While there’s plenty of modern lore, the most prolific history here is of the natural sort. The scenic wonders of San Bernardino County have drawn for generations, with countless attractions covering the vast expanse from its arid valleys to mysterious peaks. Mitchell Caverns, perched in the Providence Mountains at 4,300 feet, offers guided tours of its stalactite-lined limestone caves, while a turn off Route 66 into Mojave National Preserve will bring you to Amboy Crater, a 6,000-year-old volcanic cider cone. Kelso’s Sand Dunes are famed for its “singing sands”: hikers often slide down the dunes to create the low-rumbling “song” that can be heard and felt through the ever-shifting ground.

Aside from the vibrant downtowns found throughout its communities, the county's purpose-built shopping centers are destinations unto themselves. Ontario Mills Fashion District ranks among Southern California’s largest malls, drawing nearly 30 million shoppers annually. Up in the mountains, there’s the Village at Big Bear Lake, an artsy-tchotchke assemblage by the ski slopes with its own bowling alley and a full roster of eateries representing a myriad cuisines from Nepalese to Caribbean island fare. History-steeped Redlands, with its ornate 19th century structures, offers an idyllic Main Street experience with sidewalk dining and hip watering holes pouring out craft-drafts.