Riverside is charming and beautiful
-
6/5/2014
Apparently, Riverside has changed for the better in recent years, based on the negative older comments...I moved to Riverside a year ago from a beautiful town in northern Virginia, just 6 miles outside of the nation's capital...so I was very spoiled...the D.C. metro is a very expensive area, as is much of California (gas, taxes), but I have been able to live in both places on a small private school teacher salary. Riverside is BEAUTIFUL. It does get hot in the summer, but it is cooler in the shade, and the nights get cooler...coming from Virginia the heat here is nothing! I live within a two-mile radius of the downtown. The neighbors in my neighborhood are the friendliest neighbors I've ever had. The first day I moved in, 3 neighbors greeted me on my front steps to welcome me. I can walk or ride my bike everywhere...a 10-15 minute bike ride (or 20 minute walk) gets me to the beautiful campus of RCC (Riverside City College) and its well-maintained new track, Clark's Nutritional Center (organic groceries), a safe and scenic hike up Mt. Rubidoux, the Saturday morning farmer's market downtown, several cool coffee shops (Augie's, Lift, Back to the Grind, 4 floors of antique and vintage furniture and goodies at Mission Galleria or Old Glory, the best gift shop Mrs. Tiggy Winkle's, many good restaurants (including an In-n-Out Burger!), numerous churches, and of course, the famous historic Mission Inn (which is a wonderland of lights and treats at Christmas time). In a 20 to 30-minute drive I can get to Redlands or Oak Glen with too-many-to-count wonderful apple ranches where you can pick your own apples or enjoy an apple pie at one of the little restaurants, wine country in Temecula, a fancy outdoor mall in Rancho Cucamonga...and in an hour drive I can get to Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Long Beach, and Los Angeles. If you like biking, you can ride along the Santa Ana River from Huntington Beach to San Bernardino County on the "longest multi-use trail in southern California." There are also 3 or 4 airports between 30 minutes to a half hour. The mayor actively participates in monthly events called 'Mayo'rs Night Out. If you google 'Meet the Mayor' you'll see 'Meet the Mayor,' 'Bike with the Mayor,' 'Walk with the Mayor.' There are sketchy pockets, but it's a CITY with 300,000 people! Riverside really gets a bad rap...maybe it went through a tough (economic) time in the past like much of the country, but it is an awesome place to live now. The residents of Riverside tend to speak negatively I think because Orange County is considered the better place to live...but as an outsider coming in, I think Riverside is just as nice--just different--less congested...more open space...beautiful mountains and canyons...a little city in the country!
Shannon | Riverside, CA