Top Things to Do in Fontana
Fontana is a city, with a population of around 210,000 located in Southern California. An entrepreneur by the name of Henry Kaiser helped to turn this rural area into a bustling regional hub for the trucking industry, thanks to the building of a large steel mill in the area. The name Fontana was inspired by the Italian language, where it directly translates to ‘fountain’ or ‘water source’, relating to the nearby Santa Ana River. This city has a rich history, alongside a wealth of recreational activities for visitors to enjoy, which we will discuss in this article.
1.The first and most prominent attraction in Fontana is the Auto Club Speedway. This racing track is two-miles (or 3km) long and is the home of the famous NASCAR autosport. An interesting fact is that the Auto Club Speedway was built on the site of the Steel Mill that Henry Kaiser built, meaning this speedway has excellent links to the rich history of Fontana. Due to its popularity, the Auto Club Speedway has been parodied in film and television, making an appearance in the Disney film, Cars. This site makes for a great place to visit for autosport enthusiasts, as well as families looking for an exciting day out.
2. Next is the Centre Stage Theatre, which hosts the renowned Tibbies Cabaret show. This venue was originally built in 1937 and was designed by Carl Boller, first being utilized as a one-screen movie theatre. Presently, it hosts a variety of shows including Broadway, Murder Mystery dinners, and hosting intimate celebrity concerts for guests to enjoy. The facility can even be rented out for Quinceanera and Mitzvah events, catering to large groups of people with a banquet menu and state of the art audio-visual equipment. If you have an interest in live performances and food, you can’t go wrong with Center Stage.
3. During the Summer months, the Fontana Aquatic Center is a great place to cool off and enjoy the sun. It is open year round and hosts a range of lessons including lap swimming, aqua aerobics, and general swimming lessons. These run from 8 am to 8 pm across a wide range of ages. They even offer Red Cross classes on-site, allowing you to become CPR and First Aid certified. There is a shallow paddling pool for children, alongside a laned pool for adults and confident child swimmers, which includes diving boards. The site also has a pair of water slides to add to the fun. Fontana Aquatic Center also benefits from a modern aesthetic and has secure locker rooms and showers for you to use when you finish swimming.
4. Finally, there is the Sierra Lakes Golf Club which allows improving your short game with the scenic San Bernardino Mountains as a backdrop. The course design is courtesy of the renowned Ted Robinson, an experienced golf course architect, and takes full advantage of the picturesque scenery surrounding the site. There are 18 holes for you to get stuck into at this course, so why not give it a go?
