Riverside and San Bernardino…the best of SoCal, a short drive from the ocean

Also known as Inland Empire, the name may sound like a political euphemism or a sci-fi B-movie title, but to Southern Californians, the “Inland Empire” refers to the developing land approximately 37 miles east of Huntington Beach and the Pacific Ocean. Here, historic orange groves and rural roads have evolved into suburban centers, where industrialization booms and travelers pass between the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains.

Why move to Southern California if you’re not living by the ocean? Let’s see…the views, the weather, the views and the weather.

Like many SoCal areas, outdoor recreation is a way of life here. Places like Lake Elsinore and Bermuda Dunes provide distinctly different activities, from sky-diving and hang-gliding to Bob Hope’s favorite game, golf. Plus, indoor entertainment rivals that of any well-developed city, with Broadway-quality theater and in-demand artists and performers passing through Riverside and Temecula.

Housing here is much more affordable than in nearby San Diego and Los Angeles counties. With the amenities of big-city living, plus dynamite views, it’s no wonder the Inland Empire has experienced such an influx of residents in the last several years—to the degree that the freeways can barely accommodate them. Yet businesses still move in, and bedroom communities like Rancho Cucamonga continue to grow with no signs of stopping.

So next time you hear the term “Inland Empire,” you’ll know it’s not a reference to the latest fiction-fantasy TV series. With over 120 cities and municipalities offering lifestyles from rural, to suburban, to urban-lite, this area will continue to be a force all its own.

May it be with you, too.

Apartments for rent in Riverside and San Bernardino