Are you REady for a trip to San Bernardino, California? Tucked in the bosom of the great southern California, this peaceful city is rich in places of interest that are irresistible to the average shoptrotting tourist. It ranges from the beautiful sceneries and historical features to present day recreations and other appealing cultural attractions. If you are a nature lover, history lover, or simply looking for a weekend break, in the following guide you will discover what are the ten best attractions that one should not miss if in this city.
San Bernardino National Forest
Discovering vast and beautiful land of San Bernardino National Forest
San Bernardino National Forest situated in the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains is truly one of the best places to savor nature. This single large forest offer a wide area for recreation and has a diverse species of plants and animals. Depending on the type of recreation, if one is a daily trekker, a biking maniac or horse riding personnel, the forest provides many trails for all these kind of games.
Why Travel to San Bernardino National Forest?
Diverse Wildlife: There is a rather rich vegetation and different types of plants and animals which are found in the forest and so it becomes a perfect place to view natures wonders and enjoy bird watching. Here there are great oaks; a variety of fascinating birds and the other forms of wildlife peculiar to this country.
Photography Opportunities: The wonderful scenery gives numerous shots for amateur as well as professional photographers. From the morning till the evening, the changes of the light affects the surroundings in a numerous of ways, which provide the perfect setting for taking beautiful shots.
Educational Activities: The facilities provided in the forest have information regarding the ecology of the area and conservation thus making it an excellent place to take the families for an educational trip. These centres offer shows involving touch and feel sessions and briefing that enhance ones orientation of environment and its conservation.
Recreation activities at the campsites or walking through the trails, San Bernardino National Forest offer tranquillity from the busy life. If it is a camping out in the wilderness under the blanket of stars or a leisurely picnic with the verdant forest of pines over you, this forest will not let you down.
San Bernardino National Forest
Wildlife and Plant Life
The variety is the kind of life found in the forest which is perhaps one of the most outstanding attributes of this natural resource. Situated in California, San Bernardino National Forest is a vital habitat to many plant and animal species some of which cannot be found elsewhere in the world. The forest has an elevation of two thousand to over eleven thousand feet making it have a number of ecological niches that can support a number of species.
They find a heaven in the forest if they are bird watchers. More than 250 species of birds have been spotted here and among them are California condor that is an endangered species and the bald eagle. Lots of wildlife also can be found in the forest together with mammals like the black bear, mountain lion and the mule deer among others. Similar to the animal kingdom, the flora of the Arabian money forest has not been found to be lacking either; it is home to over one thousand forms of plants, including such but not limited to; California fan palm, San Bernardino bluegrass, among others.
Hiking and Outdoor Activities
Due to the many interconnected trails, this forest is ideal for beginners and at the same time suitable for experienced trail riders. For the mountain bikers, there are many tracks in the forest that includes easy rides and steep tracks for the descends. Equitation is another large outdoor recreation; there remains a number of horse trails for riding. The lakes and streams that are in the forest give one a try to fishing while the camp grounds give one a try to spend a night in a tent.
Educational Opportunities
Such centers provide educational services which are nature tours, talks on wildlife, and nature games for children. The games give a better perspective of the forests and the troubles facing the ecosystem from other games within the interface.
The San Bernardino National Forest also provides area for scientific studies. Numerous universities and research organizations are involved in research conducted here and cover many topics such as climatic change and ecosystems. People who attend educational activities in the area get to learn from current scientific research data and the part they need to play towards the preserving of forests.
Arrowhead Springs: This spot represents a historical and a natural marvel.
Highlights of Arrowhead Springs
Arrowhead Springs has natural hot springs and has great historical prominence which definitely adds charm to the place. This region located on the foothill of the San Bernardino Mountains has always been of interest starting from indigenous people due to the curative springs.
Historic Landmarks: Arrowhead Springs Hotel, as one of the distinctive examples of architecture of the early twentieth century, despite it is not functioning as the hotel today still plays an important role. It also has the characteristic large protruding front door and a rich history that makes it seem like you are stepping back in time when entering the house.
