Location: Hemet
Top Things to do in Hemet
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10 Things to Do in Hemet That You Shouldn't Miss
Hemet is a city in the San Jacinto Valley in Riverside County, California. It covers a total area of 27.8 square miles (72 km), about half of the valley, which it shares with the neighboring city of San Jacinto. The population was 78,657 at the 2010 census.
Restaurants in Hemet
1. The Country Club at Soboba Springs
Overall Ratings
4 based on 23 reviews
Nestled in the foothills of the San Jacinto mountain range, the Country Club at Soboba Springs is a hidden gem surrounded by spectacular panoramic view and features waterfalls, streams and glimpses of indigenous wildlife. Our 32,000 sq ft Clubhouse with its Tuscan inspired architecture and knotty pine interior create a cozy ambiance. With a full service restaurant, special event spaces and a Par 72 - 7,165 yard PGA Championship golf course make the Country Club at Soboba Springs the perfect venue for a multitude of events including Weddings, Quinceanaras, Reunions, Retreats, Holiday parties, Birthdays, Golf Tournaments and much much more.
Reviewed By JLTP - Dix Hiils, NY
This is a very scenic, somewhat difficult course. Condition was good as was the pace of play. Our issue was the lack of cart service (because it was Wednesday, we were told) combined with the snack bar being closed at 1:45 (apparently, because the staffer was on a break). What snack bar closes in the middle of lunch hour? We were told we could get food upstairs at the full service restaurant, but we were at the turn and didn't want to wait the stated 20+ minutes for food and lose our place on the course. I appreciate the restaurant food is freshly prepared, but management has dropped the ball on this issue for the many golfers seeking a quick bite/refreshment during their round.
2. Western Science Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 75 reviews
Western Science Center is home to a fascinating array of Native American artifacts and Ice Age fossils that were unearthed at Diamond Valley Lake. You'll be moved by "Max", the largest mastodon found in the Western United States, as well as "Xena", a Columbian mammoth. Let your imagination run wild as you walk on tempered glass which houses "Little Stevie", a large mastodon installed beneath the museum floor to re-create the actual dig site.
Reviewed By BRENT C - OMAHA
The Western Science Center (WSC), formerly the Western Center for Archaeology & Paleontology, is a museum located near Diamond Valley Lake in Hemet, California. The WSC is home to a large collection of Native American artifacts and Ice Age fossils that were unearthed at Diamond Valley Lake, including "Max", the largest mastodon found in the western United States, and "Xena", a Columbian mammoth.
Opened in 2006, the museum has been designed to provide world-class facilities for the research, curation, and presentation of the nearly one million specimens discovered during the development of Diamond Valley Lake in Hemet.
The museum features a 156 feet long exterior walkway that holds a life-on-Earth time line. The welcome lobby features 24 feet high walls with re-created paleontological strata and reproduction fossils projecting from the walls.
The tour of the permanent gallery begins with interactive exhibits on the natural history of Domenigoni and Diamond Valleys, continuing through displays on European and Native American culture and history from the area. Among the artifacts on display are pieces donated by the Domenigoni family, the original settlers of the valley, and the Soboba band of Luiseño Indians that inhabited the area before them.
Visitors can view two movies on the construction of Diamond Valley Lake, and the fauna of the Pleistocene in the Diamond and Domenigoni Valleys, shown in a 270 degree immersive theater that shakes with the movies. From there, visitors proceed to the paleontology gallery, replete with fossils recovered and studied by scientists from the San Bernardino County Museum. The highlights of this gallery are the skeletons of "Max", the largest mastodon ever discovered in the western United States, and "Xena", a Columbian mammoth. Also featured in the gallery is "Li'l Stevie", one of the most complete mastodons known from the western United States, who is displayed unreconstructed and still partially buried as found when it was first uncovered. The gallery also features the skeletons of a Harlan's ground sloth, and interactive displays on the disciplines of archaeology and paleontology. Visitors can also visit temporary traveling exhibits in the 3,000 square feet temporary exhibit area.
The museum also features a full-scale simulated archaeology and paleontology dig site, which opened for its first student excavations in the spring of 2009. It is currently being used by WSC staff, in association with local K-12 schools and colleges, to teach proper excavation methodology to students. It is also open for museum visitors to view an active dig site in process.
10 am – 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday
(Last ticket sold at 4:30 p.m., Museum Closes at 5:00 p.m.)
2017 Admission
Adults (13 and over) $8.00
Seniors (62+) $6.50
Youth (5 to 12) $6.00
Students (13-22 with current I.D.) $6.50
Youth 4 and under FREE
Active Military (with current I.D.)* FREE
$2.00 (free to members) Audio Tour
*Individual only, offer does not include dependents
3. Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 58 reviews
Reviewed By TooMuch2Do - Laguna Niguel, California
I've been wanting to come to the performance of Ramona for 25 years and finally got there. It is an iconic, historic performance of an important period in California history, well told, and everyone should see it at least once.
Unless you are local, it's a couple hours drive from LA, San Diego, or Orange County. Make sure to allow enough time for traffic; the last couple of miles are side streets.
Parking is $5. The road winds around past the performers' lot where you pay. Then you circle the entire parking lot, past the drop-off point at the entrance, and past the extensive, close-in handicapped parking, down to the main lot. There is a shuttle that takes you up the hill. Otherwise it's an uphill walk including two flights of steps.
