One Of America's Safest Cities Is A California Gem Between LA And Riverside

Bar Disneyland, visitors to Los Angeles and Riverside tend to focus on coastal towns and attractions rather than heading inland. Understandably so, when you have Malibu, Laguna, and dozens of other California beaches to choose from. 

While getting outdoors may take priority when searching for a place to visit around LA, there's no question that safety is an important consideration too, especially if you're traveling with kids. Chino Hills in San Bernardino County is lucky enough to offer easy access to nature and be a safe destination. OCity ranked Chino Hills at number 47 out of 100 U.S. cities for safety in 2026, while Niche figures show violent crime rates in the area are well below the country's average — resulting in this suburb of nearly 78,000 residents having a reputation for being one of the safest in the U.S.

Chino Hills is also appreciated for its abundance of parks and network of trails. The nearby Chino Hills State Park has more than 90 miles of trails within its boundaries, suitable for hiking, biking, or horseback riding, and that's not counting the 48 miles of trails in the city. Brimming with restaurants and shops, Chino Hills is applauded for its high quality of life and community spirit, too. Dr. John Husing, who is an expert in Southern California's growing economy, has called the city "one of Southern California's best kept secrets," as quoted on the Chino Hills' website. Sitting just off State Route 71, Chino Hills is a 35-minute drive to Riverside and an hour's drive from LA and all of its off-the-beaten path attractions. It's also less than two hours by car to Palm Springs, one of the best day trips from LA. If you're flying in, the nearest airport is Ontario International Airport (ONT), just 15 miles away.

Getting back to nature is easy in Chino Hills, with an astonishing 44 parks to choose from. That doesn't include Chino Hills State Park, and its 14,000 acres of gentle hills and valleys around Santa Ana Canyon. Visit in a rainy year between February and April, and you'll catch a multicolored display of wildflowers carpeting the hillsides – one of the best superblooms in California. Thousands of flowers, including California poppies, violet arroyo lupines, and Canterbury bells turn the park into enough glorious Technicolor to put the meadows in "The Wizard of Oz" to shame, while butterflies and bees flit between the blooms, helping to ensure the wildflowers return for another season. To see this spectacular display, take the Bane Ridge Trail, which, like many other trails in the park, is open to hikers, bikers, and horseback riders, but not to dogs. Make sure you know what to do if you cross paths with a rattlesnake, as they're common in the area.

The vibrant landscape may be one of the main draws to Chino Hills, but there are other beautiful attractions, including some rather special religious landmarks. The largest traditionally-built Hindu temple in California, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, contains 35,000 pieces of intricately-carved Italian Carrara marble and Indian pink sandstone – a staggering display of South Asian architecture. The temple and shrines are open everyday. 

To round off your spiritual adventure, join a Mandir and Buddhist Temple Tour, which also includes a guided visit to Hsi Lai Temple and its gardens in nearby Hacienda Heights. Visitors are welcome to join in a vegetarian lunch, served everyday from 11:30 a.m.

Chino Hills excels in parks, but it doesn't do too badly with its restaurants. Home to a surprisingly varied dining scene, it has a particularly wide range of Asian eateries, from Thai and Korean to Japanese. Favorites with locals include Holy Cow, a Japanese barbecue restaurant specializing in Wagyu beef; Vanilla Fish for sushi; and Le Kinnaree Thai Eatery, which excels in spicy curry and soup. 

Serious foodies can also search for fresh, local produce at Heritage Farmers Market every Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in The Shops at Chino Hills, an open-air shopping center full of boutiques, restaurants, and cafés. Treat yourself to a sackful of goodies to take home — you'll find everything from homemade, artisanal treats to international street food.

Accommodations range from campgrounds to luxury hotels. Stay off-grid in the primitive Rolling M Ranch Campground in Chino Hills State Park. Sites cost from $30 per night and can be reserved in advance. Alternatively, rent a cozy, forest cottage with a private garden and a hot tub for stargazing from Airbnb. Otherwise, Ayres Hotel Chino Hills is highly recommended, with spacious rooms from around $100 to $150 per night.