Outdoor Activities: The trails surrounding the grand view are the easy trails for wandering and there are tough worshipping trails for toughness too are available here. These trails pass through areas of hilly forests and provide spectacular scenery of the hills and slopes that surround the trails.
Arrowhead Springs is perfect for; those who would love to engage in a nature hike; a relapse of history; and tranquil environment. Whether in the hot springs enjoying the natural springing out mineral or on the track, this place is quite natural and relaxing.
Arrowhead Springs
Arrowhead Springs has something to do with history and nature in a single package. The district got it is name from a geological formation found on the flank of the San Bernardino Mountains which resembles an arrowhead in appearance. This structure has historic significance and has been used as a local landmark for many years, It has been related to many different myths and legends.
Historical Significance
It is a documented fact that the hot springs in Many Arrowhead Springs has been attracting the sick and injured for treatment for thousands of years. It was the indigenous peoples of what is now California such as the Serrano tribe whose ancestors boiling, heating, and warming themselves in the springs for therapeutic properties. As people started to flock into the area, hotels such as the Arrowhead Springs Hotel were established in the early part of the 1900s. The hotel was opulent with an opportunity of taking thermal baths of water replete with minerals in addition to viewing the beautiful terrain of mountains.
Still, some of this hotel’s interesting legends include popular actors and politicians who used to stay in this hotel. Unfortunately, the hotel’s operation is no longer active, however, the magnificent structure and historical background attract many people. The land is today in private hands although every now and then there is an attempt to open the place to tourist and everyone gets a feel of what the place used to be.
Natural Beauty
The hot spring accompanied by the Palm trees and steep large hills of rocks makes Arrowhead Springs an ideal place for the naturalist. There are as many as forty trails in this region; some of the trails are easy strolls while some of them may be classified as steep and rigorous. While hiking, you get to see some of the beautiful sceneries including the San Bernardino Mountains and the adjacent valleys.
With the warm water naturally containing minerals, people go in to bathe into the hot springs intending to get cured. Overall, the place is rather quiet and calming; it may make you relax, whether you are swimming in the springs or walking on the trails of Arrowhead Springs.
San Bernardino History & Railroad Museum: Through Time A Trip
Further, this post aims to discuss the features that make the Railroad Museum stand out and hence is worth a visit.
Interactive Exhibits: Visit museums and historical sites through guided tours or if possible get involved with the buffs, meaning interact with the tangible items as seen in the case of Tutankhamun’s golden burial cache. These exhibits tell the histories of the people that worked on the railroads and how the rail industry shaped the America’s western frontier.
Family-Friendly: It is perfect for school field trips as can learn about history, and accompanied by learning about the technological progresses that have taken place in the development of railroads. Children and the grown-ups will have fun while going through the ropes regarding the operation of a railroad and going through the historical features of railroads.
It is not only a place where people come to see certain displays within the facility but rather a place where the story of the city, and by extension the nation’s story of rail travel, can be felt. The exquisitely renovated hall of the train station contributes to that; visiting the place is both informative and entertaining.
San Bernardino History and the Railroad Museum
The San Bernardino History & Railroad Museum has been located at the Santa Fe Depot, which is a one hundred year old train station. Even the depot is built in Spanish colonial revival agreeing to its red tile roof, arched windows and other details. This facility saw a lot of activity especially during the heydays of train transport and remains one of the city’s most visible structures.
Historical Artifacts and Exhibits
The collection of the museum consists of such things as books and other unique objects that describe the history of the railroad and its influence on the area. There are preserved steam and diesel engines, old passenger and freight cars, original tools and equipment of the rail road workers. The exhibition also contains photographs, maps, and documents that enlighten people about railway transportation in Southern California.
There is also the exhibited full of opportunities to experience the daily tasks of the railroads for the people visiting the museum. You will get the feel of key-tapping as in the operation of a telegraph, learn the types of signals used in the railway systems and feel the joy of being inside the cab of a steam locomotive. Such interactions create the vivid imagery of the history and are entertaining and informative to individuals of any age group.
