Getting Oriented in the Inland Empire

Several freeways provide access to the Inland Empire from Los Angeles and San Diego. Temecula lines up along interstates 10 and 215; and Corona, Riverside, and San Bernardino lie along Highway 91. As a Los Angeles bedroom community, the area sees nasty freeway congestion on Highway 60 and interstates 10 and 15, so try to avoid driving during rush hour, usually from 6 to 9 am and 3:30 to 7 pm.

• The Western Inland Empire. At the foot of 10,064-foot-high Mt. Baldy in the San Gabriel Mountains, the community of Claremont is known for the prestigious seven-school Claremont Colleges complex. A classic tree-shaded, lively, sophisticated college town, Claremont resembles trendy sections of Los Angeles more than the laid-back Inland Empire.
• Riverside Area. In the late 1700s, Mexican settlers called this now-suburban region Valle de Paraiso. Citrus-growing here began in 1873, when homesteader Eliza Tibbets planted two navel-orange trees in her yard. The area's biggest draws are the majestic Mission Inn, with its fine restaurants and unique history and architecture, and Glen Ivy Hot Springs in nearby Corona.
• San Bernardino Mountains. Lake Arrowhead and always-sunny Big Bear are the recreational centers of this area. Though the two are geographically close, they're distinct in appeal. Lake Arrowhead, with its cool mountain air, trail-threaded woods, and brilliant lake, draws a summertime crowd. Big Bear's ski and snowboarding slopes, cross-country trails, and cheerful lodges come alive in winter and provide a quiet retreat in summer. Even if you're not interested in visiting the resorts themselves, the Rim of the World Scenic Byway (Highway 18), which connects Big Bear Lake and Lake Arrowhead at an elevation up to 8,000 feet, is a magnificent drive. On a clear day, you'll feel that you can see forever.
• The Temecula Valley. Life is quieter in the southern portion of the Inland Empire than it is to the north. In this corner of Riverside County, the town of Temecula is an oasis of the good life for locals and visitors alike.