Claremont Village: Some of Our Favorite Things
By KK Streator P'18 P'21
As parents, we’re lucky that the village of Claremont is so charming (unlike the traffic from L.A.)! Here are some tips for making the most of your visit(s) and an overview of our “favorite things” in the village.
TRAVEL: One word: traffic! (Definitely not one of our favorite things!) Whether you’re driving or flying into the area, time your travel around the dreaded Southern California traffic. CMC parents have strong opinions on the best way to get to campus, but try to avoid rush hours at all costs!
If you’re flying in, Ontario Airport is closest (a 15-minute drive to campus except during rush hour). There are almost no direct flights from the East Coast, and connections through San Francisco usually seem to run late. Los Angeles Airport (LAX) has lots of direct flights (and often the best deals), but it can be difficult to navigate. It can take over an hour to pick up a rental car, and the 50-mile drive can take over two hours if traffic is bad. Long Beach Airport is also about 50 miles from CMC. It has limited direct flights from the East Coast and may be more expensive, but is super easy to navigate and a great place to pick up a rental car.
TRANSPORTATION: Rental cars and taxis exist, and rideshare services (Uber and Lyft) are widely available in town and from the various airports. If you take a rideshare or taxi from the airport, you can generally automatically use the HOV/FasTrak lanes. If you get a rental car, consider getting a car with a FasTrak transponder. Ask your rental agency for details.
HOTELS:
- DoubleTree by Hilton: Close to campus and provides shuttle service. Can be expensive and books up very quickly, so reserve at least two months in advance (more for big events). Can be pricey.
- Sheraton Fairplex in Pomona: About three miles from campus. Huge rooms but can be full with conventions. Prices vary.
- Embassy Suites Ontario: Near the Ontario airport and only a 15-minute drive to campus.
- Holiday Inn Express Ontario Airport: Clean, good breakfasts, and only 15 minutes to campus.
- Casa 425: Great location in the village and atmosphere. Good bar and food. Rooms are large with interesting layouts, but can be expensive. Book in advance!
- Air BnB/VRBO—check listings
More details about area hotels, including discount codes, can be found on the CMC lodging webpage.
FOOD: Claremont has an abundance of restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and dessert shops that cater to a wide variety of tastes and budgets. You can find a full listing here or look for reviews on Yelp, but a few of our favorites include:
Dr.Grubb’s (healthy semi-fast food), Grizzby’s (donuts and biscuit sliders), The Spot (coffee), Eureka! (burgers), Packing House Wines, Some Crust Bakery (birthday cakes, pastries, and egg sliders), Bardot (outdoor patio), Viva Madrid (Spanish tapas), Union on Yale (pizza and more), Bua Thai Cuisine (good value Thai), Tutti Mangia (Italian), Back Abbey (burgers and beer), The Motley (coffeehouse at Scripps), Uno Tre Otto (hidden, cozy Italian), Walter’s (diner with middle eastern flair), The Coffee Bean, Petiscos (good value gourmet tacos), Augie’s Coffee House, 50-Fifty Asian Fusion, Saca’s (Greek, great falafel), Bert & Rocky’s (ice cream)
VILLAGE ACTIVITIES: Take in a movie at Laemmle’s. Check out the 150 unique stores and art galleries. You can access Claremont’s calendar of events for seasonal updates. The Pomona College Museum of Art is worth a visit.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITES: Visit the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. Hike in Claremont Hills Wilderness Park. Hike or ride a rental bike up Mount Baldy.
WAY OFF-CAMPUS ACTIVITIES: Head to Old Pasadena (about 45 minutes away) and don’t miss the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens (especially when the roses are blooming). Visit Newport Beach. Go to the giant Ontario Mills mall (about 15 minutes away), full of discount stores and a 30-screen movie theater. Go to L.A. and visit the Getty Art Museum.
DORM ROOM SHOPPING: Numerous big box stores are within a 10-minute drive of campus, including Bed, Bath & Beyond, Target, Wal-Mart, Sears, Macy’s, and the Ontario Mills mall.
Back to newsletter