The Citizens Business Bank Arena attracts some serious rock stars, like Kacey Musgraves, Lady Antebellum, and even Cher! This 11,000 seat covered arena is the largest in the Inland Empire. No wonder the big names love it.
The Ontario Reign. And reign they do, drawing more than 5,000 fans per game to the Citizens Business Bank Arena. In fact, they have led the entire East Coast Hockey League in attendance for three seasons and they've only had five! Not bad for a city that gets no winter snow or ice.
Ontario is home to the Ontario Mills, the largest one-story shopping mall on the west coast. Not only is it home to more than 200 stores, but most of them are a big-name outlet and factory stores like Neiman Marcus, Coach, and Nike. Holy discounts, Batman!
Or rather, the finger to the remote control. Revelation Raceway is a radio remote control car racetrack where people can go to fulfill their need for speed. The city used to house the Ontario Motor Speedway, the first major racing facility sanctioned by all four of the major racing organizations. Unfortunately this was demolished in 1980, but clearly, the residents didn't give up on their racing dreams!
The historic Gardiner Whittier Spring Auditorium hosts plays and operas like "Spamalot" and Val Kilmer's "Citizen Twain." The auditorium itself is part of Chaffey High School, which has one of the best theater programs in the whole country. Over the years, the thespians have put on hundreds of shows, including the first-ever stage production of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!"
Famous Stars and Straps, a clothing line created by Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker back in 1999, has its roots right here in Ontario. Skaters, rockers, and celebrities alike adore this brand and have worn it prominently on magazine covers and in music videos.
Ontario's Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park is more than just a park. There are two lakes on the premises for pedal boats in summer, fishing, and cabanas! And if you bring the kids along there are also water slides and a play park.
The Jazz Café is the soul of Ontario nightlife. Good food and good music always bound in this cozy place. Their Sophisticated Saturdays offer a chance to get all dolled up for a night on the town with live jazz, and you can come back the next day for Latin music and dancing. The club also throws a mean New Year's party.
Museum of History & Art, Ontario features a range of exhibits specific to the region. Here you can learn about Ontario's beginnings and founder George Chaffey. A favorite among visitors is the El Dia de los Muertos exhibit, made up primarily of work by local artists honoring lost loved ones. The grounds of the museum are also worth checking out. Admission is always free!
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in Claremont is the largest botanical garden devoted to California plants and is home to around 2,000 different varieties. The garden also works to preserve and cultivate some of the nation's most endangered native plants, and takes special care to promote conservation through research and education.
The Ontario we know and love today officially started with the Chaffey brothers, but the area's history reaches much farther back and has had Hispanic settlers since the Californio period in the 1840s. Perhaps the most famous of the area's early explorers was Juan Bautista De Anza, who eventually became the governor of New Mexico. Though his time in present-day Ontario was short, his expedition left an impact: Today a street, a middle school, and a park are named after him.
This adorable stage is the Jack Mercer Community Bandstand, built back in the Depression and still standing proud today. It was refurbished in 1996 and is now the home of the Ontario Chaffey Community Show Band, which is made up of musicians from all over Southern California.
... and Don Won's Corner Deli fits the bill nicely. Here you can find pastrami, melts, and all the traditional deli staples. You'll feel like you've been transported across the country to the Lower East Side. But don't be fooled-the Corner Deli also adds its own twists to the menu. Make sure to try the Famous Korean BBQ Sandwich and the "Don Won."
Well, maybe not every single person, but the Flappers Comedy Club in nearby Claremont hosts the funniest ones, and gives lessons for those wanting to hone their skills. On Thursdays, the club hosts First Timer Funnies where first-time comedians come out and show what they learned, all hosted by well-known comedians like SNL's Ryan Conner. If that isn't enough laughter, Flappers also has a DMV-approved traffic school hosted by Jeff Hodge. It's almost worth getting a ticket for!
Three engineers and brothers, George, William, and Charles Chaffey, came to the city from Canada in 1882 and established the Ontario Model Colony. Out of respect to their motherland, they named the colony after their hometown Ontario. And the rest is history. While it's kind of cool that the city has an older sibling out there, just be careful not to mix up your airline tickets!
Christmas on Euclid is a local tradition to raise money for various charities. Artists come together to sell their arts and crafts at booths along Euclid Avenue, Ontario's spacious main street-and even Santa stops by to see the kids. Be sure not to miss this event, as it is only held on the first Saturday of December.
Pretty much. Ontar Thai Restaurant has just about every Thai dish you could ever want, including pad thai noodles, beef salads, and soups served in a traditional Thai soup bowl. The owner makes sure to deliver every dish as authentic as possible, and locals will urge you to try the seafood fried rice or the Pad See Ewe.
Every year residents gather for a community pancake breakfast by the Kiwanis Noon Club, but with something a little extra: The Ontario Rotary club also puts on a classic car show. It's a great opportunity to mingle with fellow locals, admire the carefully restored cars and chow down on some delicious pancakes too. And you'll do your conscience good, since all money goes to community programs like the Chaffey High School band and the Colony High School football team.
In 1939 Ontario began an annual All-States Picnic on Independence Day to celebrate the diversity of the town. In 1941 the picnic drew 120,000 people, and was recognized by Ripley's "Believe It Or Not!" for having the world's longest picnic table, running along Euclid Avenue. The massive picnic still goes on today as a celebration of civic pride.
You don't have to travel across the globe to enjoy authentic Lebanese-it can be found right here in Ontario. Alina's Authentic Lebanese Cuisine has all the classics: shawarma, pita bread, hummus, and more. Plus it's all organic! Insider tip-make sure you get something served with garlic sauce. You won't regret it.
Designed by famous architect L.A. Smith in 1926, the Granada Theater was an entertainment staple in the heyday of motion pictures. The 87-year-old historical landmark was finally restored in 2013 under new management, and now hosts musical performances and even gives voice lessons.
Graber Olive House has been growing olives in Ontario since 1894, after owner C.C. Graber moved here and discovered the California delicacy. The house is now one of the oldest buildings in Ontario, and visitors can tour the facility to see how these delicious olives are cured and canned, and then shop for yummy products in the store.
This historical building is a testament to the commercial success of Ontario, and to the dedication of locals. It's named after Charles Frankish, one of the founders of Ontario, who constructed it with materials all made right here. It's basically the spirit of Ontario embodied in a building, and the elegant architecture is enough to make you stop and stare.
The Office Bar is the definition of a local dive. Friendly atmosphere, excellent prices, and yes, the coldest beer ever. The glasses are actually held in the freezer, so all the beer on tap is just the right temperature. Every year patrons gather for the bar's ugly Christmas sweater party, and inevitably, hilarity ensues.
Not quite like a pirate, more like an antiques aficionado. Treasures N Junk is a one-of-a-kind store with one-of-a-kind items: Vintage suitcases, typewriters and furniture are just some of the things found here. You could leave with anything from silverware to clothing, and even street signs! Basically a collector's paradise.
... an egg farm, that is. Parts of Ontario are still covered in farmland from the days when agriculture was big business, and Voortman's Egg Ranch has carried on the tradition of egg farming for 59 years and counting! I have to say, there's just something about buying eggs directly from the farmer that makes them taste so much better.