If you get there early (an hour would be about right), there are concessions selling Mexican food, drinks (including wine and beer), and the Ramona Terrace provides table service in the shade, along with a take away window. Food and drinks can be brought into the amphitheater. The only thing they sold inside was cotton candy. There is also a gift shop if you forgot a hat, and also a museum with displays on local sites where the novel is thought to have been set plus posters and photos of past pageants. Don't miss the photo by the door of the crowd at the first pageant. These are also open after the performance if you want to linger until traffic dies down.
The photos posted for this attraction give you a good idea of what the stadium and box seats look like. The stadium seats are concrete with wooden backs with lots of steps up and down to get to them. The center of the stage is sections C and D. Section A and B get the shade earlier, but the sun will be hot and at your back most of the play. The box seats are farthest from the stage but have real chairs and are shaded. You'll be able to see well from any seat, but the sections C and D around row 12 were excellent.
As others have mentioned, bring a pillow, cushion, or stadium chair for comfort, or you can rent a fabric covered cushion. Volunteers will bring you cool wet clothes to stave off the heat. Wear a wide brimmed hat or one with a panel in the back, apply sun screen, and wear light colors and layers. It was very hot early in the play, but cooled off in the shade near the end. Some people used umbrellas before the play and at intermission, but they are not allowed during the play.
Programs are $5 from a booth right at the entrance. They do not sell them inside.
The doors open at 1:30 and the concession stands are open, and different groups dance or play music. The play starts at 3:30; the half hour intermission was at 5:00, the play was over at 6:30. The pace is slower than what you might be used to. There are a few long interludes with dancers and singers--the hoop dancers were mesmerizing! Due to the length of the play, the heat, and most of the subject matter (violence and oppression in California history), some of the children and youth I saw were not engaged and some families left at intermission. A cannon is fired and there are many gunshots. It's all very well done and appropriate for the subject matter but small children may be frightened.
It was almost like being on set of a Western. The horses and their riders were exciting to watch and the actors were excellent. All in all, it was a wonderful afternoon outdoors where history came to life.
4. Estudillo Mansion
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By SereneEcho - Hemet, CA
The 1884 mansion is open for tours on Saturday's and during some city events. We went during the agricultural festival. It's an interesting tour throughout the house. Because we went during an event there were a lot of players and storytellers out on the wrap around porch and in the rooms storytellers dressed in period garb. I imagine it would be more intimate during the Saturday tours. It really is a beautiful house that they've preserved.
5. Simpson Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 32 reviews
Reviewed By Terry D - Parksville, Canada
Simpson Park is a wonderful viewpoint to see and experience the Hemet Valley. With vistas over the valley and Diamond Valley Lake it is a fine place for a picnic, sightseeing, picture taking, hiking, etc.
6. Diamond Valley Lake
Overall Ratings
4 based on 69 reviews
Diamond Valley Lake is a drinking water reservoir built, owned and operated by The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. This reservoir is an important component to providing water for 18 million Southern Californians, and is a critical lifeline in times of drought. To protect this resource, no body contact with the water is permitted. However, the Diamond Valley Aquatic Center, located near the entrance to the lake, allows for plenty of fun in the water. The Diamond Valley Visitor Center and the Western Science Center, which houses 1 million paleo and archaeo artifacts found during the construction of the Lake, are also located at the entrance to Diamond Valley Lake. The Lake and the surrounding hills have also become known for the spectacular wildflower blooms each spring, and are popular among hikers. Non-motorized bicycles are also permitted on the Lake View Trail, and equestrians can enjoy the North Hills Trail.
Reviewed By Crt1943 - Rio Vista, California
I wanted to give this wonderful place five stars as it is a beauty. The flower trail was magnificent and we did walk always on it - but not far enough to pay $13 for parking and $2 more for each person -$17 for about thirty minutes of looking at the lake and the flowers. Also, took it down because the ports potties were filled to the rim and the most disgusting I have ever experienced. We did go to the other end of the lake and got in for free, walked up to the point and viewed the lake and left - about the same we did . Why the great expense ? We thought it would be a nice place to go back and walk a little further a bit for $17? Come on folks....we all aren't wealthy.
7. Soboba Casino
Overall Ratings
3 based on 45 reviews
Nestled in the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains, Soboba Casino is a one-stop headquarters for California gaming and entertainment. The casino features 2,000 slot machines and more than 20 table games.
Reviewed By S9332GNgaryl - San Jacinto, California
Took my Mom here. Casino needs updating. You also have to walk through the smoke rooms to get to the non smoking room. Machines don’t pay very well. I won’t waste my time to go back.
8. Winchester Farms Country Market
Overall Ratings
2 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By Kauai-Biz-Traveler - Riverside, California
Don't forget to stroll the exterior perimeter of the parking lot to explore to antique farming equipment (with genuine tumbleweeds stuck in their crevices). The farmers market inside has a wide variety of local treats and farm fresh veggies, but they were out of several things and it looks like resupply for some of the advertised goodies to this remote location is infrequent, e.g. no tamales again until Friday delivery.
9. Diamond Valley Lake Visitors Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By Kauai-Biz-Traveler - Riverside, California
This is one of the best local visitor centers in the US. The displays present a brief overall history of the area's civilization followed by a vast and thorough presentation of SoCal water distribution and management. The displays that present the science of the water cycle and sources are being updated. There's also a very good movie presentation of the DVL project. Don was a terrific docent, able to answer all of our questions.
10. Hemet Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By Kauai-Biz-Traveler - Riverside, California
This is one of the best community museums in Riverside County. The displays do a nice job of depicting the valley across it's entire history, and they do it in a tight and efficiently-curated space. The old train depot (similar to the Perris Museum) is a wonderful venue and they've done a much better job of utilizing space including a coffee shop. Parking is conveniently located directly in front of the entrance with plenty of overflow behind the depot.
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