of Riverside’s relative affordability:
- Apartments rentals in Riverside are about 26–30% lower than Los Angeles.
- Riverside’s overall cost of living is 20% lower than the rest of California.
- The median cost of a new home in Riverside ($590,700) is also about 20% lower than the rest of the Golden State.
- Groceries, transportation, and utilities all cost less in Riverside than many other California cities.
Festivals and Events All Year Long
Riverside, California has a lot to celebrate. The folks here love their celebrations, and it shows in the number and diversity of the festivals and events held here each year.
Several events focus on the city’s pride and joy: the navel orange. Other festivals, however, celebrate author Charles Dickens, Latino culture, and thrilling air shows. Some of the best festivals and events in Riverside include:
- Tamale Festival– One of the local favorites, this exciting festival celebrates both Latino culture and the country’s delicious cuisine. It’s held at White Park every April and is not to be missed!
- Festival of Lights at the Mission Inn– This dazzling holiday event features millions of brilliant holiday lights and sees visitors come from across California. Seeing the Mission Inn lit up for the holidays is a real treat, as well as the rest of Riverside!
- Riverside Dickens Festival– Though the author has no connection to Riverside, this insightful and exciting literary event is held every February to honor Charles Dickens. It’s also big on celebrating various Victorian traditions.
- Riverside Airshow– “Thrilling” describes this show perfectly, as it features incredible aircraft displays and aerial stunts. It’s typically held in March or April, and is free for everyone to enjoy!
Family Fun in Riverside
If you’re moving to Riverside with children in tow, you’ll be happy to know there’s plenty here to keep them entertained. The city is known as a great place to raise a family thanks to its balance of recreation and education. Some of the top attractions for families in and around the city include:
- Castle Park– You’ll find mini-golf, thrilling rides, and family fun at this classic amusement park, including several rides for very small children to enjoy.
- The Cove Waterpark– One of the most popular spots during summer, The Cove is a favorite for both kids and adults.
- Hidden Valley Wildlife Area– Best for more adventurous, older kids and who are open to horseback riding and hiking. There are also nature programs for folks of all ages.
- Riverside Plaza– This outdoor shopping and dining area is perfect for a family outing. It offers a nice range of specialty retailers and restaurants, and plenty of places to sit and relax.
Riverside’s Connection to America’s Citrus Industry
A telltale sign that you’re in Riverside is that, everywhere you look, you’ll see orange trees. That’s because, back when the city was founded in the 1870s, Riverside was at the heart of the state’s massive citrus boom.
The boom began with a private citizen, Eliza Tibbets. The navel orange variation was first propagated in Brazil, and a handful of seedlings from South America were sent to Washington DC. Two of these seedlings were given to Ms. Tibbets from the fledgling USDA and planted them in her Riverside yard. They not only survived but thrived in the area’s fertile soil and warm, dry climate, and produced superb, sweet, seedless oranges. This variation was dubbed the California Navel Orange.
Due to the success of these first navel orange trees, many local growers started grafting from them, helping spread the delicious fruit far and wide. By the 1900s, Riverside was one of the wealthiest cities in the United States, thanks to exporting their wildly popular crop. It’s said that every orange eaten today in California is a descendent of Tibbets’s trees, which still stand in Riverside.
Education in the Inland Empire
Riverside is home to several institutions of higher learning and has a reputation for being an educational hub. For example, UCR, the University of California, is one of the top employers in the city, and a major research and innovation center. Some of the other top schools in and around Riverside include:
- California Baptist University (CBU)– A private Christian university, CBU has a picturesque campus and several well-regarded educational programs.
- La Sierra University– If you’ve gone here you know that La Sierra U is known for a high level of community engagement and a solid liberal arts education.
- Riverside City College (RCC) – Affordable education and transfer opportunities are what you’ll find at this respected community college.
NSA Storage Can Help with Your Riverside Move
Affordable, sunny, cultured, and connected, Riverside, California offers everything you need to enjoy life, raise a family, and make plenty of lasting memories. If you’re arriving soon and need a storage unit in Riverside, NSA Storage is here to help. You can reserve a storage unit in Riverside from anywhere and it will be ready when you arrive!
