Situated at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, the City of Claremont is best known for its tree-lined streets, historic buildings and The Claremont Colleges—nationally and internationally renowned for their academic excellence. The Claremont community features Victorian homes, a population of nearly 40,000 and a vibrant Village full of sidewalk cafes, specialty shops and espresso bars. Adjacent the Village, the College Heights Lemon Packing House, built in 1922, was converted into the Claremont Musuem of Art, which opened in spring 2007.

Further afield, you’ll find even more to tempt you. With just 25 minutes separating the city from the nearest ski slopes, 90 minutes in between the Colleges and the desert and less than an hour drive to the Pacific beaches, Claremont is a great jumping off point for the many attractions that have made Southern California a great place to visit. Consult AOL’s Los Angeles city guide to discover things to do and places to go in the greater Los Angeles area.