Vacation rentals in Ontario

Nestled at the base of the soaring San Gabriel Mountains, Ontario is a modern town with a rich agricultural past. Fragrant citrus groves once thrived here, thanks to the arid Mediterranean climate, alongside walnut, olive, and peach farms. Today Ontario is a flourishing industrial and manufacturing town that honors its homespun roots. You’ll find world-class music acts and sporting events, exhibits bridging the past with contemporary voices at local museums such as the Ontario Museum of History and Art, and race car excitement at the nearby Auto Club Speedway. But you can also tour a historic olive cannery and sample handmade candy canes from a quaint storefront that has been making them since 1933. The highlight of Ontario’s downtown are the historic buildings clustered on and around Euclid Avenue, including a circa-1926 Italian Renaissance Revival-style post office designed by a famous Los Angeles architect who built houses for Hollywood stars. Located about an hour’s drive from both Los Angeles and Palm Springs, Ontario is a low-key base for exploring all things Southern California.

Thanks to its inland geography, Ontario enjoys plenty of warm, sunny days, making it an ideal spot to book one the city’s cottage rentals. Summers can get quite hot, and people flock toward the city’s air-conditioned environs. Fall and winter are typically warm, although you will experience sweater-weather days, too. These months can also usher in the Santa Anas, strong winds that gust through Southern California. Crowds love to stroll Euclid Avenue in the winter, when it is strung with festive lights.

Graber Olive House

Established in 1894, this is Ontario’s oldest operating business, and its grounds — which include the founder’s house, original barns, and a 100-year-old oak tree — have been declared a historic district. While the olives are now grown in the San Joaquin Valley, they are still brought in for processing, and visitors can tour the two-acre facility and get a firsthand look at how crops are graded, cured, and canned.

Planes of Fame Air Museum

Explore the early years of aviation at this museum showcasing nearly 160 vintage aircraft inside seven hangars. Included in the collection are candy-colored biplanes, rare warcraft, and a circa-1953 replica of the 1903 Kitty Hawk Flyer that the Wright brothers piloted over Ohio. Many of these planes still fly — check the website before you go for scheduled demonstration flights.

Sam Maloof House

This home was designed by a self-taught woodworker who is widely recognized as a preeminent craftsman of the 20th century; his sculptural, solid hardwood furniture resides in major museums such as the Smithsonian. This home, located in a lemon grove near the San Gabriel Mountains, is his masterpiece. Built by the artist and a team of assistants over 40 years, the artist’s hand is visible in every detail, such as carved door latches and hinges. The house can only be viewed by joining a docent tour, and it is recommended you reserve these in advance.