About
Claremont is a suburban city on the eastern edge of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It lies 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. It is in the Pomona Valley, at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Claremont is known as ‘The City of Trees and Ph.Ds.’ This is because the city has seven academic institutions aptly called Claremont Colleges. Plus, there are the iconic tree-lined streets that earned the town the Tree City USA designation for 22 consecutive years.
All these features come with the sophisticated atmosphere and small-town appeal. These have made the city one of the best places to live anywhere in the US. In fact, many publications and websites have ranked Claremont as one of the top suburbs in the region and the whole country.
Museum of Paleontology
The Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology is an educational facility. It is under the care of The Webb Schools. It’s the only nationally accredited museum set on a secondary school campus. It houses specimens of life forms from millions of years ago. The Hall of Life is also an engaging exhibit. Here you trace the story of how life emerged on the Earth since the beginnings of human civilisation. You can see the first multicellular organisms, and fossilised invertebrates. Also, skulls of dinosaurs and mammals can be found. The Hall of Footprints is the largest collection in the facility. This area has a collection of fossil footprints—the largest one in the US.
Immerse in the Nightlife at Claremont Packing House
You might confuse the bustling Claremont Packing House as a shopping mall. This building is the largest historic structure in the city. It has been around since 1922. Originally, it was used as a warehouse used by the people of Claremont. A century later, it has turned into a community gathering place. You’ll find hip boutiques, fine dining establishments, wine tasting rooms, art galleries, and various shops.
California Botanic Garden
This garden was once called the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. It has many native plants from all over the state. In all, there are some 2,000 species and 70,000 individual plants. The garden is used extensively by botanists and florists from the Claremont Colleges. You’ll find towering cacti and other desert flora here. Also, there are oak and pine trees from the highlands. These are along with palms from coastal habitats, and various wildflowers.
Claremont’s Folk Music Center
This is a combination of a museum, events place, classroom, and store. The institution celebrates the musical heritage of California and the surrounding region. Here, you’d find lots of guitars and similar instruments. But, these are just not ordinary instruments. Some of them date back to the 1800s.
Claremont Hills Wilderness Park
It is situated at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. This park is a favourite hiking destination in the area. It’s an ideal location for those who want a quick escape from busy lives and the noisy city.
Potato Mountain
This is a more challenging trek than the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park. The trail to the summit spans nine miles of slopes and rugged terrain. Potato Mountain iies 3,422 feet above sea level. The views at the summit are incredible. You can see the surrounding cities gleaming underneath the hot California sun. Plus, you get a glimpse of the nearby mountains and forests of the Angeles National Forest.