We had a field trip today here. I hadn't been here since I was a little girl and it's exactly what…read moreI remember. It was a great experience to go with my son on his field trip. The kids got to dig in the dirt to look for bugs, make molds of animal prints, and do a nature walk. My only concern and it's strictly personal and nothing against the museum is how long the sessions are where the kids have to listen to the lesson before they begin the activity. It can be difficult for a child with adhd or autism to tend. But again, that's nothing against the museum. However, my concern with them is the little nature walk paths are not small enough for the wheel chairs and there's a part of the nature walk that can be difficult for someone to push a child with a wheelchair stroller. Maybe something to keep in mind if you get a grant for additional funding. Outside of that, inside the building does have a wheelchair ramp. This field trip was nostalgic for me and overall we had an amazing experience with amazing staff! Everyone was absolutely amazing and friendly.

Cute spot to go on a little nature hike. Came here on a field trip and my daughter loved it…read more Staff was helpful and knowledgeable. Parking was a disaster as the lot hold maybe 15 spots.

FINALLY had the chance to visit the Jurupa Mountains Discover Center! I always see the iconic…read moremammoth statue passing by on the freeway and finally got to visit. His name is Eddy and he's a Columbian mammoth. Crazy cool that it's a life sized replica too. At the entrance, you pay for parking and it's $10. PRO-TIP: If you spend $40 at the gift shop, the $10 counts towards it and altogether it's actually only $30, which is great if you're buying a lot of goods there to support OR if you're a fossil and/or gem/mineral enthusiast since they have a LOT of that there, which is pretty neat. There's 2 places you can park. One near the garden nursery where you can purchase plants or near the main parking where the gift shop is. The Critter Corner is in the gift shop where you can see lots of herps and aquatic critters as well. The volunteers are super informative and can answer all your questions about the critters they have there. Love that they have name tags and info about where they're from and information about the species. Love the monkey skink, emerald tree skinks, Argentinian tegu, and of course, the beardies. Gift shop also has a great variety of affordable gifts ranging from toys, to small knick-knacks, decor, gem stones and minerals of all varieties and displays (loose, as earrings or necklaces, carved, etc.), locally sourced honey, actual fossils (there's a section where you're not allowed if you're under 16 without a parent or guardian), books, stickers, and much much more. While we were there, there was also a fun little S.T.E.A.M. corner where you can work on artwork you can take home or on some days I think there's science activities there too. The mural on the walls are also quite impressive too. Great for photos and a nice personal touch. I recommend getting the $1 grab bag! Kids love gacha/blind boxes nowadays and mine had 2 small fossils, a sticker, and 2 mineral stones. Pretty nice and super affordable. There's a trail that goes through a cactus garden with lots of dinosaur sculptures, done by the local boy scouts which is pretty neat. It's $9 if you would like to go rock collecting. You get to meet all the dinos during this expedition as well. It's 12 rocks, minerals, or fossils which isn't bad. They also have guided tours that start at the gift shop, but my boyfriend and I were just there to free roam, which can kill a couple hours too depending on how in depth you are in reading and looking at everything. They also have a separate Museum of Discovery with lots of fossil specimens and models ranging from dinosaurs, prehistoric creatures (aquatic, mammals, reptiles, etc.), indigenous/Native American artifacts and artwork (local artwork too), minerals and other geological structures. There's taxidermy on the wall too. Lots to look at. Will definitely come back in the future. Super affordable way to learn and spend some time.

My family came here today with our charter school for a field trip. We had the absolute best guide,…read moreAlexis. She truly made our day so special. She was so enthusiastic about her job, and she really got the kids excited about everything. All of the children thoroughly enjoyed Learning about rocks, hiking up to the dinosaurs, and all that this center has to offer. We will definitely be going back on the weekends when they are open to the public so we can do more exploring. Again, we highly recommend Alexis as your tour guide because she was so sweet and kind and taught the children so much. Thank you for making our trip so special.

