The city that hosts FMCA’s next Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase — Pomona, California — is full of places to see and experiences to treasure.
By Peggy Jordan, Associate Editor
January 2015
In a few short months, FMCA members will be arriving in Pomona, California, anticipating fine entertainment, motorhome exhibits and related displays, enlightening seminars, and that most valuable commodity of all: each other’s company. All of these are mainstays at FMCA international events. The next one — the association’s 91st Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase, dubbed “California Gold” — will take place at Fairplex, home of the Los Angeles County Fair, Thursday, March 26, through Sunday, March 29, 2015.
Pomona is 30 miles east of America’s second largest city, Los Angeles, along Interstate 10, a road locals call the San Bernardino Freeway. Instead of Hollywood and television studios, Pomona is known for being home to California State Polytechnic University, as well as Fairplex.
Discover Fairplex
Newbies to Family Reunions and longtime visitors alike will enjoy Fairplex. The county fairgrounds is a huge and accommodating space where FMCA members from all over North America have convened six times previously, in 1993, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2008. Motorhomers will find that Family Reunion activities such as seminars and exhibits will be held in comfortable indoor spaces. More than 120 seminars will be offered at this Family Reunion. And pickleball players will get to play tournament games on indoor courts.
After becoming acquainted with where the main activity areas are (or at least where to go if they get lost!), FMCA members will notice that all sorts of other facilities are right at Fairplex. Among other things, this 487-acre space is home to the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center, a 5/8-mile horse racing track, a drag strip race track (the Auto Club Raceway), an art center, a child care facility, a railway exhibit, a horse auction facility, and the Wally Parks National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Motorsports Museum.
The latter is a do-not-miss collection of cool drag-racing cars, related historical photos, and other memorabilia. The excitement of speed is written all over this place, which tells the stories of brave and innovative drivers and mechanics and their famous vehicles. A small admission fee is charged, and the museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (www.nhramuseum.org).
Eat Like A Local
You do not have to go far to find a dining spot, with two restaurants right on the Fairplex grounds. At the Sheraton hotel is McKinley’s Grille, and near Fairplex Gate 12 is the Finish Line Sports Grill.
And just a walk from Fairplex takes you to the local mother lode of ice cream, one that has been broadcast far and wide: Dr. Bob’s HandCrafted Ice Creams. Dr. Robert Small, a professor at Cal Poly in Pomona, started making his own ice cream in 1999 and has won many gold medals at the Los Angeles County Fair. His tasty confection has even been promoted on the “Today” show. Dr. Bob’s factory is at 1101 W. McKinley, right down the street from Fairplex. Head for the factory back door to get some, but keep in mind it is sold only in hand-packed pints.
When you’re ready to take the towed car and let your taste buds be your guide, options are diverse. All kinds of ethnic and American flavors can be found in the area. Some of the most popular eateries include Coco Palm, an upscale spot serving Caribbean and Cuban meals with a view; Donahoo’s Golden Chicken, honored as having the best fried chicken in town; Los Jarritos, granted “best Mexican food” status in various reviews; The Rookery, a gastropub; and The Brick Market and Deli. Many more choices await in Pomona as well.
Find Something Shiny
The thrill of discovery keeps antiques aficionados and art lovers returning to Pomona’s famous Second Street Antique Row. This revitalized shopping district has so many unique items, surprises are commonplace. And Second Street’s Antique Row will be the base for a Collectors Street Faire during FMCA’s Family Reunion on Saturday, March 28, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. You’ll find three blocks of vendors all set up, and admission is free. Later that day from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., the Pomona Sculpture Park, located on West Second Street, will be open for tours.
In 2004 a new museum sprang up in Pomona, and it has blossomed quite a bit since the last time FMCA members were in town: the American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA). Located on North Garey Avenue, this huge space contains amazing artworks; among the showstoppers is a large, historical Mettlach beer stein collection. AMOCA is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m. and admission is charged; see www.amoca.org or call (909) 865-3146 for more details.
Golden Memories
Some very sentimental journeys start just outside Pomona. One takes place at a drive-in movie theater on Ramona Avenue in the neighboring town of Montclair. The Mission Tiki Drive-In Theatre, originally opened in 1956, welcomes moviegoers with shows on four screens. The entire drive-in was refurbished in 2006 with a mid-20th-century flair. Bring cash to pay for your entry; park your towed car (how could anyone see the movie around your coach?); and check out the Tiki-styled concession stand. Then, you can munch while you watch the latest film features.
This same drive-in also attracts bargain hunters for the Mission Tiki Swap Meet, one of California’s biggest open-air markets. The sales are held from early in the morning until around 1:00 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Check www.missiontiki.com for movie times and event details, or call (909) 628-0511.
If you don’t mind the drive, more car-culture nostalgia can be found at the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville, about 55 miles northeast of Pomona. This collection is housed in a historic building right along old U.S. Route 66. Treat yourself to views of signs, cars, mementos, and more from the days when the Mother Road was a pulsing vein of life across the United States, influencing architecture, art, and culture. Admission is free and ample RV parking is available; the museum is open Thursday through Monday. Call (760) 951-0436 or visit www.califrt66museum.org for more information.
The Planes of Fame Air Museum, located about six miles southeast of Pomona at the airport in Chino, takes you back in time, too. Flyers in this collection mainly are from World War II, but some also come from the Korean conflict, the Cold War era, and the Vietnam era. Most docents are veterans who have firsthand knowledge of the aircraft. Sometimes the planes, many of which are operational, can be seen taking off or landing. And, lately, the museum has been adding ground vehicles such as jeeps and tanks to its holdings.
