National Orange Show Event Center – Experiences

A trip to San Bernardino and the National Orange Show Event Center is entirely what you make of it. Sure, you could shuttle yourself back and forth between your hotel and the event center to make your stay as hassle-free as possible, but where’s the fun in that? There is a surprising amount of things to see and do in and around San Bernardino, so you might as well make the most of your visit by exploring the area.

If this will be your first visit to San Bernardino, you’re probably wondering what there is to do there. Lucky for you, we put together this itinerary that highlights some of the best experiences San Bernardino and the surrounding area have to offer. Better yet, you should be able to visit most of or all of the stops on our itinerary in just one day’s time; with the assistance of a rental car or ridesharing service, that is.

 

Morning

Noon

Night

 

Morning

There’s nothing like starting your morning off with a good, hearty breakfast. That’s exactly what you’re in store for at Alice’s Restaurant, a charming little breakfast and lunch spot that’s only a five-minute drive from the National Orange Show Event Center.

To get there from the National Orange Show Event Center, head north down South E Street until you reach Inland Center Drive. Then take Inland Center Drive to South I Street. Follow South I Street until you get to West Jefferson Street, which is where you’ll find Alice’s Restaurant.

Alice’s Restaurant is quite popular among San Bernardino locals for their fair prices and delicious food. For instance, a filling French toast combo, which comes with three slices of French toast, two eggs, and your choice of bacon or sausage will run you only $7.90. Another great deal is their fried egg sandwich, which costs only a mere $5.75.

The breakfast menu at Alice’s Restaurant features plenty of other affordable and delicious dishes as well, including omelets filled with everything from chili to avocado, pancakes, chicken fried steak, biscuits and gravy, and more. If you decide to stop by later in the day instead, you can choose from a variety of burgers as well as lunchtime sandwich staples like a BLT, grilled cheese, French dip, and Reuben.

Once you’ve gotten your fill of tasty breakfast food, it’s time to hit the road again. Your next destination is located on the beautiful campus of University of California, Riverside, or UCR for short. Getting there from both Alice’s Restaurant and the National Orange Show Event Center takes 20 minutes or so. Simply hop onto Interstate 215 and stay on it for a little less than 10 miles until you reach exit 32A.

National Orange Show Event CenterThere’s a lot to see and do on the campus of UCR, such as visiting the university’s landmark bell tower and walking around University Village, but one thing you can’t miss are the renowned UCR Botanic Gardens. Encompassing 40 scenic acres, these gardens are home to more than 3,500 plant species from all corners of the globe.

The UCR Botanic Gardens are located at the foothills of the Box Spring Mountain. This picturesque location provides the gardens with the variable elevation and topography that, along with Riverside’s balmy subtropical climate, are needed to create a diverse range of microclimates.

The gardens are divided into specific collections, ranging from a butterfly garden to ones based on places like Australia, Baja California, and South Africa. This makes walking along the over four miles of trails that wind through the UCR Botanic Gardens feel as if you’re going on a journey around the world.

While parking will cost you a couple of dollars, admission to the UCR Botanic Gardens is free. A donation of $5 is recommended however. All in all, this is an affordable and relaxing way to spend a few hours near the National Orange Show Event Center. It’s likely to be one of the highlights of your trip as well.

 

Noon

You’re probably hungry after all that walking, so go recharge with a delicious lunch at one of the area’s most popular places to eat, The Tamale Factory. Also located in Riverside, this restaurant is a short drive from the UCR Botanic Gardens.

To get to The Tamale Factory, head back onto I-215 and take exit 34B to Mission Inn Avenue. Then stay on Mission Inn Avenue for a little less than a half-mile until you pass the historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, which will be to your right. The Tamale Factory is located right across from the Mission Inn along a walkway known as the Main Street Pedestrian Mall.

