Top Rated Attractions in Ontario

The Ontario Museum of History and Art aims to expand the community's knowledge of local culture through educational programs, exhibits and special events. The museum exhibits in detail, the life and people of the Inland Empire and the docents organize various outreach programs and field trips throughout the year. One of the highlights during Autumn is the Dia de los Muertos festival, when local artists showcase the macabre through painting, sculpture and crafts. Every year the event draws in thousands over the Halloween season.

Located on Euclid Avenue in downtown Ontario, the town square serves as a gathering spot for picnics, concerts and other outdoor events. As a backdrop, the grand outdoor amphitheater/stage presents concerts, plays, workshops, festivals and many other happenings throughout the year. Additionally, there is a slew of food trucks that convene on certain nights which makes it a one-stop shop in terms of combining fun, food and festivity,

This anachronistic drive-in theater opened in 1956 and since then it has entertained legions of Inland Empire denizens over the decades. In your car, you can revisit another era while enjoying the modern comfort of upgraded technology. At the concession stand, they serve burgers, pizzas, hot dogs, french fries and other treats. Moreover, on weekends the entire drive-in area becomes a huge swap meet; it has since become one of the oldest and largest open-air markets in Southern California.

Located in Upland, the Grove Theater is a mid-century modern venue that was built in 1947 to screen Hollywood films. Today, it functions as a live event theater for stage performances which range from dance musicals to plays and one-man shows. Every season has a theme and the shows fit accordingly, so expect plenty of holiday spectaculars during winter. The theater also offers workshops and classes to all age groups in order to better appreciate performance art in the community. On a side note, the stage director is Sherry Kinison, brother-in-law to the late, great comedian Sam Kinison.

The Planes of Fame Air Museum started in 1957 as a project by Edward Maloney, who was an avid collector of WWII aircraft. Ever since his idea, the museum has been collecting historic flying machines, some of which are the only remaining ones of their kind. The museum also features the largest collection of Japanese aircraft in the world and since it's a living history museum, some of these can still fly, so make sure to catch the air shows to see history in action.

Located in the city of Claremont, the Pomona College Museum of Art is a teaching museum which features student artwork from the private liberal-arts college as well as pieces from more established artists. The exhibitions are definitely eclectic, some of the past ones have included exhibits on Chinese snuff bottles, stencil drawings, sculpture and paintings from writer-composer and Pomona alumnus John Cage. Needless to say the varied media is impressive. Moreover, the James Turrell Skyspace is an architectural wonder which focuses on the nature of light and how it is emitted. The lighting programs within the room are timed for sunrise and sunset in order to amplify the color in the space.