Admission is charged and the museum is open daily. Call (909) 597-3722 or visit www.planesoffame.org for more information.
Many other museums are located a bit farther outside town; contact Visit California (information below) and see articles in future issues of Family Motor Coaching to learn more.
Greens In Those Hills
Sometimes you just need to get out into nature for some recreation. Coincidentally, the entrance to Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park is a mere one mile from Fairplex. Right near that entrance, golfers will want to pull over and get out the clubs. The beautiful Mountain Meadows Golf Course is a regulation 18-hole, par-72 affair with its own driving range, putting greens, and cart and club rentals. Call (909) 623-3704 for details.
Even if you don’t golf, Bonelli Park will make you feel as though the city is far away. The park includes Puddingstone Lake and boasts an impressive 1,975 acres of nature. Many trails wind through the preserve, and folks riding horses are frequently spotted, as the park has its own equestrian center. A daily vehicle entrance fee is charged.
Other golf courses near Pomona include Diamond Bar Golf Course, a few miles south of Pomona; the beautiful San Dimas Canyon Golf Course, in San Dimas, just a bit north of Fairplex; and Marshall Canyon Golf Course, near La Verne, a few miles northeast of San Dimas. With these and other area choices, golfers will not lack for a chance to play.
Time For Spending!
If you love to uncover bargains or fabulous gifts for friends (or yourself), make plans to travel a few minutes east of Pomona to Ontario Mills and Victoria Gardens.
Ontario Mills is an outlet mall set up entirely indoors, with stores representing a huge selection of retailers, including Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lucky Brand Jeans, Nordstrom, J. Crew, and Nike. Fun restaurants, such as Rainforest Café and Dave & Buster’s, plus Market Broiler and its seafood specialties, are some of the dining choices.
At Victoria Gardens, completed in 2004, stores and eateries are arranged street-style, with exterior entrances and a village-style atmosphere. Trollies run about the place on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, taking shoppers from stop to stop. Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Macy’s, and JCPenney are among the landmarks, mixed with approximately 150 other stores and restaurants. Victoria Gardens is near the Rancho Cucamonga exit, just a few miles north of Ontario Mills via Interstate 15 (the Ontario Freeway).
No matter whether your desire is to stay at Fairplex or mine all the valuable territory on the outskirts of Pomona, you are certain to uncover riches should you join other FMCA members at the next Family Reunion this March. Go for the gold, and expect to strike it rich!
Further Info
Pomona Chamber of Commerce
(909) 622-8484
www.pomonachamber.org
Downtown Pomona Owners Association
(909) 469-1121
www.downtownpomona.org
Visit California
(877) 225-4367
(916) 444-4429
www.visitcalifornia.com
Area Campgrounds
The following campgrounds are listed according to their distance from Fairplex, starting with the closest. (The Fairplex KOA is part of the complex.) For more listings, visit the RV Marketplace at FMCA.com and in this issue of FMC, or check your favorite campground directory.
Los Angeles/Pomona/Fairplex KOA
2200 N. White Ave.
Pomona, CA 91768
(888) 562-4230 reservations
(909) 593-8915 information
East Shore RV Park, C5407*
1440 Camper View Road
San Dimas, CA 91773
(800) 809-3778
(909) 599-8355
www.eastshorervpark.com
Prado Regional Park
16700 S. Euclid Ave.
Chino, CA 91708
(909) 597-4260
http://cms.sbcounty.gov/parks/parks/pradoregionalpark.aspx
Anaheim Resort RV Park, C7730*
200 W. Midway Drive
Anaheim, CA 92805
(714) 774-3860
www.anaheimresortrvpark.com
Canyon RV Park
24001 Santa Ana Canyon Road
Anaheim, CA 92808
(714) 637-0210
www.canyonrvpark.com
*FMCA Commercial Member
“California Gold” Highlights
Plans are well under way for FMCA’s 91st Family Reunion & Motorhome Showcase in Pomona, March 26-29, 2015. Features include:
- Hard-surface parking for all attendees
- 50-amp and 30-amp electric service available
- Evening entertainment:: Country solo artist Mary Kaye, Friday, March 27; Peter Noone & Herman’s Hermits, Saturday, March 28
- Grand Prize drawing at evening entertainment, Saturday, March 28
- Gold Digger game with prizes
- Bonus Bucks prizes
- More than 250 supplier exhibits in carpeted, climate-controlled buildings
- More than 150 coach exhibits outdoors near family parking
- More than 120 motorhome lifestyle seminars in climate-controlled rooms with advanced audiovisual equipment
- Chapter Fair Thursday, March 26, featuring many of FMCA’s finest fun-loving groups
- Morning coffee hours with entertainment by FMCA’s Frustrated Maestros
- Ice Cream Social Saturday, March 28, with entertainment by FMCA’s Frustrated Maestros
Route 66 In California
Following are some facts about historic Route 66.
- The road ran from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, for 2,448 miles.
- A plaque in Santa Monica dedicates the highway to famed humorist Will Rogers, and the road’s official name was the Will Rogers Highway. Today it is better known as The Mother Road, a name given to it by author John Steinbeck.
- Its final mile was paved in 1938, and it was removed from the U.S. highway system in 1985.
- Route 66 ran for 315 miles through California; this photo shows a portion of the road in the Mojave Desert.
- “(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66” first became a hit tune in 1946, sung by Nat King Cole.