Educational Programs and Events
These include Children Programs that provide a channel for the child to explore, learn and create, and Adults Programs that presents an opportunity for people to actively learn… notas & School Programs that presents an opportunity for learning through social interaction. Comment/Area descriptions rich, offering significant facts about exhibits and the railroads, special events relating to milestones in the railroads’ histories. The museum also features educational activities such as workshop and lectures concerning rail travel, technologies and history.
Parents, teachers, and school going children find the musuem convenient for educational tours. Kids are likely to pick up something about the history of railroads and the role they played in the effective westward expansion, while the adults would be able to catch finer details in the setting and the items used. The actual exhibit and the personnel, who are always ready to provide quite useful information, can make the museum a very informative source of knowledge about the history of railway in the region.
Glen Helen Regional Park: Leisure Time for Children
Facilities for visit at Glen Helen Regional Park
Glen Helen Regional Park encompasses a vast area that provides for an enormous numbers of activities to be conducted. I believe if you want to fish, take a hike or go for a picnic, this park is a one stop shop for you.
Water Activities: Fish in the lakes or go.HCM to the Splash Kingdom Water Park if you are a swimming fanatic. The lakes in the park contain fish that different people, especially those interested in fishing go there to fish for.
Concerts and Events: The Glen Helen Amphitheater has been used by music groups, bands and other cultural groups for their shows annually. This facility f one of the largest outdoor amphitheatres in the United States of America popular for booking big artists to perform at this open-air theatre for a live concert experience at night.
This park is vibrant with activities that can be undertaken and there are many options that one can engage in; hence, this makes it a iconic family destination park. Whether or not getting ready for a picnic, or looking forward to water slides, live band, one thing is for sure, enjoyment and relaxation at Glen Helen Regional Park.
Glen Helen Regional Park
Glen Helen Regional Park is a large land that is designated for recreation, which is situated in the San Bernardino Mountains’ foothills. The park is approximately 1,300 acres in size and provides clients with many options for participating in the fun. As such, it attracts families, nature lovers and patrons of music festivals and concert events.
Water Activities
A popular feature about Glen Helen Regional Park we know it for is water activities. There is also breeding of fish in two lakes in the park hence the ideal place for people to fish. Fishermen can get a range of fishes like trout, bass, and cat fish among others. Fishing may well be stated as being probably one of the most popular recreational activities in that it is equally popular among all ages of people – from children to the grown-ups.
Besides fishing, the visitors of the park can enjoy the Splash Kingdom Water Park with a number of water slides, pools, and interactive zones. The water park is a very entertaining for children and adult and it offers them the change to cool of especially in the hot seasons. Open year-round, Splash Kingdom Water Park is one of the best water parks in Glen Helen Regional Park offering thrills and twists in its slides and variation of relaxation zones in its pools.
Concerts and Events
Musical concerts that are performed include rock and pop, country and herbalist, gospel and metal and so much more.
The large audience base coupled with the natural beauty of the place is attractive to music enthusiasts. Live music is performed during the concerts at the Glen Helen Amphitheater where visitors enjoy a beautiful view of mountain and night sky while listening to music. Besides concerts, it forms a significant component of cultural tourism, where the amphitheater also offers space for cultural events, festivals, and community activities.
Outdoor Recreation
This is one of the many beautiful parks that are located in Dayton and it captures the Glen Helen Regional Park that is prepared for almost all kinds of outdoor fun. There are trails for hiking, barbeque pits, and areas for relaxation as well as play, such as places for football, volley-ball and the likes. The hiking trails cover a number of regions and they are beautiful to look at especially with the mountain and valley regions. If a leisurely walk is all that the person wants or if the individual is up for a steep climb, there is a trail for them.
