Attractions near Ontario

Mount Baldy
20 miles north of Ontario on Highway 83; 909/981-3344
Tucked high into the San Gabriel Mountains just a half-hour's drive north of Ontario is beautiful Mount Baldy, a skier's paradise in winter and a hiking and mountain biking mecca in summer. From January to April (and sometimes into June!) the mountain gets an average of 9 feet of snow, making it one of the best ski escapes from Los Angeles. There are 400 acres of groomed and treed runs covering beginner to expert terrain, and the 2,100 vertical foot drop makes Mount Baldy the steepest ski resort in southern California. In the summer, ride the lifts to the scenic walking and biking trails.

Ontario Museum of History and Art
225 S Euclid Ave; 909/983-3198
Ontario and the surrounding valley have a long and fascinating settlement history, and this museum--moving to its new Euclid Avenue location this February--specializes in telling the stories of how Ontario came to be. Though there is a growing collection of artwork from local and regional artists, the bulk of the exhibits here focus on local history, starting from the days of the Native Americans. In fall 2002, two new permanent exhibits will be added to the museum, and there is also an active temporary exhibition schedule. On February 15, for example, the museum opens "Defining Californian Style," a retrospective of regional architecture by two local brothers.

UCR-California Museum of Photography
3824 Main Street, Riverside; 909/784-3686
This excellent museum, associated with the University of California-Riverside, is one of Southern California's hidden gems--its dynamic permanent and rotating exhibits explore the entire history of photography, from stereographs to digital and everything in between. Works cover a wide range of topics: In the last year the museum displayed everything from Andy Warhol self-portraits to vintage burlesque photos to images depicting the legacy of the Black Panther Party. In addition, the museum also boasts a large collection of photography equipment (check out the Kodak Brownies) as well as rare images by Ansel Adams.

Disneyland
Information line; 714/781-4565 or 714/781-7290
As Disneyland rockets toward its 50th anniversary in 2005, the landmark theme park still inspires wonder in children and long-since-grown fans. Though old Walt's original blueprints were abandoned long ago, every new development remains true to his distinctive personal vision. In 2001, after several years of hectic construction, Anaheim proudly unveiled some additions to the Disney family: a next-door park celebrating the Golden State called California Adventure, and the adjacent Downtown Disney entertainment/dining/shopping district. Bound together by a new name--the Disneyland Resort--these attractions have kick-started the surrounding neighborhood as well.