I'm basing my review on the overall value for the price. I will start by saying that the space is…read morevery nice with lots of engaging, interactive activity stations. I love that! My kids love that! Here's what we don't love: 1. The price. If they charged $12-14 per child and let parents in for free, I would easily give this place 5 stars. The bottom line is that it's overpriced for what it is. It is not a large space. It's actually the smallest children's museum we've visited, yet it is the most expensive at $15 per child and $16 per adult. It cost almost $50 for me and my two kids. Why are the prices so hefty, and why are adults charged at all? 2. No re-entry. Again, why? For the price, we should be able to leave for a bit to eat and come back. I cannot think of a justifiable reason for this policy. 3. The enforcement of arbitrary rules. Several times during our visit, the employees would come on the loudspeaker reminding parents that all children needed to be accompanied at all times. That makes perfect sense for toddlers and babies. But my kids are 5 and 9. My well behaved 9 year old should be allowed to explore and take her time in a station without me hovering over her. This is a safe place designed for children, so why are they not allowed to roam and explore like they can at other children's museums? If it's a safety concern of making sure they don't get kidnapped or leave the premises, then install a gate and check-out system. It would be quite easy since there are employees just standing at the front desk the entire time anyway. They also have an open staircase right there that seems hazardous to little ones, so a gate would make the most sense. There are far too many other incredible children's museums in Southern California (Kidspace in Pasadena, Yorba Linda Children's Museum, the Discovery Cube, etc) that blow Second Story out of the water and are more appropriately priced.

my 2 year old was entertained for about an hour and a half and we explored everything at least for…read morea little bit. he spent a lot of time at the main attraction (the water station) and microscope but everything else was kind of..meh. thankfully the day we visited it wasn't too crowded, would definitely not be worth it if it were crowded. i'm hoping VG takes the sad and empty food court and builds something for children in there. it's cute but the price of the tickets are the same price as Kidspace Museum in Pasadena (we visit kidspace often) and they have over 3 acres of outdoor areas to explore as well as a lot of indoor activities.....for the price it's not worth it unfortunately. I am glad we finally got to see it though and would probably visit once more with grandma and grandpa.

Was in the area, saw this location on the Yelp website and so... the rest becomes history…read more Authentic pieces of history going back to to Ray Kroc and his milk shake beginnings. Every generation for the past 60 years will find something to relate to. The Happy Meal concept, the McDonalds' global growth, the Golden Arch, the original kiddie rides! You name it, you'll find it. Off Hwy 15, not far off the beaten path is the Juan Pollo McDonalds Museum. Please don't blink your eyes because you will miss it! Check their schedule before attempting a visit. Entrance is FREE. Parking plentiful Enjoy! PS- Donations welcome

For a free museum that you can do in 15 or 50 minutes, what a great stop!…read more My kids and I were near the area and I had it bookmarked so we decided to stop by after lunch. Very unassuming place. It's a little hidden gem comprised of many nostalgic toys and random McDs themed things that were donated by locals and around the world! Seeing personally owned items was really neat to see. I even saw a set of ties a prior manager donated throughout his tenure at McDs. There is a penny souvenir machine at the front door. My kids both got one. I do wish they did a better job at preserving the "rides" outside. I do however understand the lack of space inside.

I'd say a solid 4.5! Free museum that's really small, but a huge section of the museum is closed…read moreoff for renovations right now. They really only have their two main exhibits, one of which is a history of Ontario and the other is about water conservation in Ontario. AC is really strong, clean facility, super nice staff... but honestly there really isn't much to see unless you're a local and really interested in your area's history. I think if they had their art exhibits open, it'd be an easy 5/5 despite being small because it is free.

A pretty nice local museum that has rotating exhibits. I came here on a weekend visit and it was…read morebusy here and there. People seem to just stop in shortly here, with a few people that stuck around longer to really take in the art. You walk in to the security desk and check-in with your location. They only need your zip code and you're free to check out the exhibit. There's about two museum security persons in the exhibit areas They don't really greet you, but they're there. I came in for their Chicana(o) art exhibit as well as their water exhibit. Both were good. They also had a special historical exhibit that features the history of the City of Ontario. That was an okay exhibit. Facility has some nice historical architectural feel. Kind of like some of the art deco styling in the L A. buildings. Parking lot is small, but you can also park on the street. Also just a very close walk the Ontario train station.

I've been to the RAM many times and it's a small art museum in Downtown Riverside. The Cheech…read moreMuseum is one stop light up and a larger museum. If you purchase a ticket to the Cheech, the RAM is included in your ticket price, or if you start at the RAM, the Cheech will be included that day. I came to the RAM this time around, specifically, for the 60 Miles East exhibit. This exhibit ends on 4/12, so make sure to swing by before then if you want to catch it. The exhibit contained many flyers, pictures, art, and even ticket stubs that brought me back to my childhood. It was in a clean and open space that made the experience enjoyable. This exhibit takes up only one room and there are other spaces to check out for additional art exhibits. I did notice less art, this time around, than in previous visits and many open spaces/walls were not taken up. Overall, I'm glad I got to enjoy this exhibit, before it ends, and it really highlights the Inland Empire's music scene as an important piece of diverse culture. Enjoy!

