Redlands City Guide
Image by Don Graham via wikipedia

United States

Redlands City Guide

California

Redlands, California, is a small city known for its historic charm and tree-lined streets. It offers a relaxed vibe with easy access to both mountains and beaches. The downtown area is growing and has basic amenities for remote workers and travelers.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Good
7

Mexican food is widely available and good. International options include Italian, Asian, and American. Vegetarian and vegan options are increasing. Limited late-night food except fast food chains.

Local Dishes:
Mexican food
International Cuisine:
Italian, Asian, American
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Limited
5

Nightlife is modest with bars, pubs, and a few breweries mainly downtown. It's laid-back, focusing on casual drinks and live music rather than clubs.

Coffee Culture
Good
7

A mix of local coffee shops and chains with some specialty roasters. Scene focuses on community more than unique culture.

💰
Tipping
Required
15%

Tipping is customary and expected across services. Restaurants and rideshares usually expect 15-20%.

Top Attractions
Downtown Redlands
city
Historic architecture, shops, and restaurants.
Kimberly Crest House & Gardens
museum
Historic mansion and gardens to visit.
Redlands Bowl
entertainment
Outdoor summer concerts venue.
University of Redlands
city
Campus with historic buildings.
Lincoln Memorial Shrine
museum
Museum dedicated to Abraham Lincoln.
SIM Cards

Buy SIM cards at AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon stores, or Best Buy. eSIMs available. No ID needed for prepaid cards.

Available at:
AT&T
T-Mobile
Verizon
Best Buy
Recommended Apps
Google Maps/Apple Maps(navigation)
Uber/Lyft(transport)
DoorDash/Uber Eats/Grubhub(food)
Yelp(local guides)
Nextdoor(community)
ParkMobile(utilities)
The Redlands Daily Facts(news)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Excellent
8

Generally clean streets and reliable waste services. Minimal sanitation issues.

24/7 Services
Limited
5

Some pharmacies and convenience stores are open 24/7. Emergency rooms operate around the clock but urgent care centers usually do not.

Groceries
Stater Bros.
Ralphs
Vons
Trader Joe's

Good international products at big supermarkets like Stater Bros., Ralphs, Vons, and Trader Joe's. Weekly farmers market downtown. Stores open early to late, mostly open on Sundays with some holiday hour changes. No bargaining.

Cashless Payments
Widely accepted

Most businesses accept major credit and debit cards. You rarely need cash for daily buying.

ATMs

ATMs are common at banks like Bank of America, Chase, and Wells Fargo, plus grocery stores. Out-of-network machines charge $2.50 to $5.00 fees.

Schools
Local only

Redlands Unified School District offers well-rated public schools. Private options exist, but few international schools. Instruction mainly in English.

Available Schools:
Redlands Unified School District
Various private schools

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
4
Available Spaces:
The Hive
Local space offering private offices and shared desks.
Regus (San Bernardino/Riverside)
Several locations nearby with meeting rooms.
Work-Friendly Cafés
Good
Augie's Coffee House
Good atmosphere and coffee.
Starbucks
Reliable Wi-Fi and multiple locations.
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Chain with Wi-Fi.
Eureka!
Restaurant with good daytime ambiance and Wi-Fi.
Rok N Fondue
Works well during off-peak hours.
Alternatives:
A.K. Smiley Public Library
Quiet spaces and Wi-Fi.
Hotel lobbies
Comfortable seating with Wi-Fi.
Community centers
Some with Wi-Fi; check availability.
Digital Nomad Community
Poor
3

Small digital nomad community with few co-living spaces or events. More networking happens in nearby cities or online.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Excellent
9

Good access to parks like Prospect Park, Sylvan Park, Ford Park, and the Santa Ana River Trail. Many shaded paths for walking and running.

Running
Excellent
8

Popular running spots include Prospect Park and the Redlands Loop Trail. Running clubs are active and routes are generally safe.

Gyms
Available

Several gyms and local studios available.

Available Gyms:
LA Fitness
24 Hour Fitness
Planet Fitness
YMCA of the East Valley (Redlands)
Tennis
Good
6

Public tennis courts at local parks and University of Redlands. Padel courts are rare. Courts mostly hard surface.

Padel
Poor
2

Padel courts are uncommon in Redlands.

Yoga
Good
7

Several yoga studios offer diverse styles and English-speaking instructors.

Martial Arts
Good
7

Multiple schools offer karate, taekwondo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, judo, and boxing/kickboxing. English-speaking instructors available.

Skiing
Good
7

Ski resorts like Snow Valley and Snow Summit are about an hour away. Season runs from December to April. Rentals and mixed terrain available.

Water Sports
Good
6

Kayaking, paddleboarding, and sailing available at nearby lakes like Big Bear and Lake Perris, mainly in warmer months.

Surfing
Limited
5

Surf spots are about 1 to 1.5 hours away on the coast, mostly in Orange County. Both beginner and advanced breaks available; wetsuits often needed.

Diving
Limited
4

Diving is not local. Closest sites off Southern California coast and Catalina Island with varied visibility and marine life.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Excellent
8

Redlands Community Hospital and clinics have English-speaking staff. Quality is good but costs can be high without insurance. Pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens are common with drive-thru service.

Hospitals:
Redlands Community Hospital
Pharmacies:
CVS
Walgreens
Tap Water Safety
Safe to drink

Tap water is safe and meets all drinking water standards. Quality reports are published regularly.

Common Scams
Phishing emails and calls, Tech support scams, Lottery scams, Grandparent scams

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Excellent
9

Many parks with playgrounds and family-friendly cafes. Baby supplies are easy to find. Family attractions include Splash Kingdom Waterpark and summer concerts at Redlands Bowl.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Good
7

Generally accepting city with inclusive businesses and legal protections. Few dedicated LGBTQ venues.

Pet Friendly
Excellent
8

Pet-friendly city with dog parks, vets, and pet-friendly hotels and restaurants.

Communities
Redlands, CA Community Forum (community)
Redlands Rants & Raves (community)
Redlands Foodies (community)

Quick Facts

Population
73,168
Power Reliability
Excellent
8/10

Power is generally reliable but occasional outages happen during winds or storms. Southern California Edison serves the city.

Beach Access
Available

Beaches are about 1 to 1.5 hours away, including Newport, Laguna, and Huntington Beach with sandy shores and facilities.

Mountains
Available

Close to San Bernardino Mountains and National Forest with easy hiking access. Popular trails near Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead.

Languages
English(90%)
Spanish(15%)
Emergency
911
Emergency Services
(909) 798-7681
Redlands Police Department Non-Emergency

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
0
🏔️
Earthquake
High Risk
8

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Wildfire smoke
June, July, August, September, October
Smoke and haze can affect air quality during wildfire season.
Extreme heat
June, July, August, September, October
Summer temperatures often exceed 90°F, sometimes hitting 100°F.
Flooding
December, January, February
Rare flooding can happen in low areas during heavy rains.

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