Redlands, CA

Redlands is a historic city nestled in San Bernardino County in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, with a population of roughly 70,000 residents. Often called the "City of Beautiful Homes" and the "Jewel of the Inland Empire," Redlands is known for its preserved Victorian-era architecture, tree-lined streets, citrus-growing heritage, and a walkable downtown anchored by the University of Redlands. The city serves as a gateway to the San Bernardino Mountains and a convenient inland alternative to the busier coastal and desert destinations. It sits about 60 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, roughly 10 miles east of San Bernardino, and approximately 12 miles northeast of Riverside, placing it within easy reach of Southern California's major metropolitan corridors.

The heart of the city's appeal is its downtown historic district, a walkable stretch of State Street and surrounding blocks that feature restored early-twentieth-century buildings, locally owned restaurants, antique shops, and the iconic A.K. Smiley Public Library, a Mission Revival landmark dating to 1898. Just a few minutes from the city center, the Lincoln Memorial Shrine houses one of the West Coast's most significant collections of Lincoln and Civil War memorabilia, housed in a small Romanesque-style museum. The shrine, along with the adjacent Smiley Park, offers visitors a compact cultural stop within walking distance of downtown.

A short drive north of Redlands, about 20 minutes, brings visitors to the edge of the San Bernardino National Forest, a sprawling mountain preserve that includes scenic drives, picnic areas, and hiking trails through pine and oak woodlands. From the city's doorstep, travelers can reach higher-elevation destinations such as Big Bear Lake in roughly 90 minutes, where skiing, boating, and lakeside recreation await in the warmer months. The forest and its surrounding communities provide a year-round outdoor complement to Redlands' lowland charm.

Southeast of the city, about 25 minutes by car, the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands' neighbor town of Bloomington offers exhibits on regional history, Native American heritage, and the natural sciences of Southern California. Closer to home, the Kimberly Crest House and Gardens, a French-château-style Victorian mansion built in 1897, opens to the public for seasonal tours and provides a glimpse of the wealth generated by the area's late-nineteenth-century citrus industry.

Redlands makes a compelling base for short-term rental owners because it pairs small-city livability with strong regional connectivity. Guests can spend the morning exploring the historic downtown, the afternoon hiking in the nearby national forest, and the evening dining along State Street, all while remaining within a comfortable drive of Los Angeles, Palm Springs, the mountain resorts, and the broader Inland Empire. Its balance of heritage architecture, university-town energy, and access to both desert and mountain recreation gives it year-round appeal for leisure travelers, university visitors, and outdoor enthusiasts alike.