National Orange Show Event CenterAs you can probably tell from their name, tamales are the signature dish of The Tamale Factory. They offer them in four different but equally delicious varieties: pork, chicken, vegetarian sweet corn, and vegetarian blue corn. The recipe they use to make these tamales has been passed down for generations, so they’re about as authentic as it gets.

A single tamale will run you $4.25, and a tamale with a side of rice and beans costs $9.95. If you do opt for a tamale with a side of rice and beans, you might as well order two tamales instead for just $2 more. That way you’ll be paying only $11.95 for a meal that’ll definitely hold you over until dinnertime.

Of course, you don’t have to order tamales at The Tamale Factory. Their menu features plenty of other Mexican staples too, such as burritos, quesadillas, tacos, and more. If you’ve never had a tamale before though, now’s a good time to try one. Who knows? You might end up discovering your latest Mexican food obsession!

You won’t have to venture far from The Tamale Factory to get to the next stop on our itinerary. That’s because it’s practically located right next door. We’re of course referring to the Mission Inn, a landmark hotel dating all the way back to 1876. Since then it has played host to U.S. presidents and plenty of other famous figures, from Albert Einstein and Henry Ford to Cary Grant and Barbra Streisand.

The best way to get acquainted with this hotel’s storied history is with a tour of the Mission Inn Museum, located at the corner of Main Street and Mission Inn Avenue. These tours are led by knowledgeable docents and take approximately 75 minutes. They are offered four times each day, beginning at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m., and cost only $13.

The Mission Inn Museum is dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and promoting “the cultural heritage of the Mission Inn, Riverside, and the surrounding Southern California communities.” This is reflected in the museum’s permanent exhibition, which details the history of the Mission Inn and its founder Frank Miller, as well as the temporary exhibits featured there.

After your tour of the Mission Inn Museum has come to an end, consider sticking around for a little while longer to go for a stroll around the hotel’s breathtaking four-acre grounds. Some must-see sights include the courtyard and the St. Francis of Assisi and St. Cecilia chapels. You can also commemorate your visit with a souvenir from the Mission Inn Museum Store.

 

Night

When you’re all done immersing yourself in the one-of-a-kind beauty of The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, hop in the car and make your way back to San Bernardino. If you find yourself starting to get hungry by the time you get back, head straight to Rose Apple Thai Cuisine.

Rose Apple is by far one of the best places for Thai food in all of San Bernardino. It’s located in a neighborhood known as South Pointe just a few minutes from the National Orange Show Event Center. To get there, take exit 73A off of I-215 to East Redlands Boulevard and then turn right onto South Hunts Lane. Rose Apple is just down the road to your right in an unassuming little strip mall.

National Orange Show Event CenterRose Apple’s menu features all the staples of Thai cuisine, including curry, fried rice, and noodle dishes like pad see ew and drunken noodles. If this will be your first foray into the world of Thai flavors, pad Thai is a good place to start. This dish consists of thin rice noodles stir-fried with egg, bean sprouts, and green onions topped with chopped peanuts.

Make sure you save room for dessert, by the way. Rose Apple has got plenty of tempting options to choose from, including fried bananas, velvety coconut ice cream, and my personal favorite, sticky rice, which you can get topped with ice cream or fresh mango when it’s in season.

There’s still one more stop on our list of can’t-miss experiences near the National Orange Show Event Center, so try your best not to drift off into a food coma! This final stop is San Manuel Stadium, a ballpark that’s home to the Inland Empire 66ers, San Bernardino’s minor league baseball team.

If there’s a home game taking place while you’re in San Bernardino visiting the National Orange Show Event Center, you’d be remiss not to go. As the Class A Advanced affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, the 66ers are bound to play a good game of baseball. What’s more, San Manuel Stadium will probably be one of the most eye-catching ballparks you’ve ever been to, sporting unique features like an open-air concourse and a façade that resembles a mission.

So there you have it: our picks for the perfect day near the National Orange Show Event Center. As you can see, this is an area of Southern California that’s full of surprises. We hope you enjoy taking part in these experiences as much as we think you will!