Free
Riverside County Library System
Riverside County
Free storytimes, tot times and baby lapsits at branches from Eastvale to Jurupa Valley.
Good for: A free weekday morning.
Skip if: you need a Sunday; most branches are closed.
Report a problemGUIDE Inland Empire · The IE
Things to do with toddlers and little kids in Inland Empire: the parent guide.
The Inland Empire spreads across two counties, so plan around one area at a time.
Around town6 spots · checked Oct 29
The Inland Empire places we go back to, again and again.
The places we go back to all year. Where to eat with a toddler, where to burn off energy when it rains, where to splash, what’s worth the admission, and where to spend a night without going far.
Play
Indoor play and rainy days
For rainy mornings, cold afternoons and anyone who needs to run in circles for an hour. For toddler classes and every indoor playground we’ve checked, with prices and sock rules, see indoor play in Inland Empire.
Free
San Bernardino County Library
San Bernardino County
Free toddler and baby storytimes at branches in Chino, Rialto, Loma Linda and other cities.
Good for: A free toddler class.
Skip if: you want something on Sunday morning.
Report a problemFeatured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Inland Empire that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Splash & ride
Parks and outdoor play
Pools, fountains, zoos and theme parks: the big all-day outings.
Riverside, 9400 Dufferin Ave.$
California Citrus State Historic Park
Working orange groves with picnic spots and easy walking paths. Day use is $7 per car.
Good for: A picnic and a stroller walk.
Skip if: it’s hot; there’s little shade on the grove paths.
Daily 8am–5pmSite ↗ for California Citrus State Historic Park
Report a problemFeatured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Inland Empire that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Explore
Museums, zoos and big outings
Museums, animals and farm days that hold a little one’s attention.
Chino Youth Museum
$Chino, 13191 Sixth Street
A small hands-on museum for young kids, with pretend-play rooms and weekly programs. Babies under 2 get in free.
Tickets
- Kids 2 and up $10
- Under 2 free
Good for: A rainy morning with kids 1 to 6.
Skip if: it’s Sunday through Tuesday; it’s closed.
Wed–Sat 10am–4pmSite ↗ for Chino Youth Museum
Report a problemSan Bernardino County Museum
$Redlands, 2024 Orange Tree Lane
A natural history museum just off the 10, with fossils, birds and a hands-on STEAM lab. Kids 5 and under get in free.
Tickets
- Adults $12
- Kids 5 and under free
Good for: A dinosaur-loving preschooler.
Skip if: it’s Monday or a county holiday; it’s closed.
Tue–Sun 9am–5pmSite ↗ for San Bernardino County Museum
Report a problemYanks Air Museum
$Chino Airport, 15121 Stearman Drive
Hangars full of restored planes at the Chino Airport. Kids who love airplanes can spend a long time here.
Good for: A plane-mad toddler.
Skip if: it’s Sunday or Monday; it’s closed.
Tue–Sat 10am–4pmSite ↗ for Yanks Air Museum
Report a problemFeatured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Inland Empire that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
These don’t change week to week. Last checked . Hours and prices change, so check the place’s own site before you go. Know a spot we missed? Tell us at hello@littlesweekly.com.
No ticket needed
Free things to do
Where a family can go in Inland Empire without paying for admission. For free days, free events and this week’s free outings, see every free thing to do in Inland Empire.
Littlest explorers
Best for under 3s
Free or cheap for babies and toddlers, and easy with a stroller.
Every week
Library storytimes
Recurring and free. Times change by branch, so check the calendar. For every weekly storytime by day and branch, see library storytimes in Inland Empire.
Weekday mornings, plus Saturday family storytime in EastvaleRiverside County Library System
Free storytimes and tot times at county branches.
Schedule ↗Weekday and Saturday morningsSan Bernardino County Library
Free toddler and baby storytimes across the county.
Schedule ↗Babies and 1-year-olds
Things to do with a baby or a 1-year-old in Inland Empire
Baby storytimes, places where babies get in free, and where to change and feed. For rainy days, see indoor play places; for zero-cost ideas, see free things to do.
Baby and lap-sit storytimes
Thursdays at 10:20am · Corona Public LibraryLittle Ones Storytime · Corona Public Library
For babies 0–24 months and a caregiver, in the High Desert Room.
Storytime calendar ↗Babies get in free
Chino Youth Museum
Under 2 free
Admission page ↗By season
Seasonal spots
Santa visits and Christmas lights only run part of the year, so they have their own pages with this season’s dates and prices.
This week
What’s on this week in Inland Empire
The guide is the evergreen list. Here’s what’s happening in Inland Empire right now.
- Ghoul’s Night Out at Bryant ParkBryant Park · Free
- Chino Halloween SpooktacularRuben S. Ayala Park · Free
- Rialto Halloween Hi-JinksRialto Civic Center · Free
Good questions
Things to do with toddlers in Inland Empire: the FAQ
Is the Inland Empire good for toddlers?
Yes. The Chino Youth Museum is built for young kids, and the San Bernardino County Museum lets kids 5 and under in free.
What’s free for little kids in the Inland Empire?
Library storytimes in both counties, plus free city events like Riverside’s park parties.
What can we do in Inland Empire on a rainy or cold day with a toddler?
Go indoors: Riverside County Library System and San Bernardino County Library. They’re all under one roof, and most work for a short visit around nap time.
What can we do with a baby, 1-year-old or 2-year-old in Inland Empire?
Chino Youth Museum: Babies under 2 are free. California Citrus State Historic Park: Easy stroller paths. Free for the littlest: San Bernardino County Museum (Kids 5 and under free). See best for under 3s.
Where are the free storytimes in Inland Empire?
Riverside County Library System: Weekday mornings, plus Saturday family storytime in Eastvale. San Bernardino County Library: Weekday and Saturday mornings. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See library storytimes, and this week’s dated sessions are on the Inland Empire weekly list.
How do you choose the places in the Inland Empire guide?
Every one of the 6 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 2 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we choose and check.
Get the list every Thursday.
One short email every Thursday evening with the five things we’d leave the house for in Inland Empire.