Serrano Flowers

Even though the beauty of nature is all around us all the time, it may be hard to stop and appreciate it given your hectic schedule of activities. You can take a much-needed breather when you take the kids to experience the UCR Botanic Gardens. This amazing collection of nature is more than just flowers and greenery. You will be able to relax along with the birds and the bees and other natural life forms in a remarkably captivating way. This attraction boasts an impressive 39 acres of flowers, woods, and gardens that also include hiking trails and several picturesque spots for the kids to play or for the whole family to enjoy a picnic.

The Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park is popular for many reasons, but hikers and bikers love it for its awesome network of recreation trails that crisscross and intersect which offer trails of varying difficulty, terrain type and length. There are three park entrances that offer easy access to the trails' underdeveloped landscape.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then how many words are hanging in the California Museum of Photography? Find out when you pay a visit to this highly enjoyable facility that is a feast for the eyes from beginning to end. See stunning prints by such famous photographers as Ansel Adams, Lewis Hine, Alfred Steiglitz and Mary Ellen Mark. The expertly lit pieces all seem to come alive as you stroll from one exhibit to the next. Don't forget to stop into the gift shop to purchase copies of your favorite prints.

There's nothing like a good read, and you can find plenty of items to explore when you visit the Downtowne Bookstore in Riverside. This charming establishment has been a favorite of local bookworms since 1979. Among the many stacks and shelves, you'll find everything from children's books to first-edition collectibles to tomes on politics and history. If you don't find exactly what you're after, the helpful staff can special order it for you.