Highland City Guide
Image by Luzonensis via wikipedia

United States

Highland City Guide

California

Highland, California, sits near the San Bernardino Mountains offering a quiet suburban feel. It's a good base for outdoor activities and within driving reach of Southern California's cities and beaches.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Good
6

The food scene focuses on Mexican and American dishes with options for vegetarians and vegans. Late-night food is mostly fast food or some diners in nearby cities.

Local Dishes:
Mexican cuisine
International Cuisine:
Italian, Chinese, American fast food
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Limited
4

Nightlife is low-key with local bars and casual spots. For more variety, head to nearby San Bernardino or Riverside.

Coffee Culture
Good
6

Coffee options include chains and some local shops, with a growing but modest coffee scene.

💰
Tipping
Required
15%

Tipping is expected in restaurants, taxis, and personal services, usually 15-20%.

Top Attractions
Highland Community Park
park
A large park with sports fields and walking paths.
Highland Sam J. Racadio Library and Environmental Learning Center
library
Community library with educational programs.
San Bernardino National Forest
nature
Nearby for hiking and scenic drives, under an hour away.
Lake Arrowhead
nature
Mountain resort town with lake activities.
Big Bear Lake
nature
Skiing and lake activities in the mountains.
California State University, San Bernardino
education
Campus with cultural events.
National Orange Show Events Center
events
Venue for various events.
SIM Cards

SIM cards are available at AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon stores, and Best Buy. Prepaid plans generally don't require ID registration. eSIM supported on compatible devices.

Available at:
AT&T Store
T-Mobile Store
Verizon Store
Best Buy
Recommended Apps
Google Maps(navigation)
Yelp(reviews)
Uber/Lyft(transport)
DoorDash/Uber Eats(food)
Nextdoor(community)
The Weather Channel(weather)
AllTrails(outdoors)
GasBuddy(utilities)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Good
7

Streets and public spaces are generally clean with regular waste services.

24/7 Services
Limited
4

Few 24/7 services; some gas stations and convenience stores open round-the-clock.

Groceries
Stater Bros. Markets
Vons
Albertsons

Supermarkets like Stater Bros., Vons, and Albertsons stock regular and some international items. Open around 6-7 AM until 10-11 PM, open Sundays and holidays with possible shorter hours.

Cashless Payments
Widely accepted

Most businesses accept cards, so cash isn't usually needed for daily expenses.

ATMs

ATMs are common at banks like Bank of America and Chase, and many grocery stores. Out-of-network fees range from $2.50 to $5 per withdrawal.

Schools
Local only

Local schools include Highland High and Arroyo Verde Elementary. International school options are limited nearby. Instruction is mainly in English.

Available Schools:
Highland High School
Arroyo Verde Elementary

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Not Available
Work-Friendly Cafés
Good
Starbucks
Multiple locations with Wi-Fi.
Dutch Bros Coffee
Popular chain spot.
Local independent coffee shops
Varied Wi-Fi and seating quality.
Alternatives:
Highland Sam J. Racadio Library
Quiet spot with Wi-Fi.
Hotel lobbies
May offer Wi-Fi, check access.
Community centers
Some have Wi-Fi, check availability.
Digital Nomad Community
Poor
2

Highland has a small digital nomad scene; most remote workers prefer nearby cities with more facilities.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Good
7

Parks like Highland Community Park offer good green areas for leisure and exercise.

Running
Good
7

Running routes in parks and residential areas are safe and popular during the day.

Gyms
Available

Gyms and sports fields are available in town for fitness and team sports.

Available Gyms:
24 Hour Fitness Highland
Planet Fitness Highland
Crunch Fitness Highland
Highland Community Park
Tennis
Limited
5

Public tennis courts at parks like Highland Community Park are available but typically first-come, first-served.

Padel
Poor
1

Padel courts are rare or unavailable in Highland.

Yoga
Good
6

Several yoga studios offer various styles with mostly English-speaking instructors.

Martial Arts
Good
6

Dojo options include Taekwondo, Karate, and Jiu-Jitsu with English-speaking instructors.

Skiing
Excellent
8

Several ski resorts within an hour to 1.5 hours drive offer a good range of slopes and rental gear.

Water Sports
Good
6

Water sports like kayaking and paddleboarding are available at nearby lakes in the warmer months.

Surfing
Poor
2

Surf spots are on the coast, around 1.5 to 2 hours away.

Diving
Poor
2

Closest diving sites are off the coast, requiring a longer trip.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Excellent
9

Loma Linda University Medical Center nearby offers comprehensive care with English-speaking staff. Clinics and pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens are accessible.

Hospitals:
Loma Linda University Medical Center
Pharmacies:
CVS Pharmacy
Walgreens
Tap Water Safety
Safe to drink

Tap water meets all safety standards and is good to drink.

Common Scams
Phone scams impersonating IRS or tech support, Online phishing, Rental scams

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Good
7

Several parks and library programs suit families. Casual restaurants mostly welcome kids. Baby supplies are easy to find.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Excellent
8

The area is generally accepting and inclusive towards LGBTQ+ individuals with good protections.

Pet Friendly
Good
7

Pet-friendly parks and services make Highland welcoming for pet owners.

Communities
Highland, CA Community Facebook Group (social)
Nextdoor Highland (community)
City of Highland official website (official)

Quick Facts

Population
56,999
Power Reliability
Excellent
8/10

Power is mostly reliable but occasional outages happen due to weather or maintenance.

Beach Access
Available

Beaches like Newport and Laguna are about 1.5 to 2 hours' drive and are well maintained.

Mountains
Available

At the base of the San Bernardino Mountains with nearby hiking trails and outdoor options.

Languages
English(60.5%)
Spanish(35.7%)
Emergency
911
Emergency Services
(909) 425-9793
Non-emergency Police
1-800-222-1222
Poison Control

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
0
🏔️
Earthquake
High Risk
8

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Smoke/haze
August, September, October, November
Wildfire smoke affects air quality during late summer and fall.
Extreme heat
June, July, August, September
Summer temperatures often rise above 100°F (38°C).
Santa Ana Winds
October, November, December, January, February
Dry winds increase wildfire risk mainly in fall and winter.

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