The picnic areas in the park are designed for family outing, barbecue and all other outdoor consumption factors. Several of them remain tables, grills, and other shaded areas that make the picnic, an enjoyable experience while out in nature. The park equally has the facilities that can be used for engagement in sporting activities such as soccer, volley, frisbee, among others, or just tossing the body around on the grass.
The Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art: Cultural Gems Berry Stationed
The Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art (RAFFMA) is a cultural asset of San Bernardino if situated in the California State University. The types of collections housed in this museum include Egyptian, Asian, European and American art, as well as contemporary art.
Ancient Egyptian Collection: One of the largest in the western part of the United States; containing relics that make people feel like they are in the age of the Pharaoh. These are beautifully decorated Sarcophagi, amulets, and canopic jars are part of this collection, which gives insight of this great civilization.
Contemporary Exhibits: It helps a lot to have regularly updated exhibitions with new views and creations of artists. These exhibits are mostly of art pieces created by art students, artists from within the region and the globe, different styles and media included.
With the stock of historical and contemporary pieces, RAFFMA is one of the important cultural centers in San Bernardino. The museum also has possibilities of events, where children can attend, such as workshops and knowledge in form of lectures.
Detailed of RAFFMA
The Institution that going to be introduced here known as RAFFMA or Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art is a cultural treasure within the city of San Bernardino. It is affiliated with the California State University, San Bernardino and functions as a teaching instrument and a cultural institution of the university- for the entire public.
Ancient Egyptian Collection
Ancient Egyptian Collection is being recognized as one of the resources of RAFFMA. The collection contains more than 500 items of the Egyptian art; thus, the museum possesses one of the largest collections of the Egyptian artifacts in the territory of the western United States of America. The artifacts belong to different periods of the ancient Egyptian history including; Old, middle and new kingdoms, and the Ptolemaic periods.
Guests of the museum will be able to look at beautifully decorated sarcophagi – it was a cover for the body and belonged to the dead person. It also shows amulets that people wore perhaps to protect themselves and to have a luck and canopic jars that were used to hold the internal organs of mummified people during the process of mummification. These artifacts are quite fascinating inasmuch as they give an understanding of the Egyptians’ way of life, their beliefs, and supreme being.
Of particular importance, the curators of the museum have ensured that the presented collection is informative alongside being attractive. Screens and descriptions enhance understanding of the artifacts’ purpose and place in the formal context of the society.
Contemporary Exhibits
Apart from being blessing with artifacts dating back to the prehistoric age, RAFFMA is famed for holding contemporary art. The museum changes its exhibitions often, and you can see works of local and international artists as well as famous artists. These exhibits encompass painting, sculpture, photography, digital art and many others.
The modern pieces introduced new ideas and originality giving a new, vivid look at the art world. The museum is focused mostly on contemporary art which means that every time the visitor comes to the museum there will be different artworks to enjoy.
From the contemporary displays by artists in RAFFMA, the themes common in description entails social issues, identification, and ethnic background. The variety of discussed art pieces reveals the contemporary themes and practices that help to broaden and enrich the spectator’s views.
Scholars and Community Outreach
It is essential to note that, RAFFMA is not only an art gallery but also an educational institution and the people’s venue. Exhibitions and entertainment programmes include workshops, lectures and guided tours around the museum, and others. These programs aim at raising awareness of the improvements of art works on display as well as giving the visitors the experience to learn through touch and create art works on their own.
Such specialization of the advertised workshops include subjects as ancient Egyptian and Middle Eastern art, as well as contemporary painting. These workshops are conducted for all levels of artists regardless of age and thus families, students and artists can come together and master new skills.
RAFFMA also arranges various artists, curators, and scholars’ lectures to lead the audience through the art world and displays in the museum. These lectures are quite useful in a sense that one can listen to opinions of other people, ideas, and discuss art and culture.
Thus, through the range of programs and events, RAFFMA serves as a crucial part of the community’s cultural and educational experience. Based on these factors, friendship keeps communities bound in the art through the museum with an active engagement with individuals from all walks of life.
