The Atlas Obscura Guide To Riverside

4 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Riverside, California

Updated February 6, 2024

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Unusual Attractions in Riverside

Riverside, California

Tio's Tacos

Mexican food and folk art.

The Citrus Variety Collection at UC Riverside

Riverside, California

The Ark of Citrus

The Citrus Variety Collection at UC Riverside contains two trees of each of the 1,000+ varieties of citrus.

The placard at the site.

Riverside, California

The Parent Washington Navel Tree

This California tree is the single source of the state's entire orange industry.

Photo taken in October 2021

Riverside, California

World’s Largest Paper Cup

A tribute to the disposable cups that were once manufactured here, this 68-foot-tall statue would be difficult to throw away.

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Wigwam Village #7

San Bernardino, California

Wigwam Village #7

These structures were inspired by both Native American shelters as well as, strangely, an ice cream shop.

10 miles from Riverside

San Bernardino, California

Mitla Cafe

The Route 66 institution that inspired Taco Bell also served as an important headquarters for Mexican-American social movements.

11 miles from Riverside

Unofficial McDonald's Museum

San Bernardino, California

Unofficial McDonald's Museum

This unlicensed collection of fast-food memorabilia sits on the site of the first ever McDonald's restaurant.

13 miles from Riverside

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Riverside

Riverside, California

Tio's Tacos

Mexican food and folk art.

The Citrus Variety Collection at UC Riverside

Riverside, California

The Ark of Citrus

The Citrus Variety Collection at UC Riverside contains two trees of each of the 1,000+ varieties of citrus.

The placard at the site.

Riverside, California

The Parent Washington Navel Tree

This California tree is the single source of the state's entire orange industry.

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In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

Rogue Routes: The Road to Sky’s the Limit

Sponsored by Nissan

For all of the images of Hollywood glamour, beach living, and beautiful people, Southern California has a lot of peculiarities that don’t get nearly as much attention. This route from Los Angeles to Twentynine Palms seeks out the strange and novel, providing a refreshing foil to SoCal clichés.

Explore Riverside, California

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Recent Riverside Activity

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Stories About Riverside

Podcast: The Ark of Citrus

A sweet archive of almost biblical proportions can be found at the University of California, Riverside.

by The Podcast Team

September 20, 2023

Podcast: Camp Anza

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

by The Podcast Team

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