I recently visited the Riverside Art Museum and really enjoyed the experience. The museum is on the…read moresmaller side, but the collection felt thoughtfully curated and never overwhelming. What stood out just as much as the artwork was the building itself, which is beautiful and full of character. I especially loved the courtyard, which provided a peaceful space to slow down and take everything in. The gift shop was also excellent, with a great selection of unique items that felt carefully chosen rather than generic museum souvenirs. Between the art, architecture, and atmosphere, it was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon appreciating creativity in a truly beautiful setting.

Today's episode of visiting art galleries was absolutely amazing. If you're in Southern California…read moreand looking for something fun, cultural, and honestly just good for the soul this summer, I highly recommend checking out the Cheech Marin Cultural Center right in the heart of downtown Riverside. The whole space is vibrant, colorful, and full of life. Every room pulls you in the murals, of the Chicano art, the storytelling, the history and creativity. It's one of those places where you walk in and immediately feel connected to something bigger. Whether you're doing a solo day visit on a date, or just exploring with family, this spot is worth the trip. The energy is warm, the exhibits are thoughtful, and the art is just flat‑out beautiful. Add it to your summer list you won't regret it. Enjoy

We got in for free for being Bank of America members. We love the diverse collection and all that…read moreChicano art. The collections were nice but all in all, there is not a ton of things to see. Once you are done with the downstairs, there's not much on the upstairs except for an art center and a few other minor things from his collections. I wish they would expand it at some point, or if there was some sort of discount or benefit for someone else who doesn't bank with Bank of America. Something that keeps the admission price lower.

A Very Merry Merced is a must visit!! Santa was onsite!…read more There was live music during the event. A little treat at the end of the self-guided tour. A person was in every room describing the interiors and such.

A brief history . In 1858 John Rains and his wife purchased…read more13,000 acres in Rancho Cucamonga for $16,500. They built their home their two years later. The bricks that are on the house today are the original bricks hand made by the masons with red clay found on the property. The home's flat roof was waterproofed with tar that was brought from the brea pits in Orange County. This is considered to be the first house built in Rancho Cucamonga. I've lived in Rancho Cucamonga on and off for the last 10 years and had no idea about the history of this beautiful place. Over the years the Rains House passes through several hands and was vacant for a while. The County of San Bernardino purchased the property in 1971. This house is considered a branch off the County of San Bernardino Museum. The house had been vandalized and needed restoring and furnishings . The women of Casa de Rancho Cucamonga Historical Society raised money through fundraisers and making crafts to sell, to assist in restoring the John Rains Home. They were able to furnish the home with authentic furniture and decoration from the time period. I posted pictures of some of the rooms and furnishings. The Docent Judy gave me a really nice tour. There are restrooms outside and a picnic area if you want to enjoy a nice sack lunch. The property is very pretty with the scenic mountains in the background. There is plenty of free parking and not many visitors. Please support the county and visit. I will definitely be coming back. They also rent out space for gatherings. Someone could plan a nice picturesque wedding here for sure. Hours : 10:00am - 3:00pm Open : Tuesday - Saturday. Closed major holidays Contact # (909) 989-4070

Tucked away in the city of Jurupa Valley, this ranch is hidden in a residential area. The ranch is…read moreVAST, so much land. There are fruit orchards to the right and left of the home (including the heating "lamps" that were used back then), plenty of olive trees, historic equipment on the ranch and an area for the various animals. Parking is to the left under very old, large trees (plenty of shade). I was surprised to learn that it is a red brick house. YES! It has survived all of California's earthquakes!!! The drapes are white lace that are visible from each window. Hardwood flooring throughout the home. Double check (and call if possible) their website for visiting hours.

Absolutely beautiful ranch and house built in the 1870s in the style of Danish vernacular. The home…read morewas owned by Cornelius Jensen and his wife Mercedes Alvarado along with their 10 children. The ranch served as the town's general store, post office, and stage stop. During our visit we got a tour of the home with lots of history. We got to make homemade Tortillas and have a nice cup of cowboy coffee. They also provided us with carrots to feed the horses and other animals. Definitely will be visiting again soon. Check their Facebook page for event schedule.

I like the artwork that they had on the wall. They had really nice artwork a friend and I went…read morethere and we had a great time. Very quiet. It reminded me of something on TV but it was beautiful inside.

This is on the campus of Chaffey College. When I attended here and took a photography class, a bit…read moreof my photography work was featured along with the class. I also took an art class one summer with a friend and our work was featured there as well.