Scenic Byway
The Rim of the World Scenic Byway presents a profil of the San Bernardino Mountains and the valley visible from it. This drive roadway is not only defined by the view but also by their history and cultures.
Panoramic Views: Perfect sandy areas that are perfect for taking pictures and admiring beautiful nature. Many viewpoints can be found along the byway, through which opens stunning views of the surrounding territories, so the lovers of photography and nature will be provided with great opportunities.
Cultural Insights: Get the history of the place and the pioneer inhabitants of the area. It runs past historical towns and important sites that will give one a glimpse at the area’s historical background.
The tour of the byway can be described as a beautiful drive as one can take time to tour and receive information about the natural and cultural part of San Bernardino. No matter if you are planning to make some photo stops or visit a gallery in one of the local museums, traveling through Rim of the World Scenic Byway will become an interesting adventure through one of the picturesque corners of California.
Rim of the World Scenic Byway Chapter One
The Rim of the World Scenic Byway is one of the famous travel routes which one of the best scenic routes in Southern California. This byway measures over 100 miles long and includes state routes 18 and 38 passing through the San Bernardino Mountains offering the tourist a beautiful drive that is also history laden.
- Panoramic Views
National Scenic Byways such as the Rim of the World Scenic Byway subsequently offer some of the best touristic spectacles such as the panoramic views. They include the view of the valleys, forests, and the desert in the eastern part of the San Bernardino Mountains which the route passes through ascending the ridges and slopes of the mountains. The beauty of this byway is that there are many lay-bys to pull over and take photographs or to marvel at the nature.
Every mode of experiencing the text provides a unique vantage point, whether it is a bird’s-eye view of the Inland Empire or the extensive area of the Mojave Desert or the coverage of a forested territory of San Bernardino National Forest. Due to the continuously shifting landscape plus the sharp changes in the altitude of the roads, it should be very colorful.
Historical and Cultural Insights
The Rim of the World Scenic Byway also has its fair share of historical and cultural values. Whenever you take the route it is advisable to take a tour through the various towns and sites that commemorate the part’s history. Crestline, Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake are some of the towns that have features displaying the historical background of the area starting with the initial settlement, growth of tourism as well as recreational activities.
For instance, Crestline is a beautiful mountain town that was establish in the early twentieth century. The old town area consists of shophouses, cafes, restaurants, and a museum that telling about the township’s background. The place commonly called ‘Lake Arrowhead’ has the gorgeous lake and some of the highest standard resorts with a long and vibrant history of becoming one of the most favoured tourists’ destinations.
The town of Big Bear Lake situated on the byway was established in the nineteenth century gold mining camp. Today it has emerged to be a popular resort town where you will find many activities as well as shows to watch.
It also runs close to several historical structures and sites and passes through the New York Byway Scenic Byway Bronze System site number K-18. The Keller Peak Fire Lookout which started being used in 1926 will allow you to see magnificent views of the area and also a historical building which was used as fire look out towers. Heaps Peak Arboretum here offers the wonderful environment to study more about the native plant and trees of the area.
Recreational Opportunities
However, there are many recreational activities one can take part in when in Rim of the World Scenic Byway including the following. Recreational opportunities in the San Bernardino National Forest through which the byway passes are hiking, camping, fishing, wildlife watching, etc.
Since the byway is close to such zones as Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake, you are welcome to have your scenic turn supplemented with recreation. Whether it is the boating trip on the lake or forest check on the lengthy trail or even a simple barbeque in the scenic natural vantage point, Rim of the World Scenic Byway offer a one-stop-shop of all the fun.
Conclusion: Thus Far, A City of Diverse Experiences
The greatest variety of things to see and do in San Bernardino includes beautiful nature, history, culture, and recreation. As a result, this guide could assist you to get acquainted with the best places in the city and guarantee the effective and worth visiting. As a travel destination, San Bernardino has got it all for you, starting with an open invitation for you to arrive and start exploring whichever form of experience you consider to be your preferred one.
