LOCATION

Loma Linda is a quiet residential community of 20,000, located 60 miles east of Los Angeles in the San Bernardino Valley. The narrow valley is surrounded by the picturesque San Bernardino Mountains which rise to more than 11,000 feet.

One of the advantages of living in the San Bernardino area is its proximity to a wide variety of recreational areas. The beach, mountains, and desert are all within one hour's drive. To the north lies the San Bernardino National Forest. In addition to many ski resorts, Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear offer water skiing, swimming, hiking, mountain biking, boating, and camping. To the east is Palm Springs with its world famous golf courses, natural spas, and exotic shopping. To the west are sunny, spacious Southern California beaches such as Malibu and Laguna. Los Angeles offers many other nationally known recreational areas such as Disneyland, Magic Mountain, and Knott's Berry Farm. San Diego, a 90-minute drive to the south, offers the world famous San Diego Zoo, Sea World, beaches, and temperate weather. Closer to home, Lake Perris is 20 minutes away and offers fishing, wind surfing, water skiing, and sailing.

TRANSPORTATION

The Riverside and San Bernardino areas boast an extensive freeway system which carries much less traffic than the Los Angeles area. The local bus service is excellent. Ontario International Airport, a 20-minute drive from Loma Linda, offers daily connections to all major airports. Los Angeles has recently become more accessible due to the addition of the new public train system, Metrolink.

THE INLAND EMPIRE AREA

Loma Linda University Medical Center is located in a vast metropolitan area east of Los Angeles known as the Inland Empire. It is considered to be the crossroads of Southern California. The beaches of Newport, Laguna, and Malibu are only 60 to 90 minutes to the west, with superb swimming, sun-bathing, surfing, and sailing. Also 60 minutes to the west is downtown Los Angeles, with its top-quality restaurants, world-renowned museums, opera, theater, and other cultural opportunities.

The Inland Empire also provides a number of cultural opportunities of its own. The town of Redlands, adjacent to Loma Linda, turns its Main Street into an outdoor market once a week. The Redlands Theatre Festival puts on performances ranging from Shakespearean plays to musicals to contemporary drama. The Redlands Bowl provides a free concert series with world-class musical, dance, and dramatic performances each season. Traditionally, members of the audience bring blankets to sit on and a light dinner to enjoy before the Bowl performances begin. The Redlands and Inland Symphonies perform at concert halls within a 15-minute drive of the Loma Linda campus.

Those who enjoy snow skiing have easy access to the San Bernardino Mountains, only 45 to 60 minutes to the north. During the spring, summer, and fall seasons, these forested mountains also provide first-rate hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, fishing, and rock climbing. Water-skiing and sailing are also an option at nearby Lake Arrowhead, Big Bear Lake, and Lake Perris.

The golf courses, shopping, and spas of Palm Springs are a 60-minute drive to the east. World-class Mammoth Mountain resort is a six-hour drive to the north.

The area around Loma Linda is a mountain biker's paradise. Miles of challenging trails are found in the unpopulated hills above the city of Loma Linda, within five minutes of the Medical Center. Other excellent mountain bike-riding areas can be found throughout the San Bernardino Mountain range a few miles to the north.

Winters are clear and cool with spectacular views of snow-covered Mt. Baldy, Mt. San Bernardino, Mt. San Gorgonio, and Mt. San Jacinto. Temperatures rarely dip below 60o F on winter days. Summers are hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from 80o to 100o F on average.

Loma Linda University Medical Center is located in a quiet suburban neighborhood. Typically, LLUMC residents live in attractive, family-oriented, and relatively crime-free neighborhoods in or around Loma Linda. Housing costs in the area are among the lowest in Southern California and some residents choose the option of buying a home.

DRAYSON CENTER

The Drayson Center provides residents with indoor sports facilities including, basketball courts, a weight room, volleyball courts, racquetball courts, table tennis, and floor hockey. Outdoor facilities include tennis courts, football and soccer fields. An extensive intramural sports program promotes friendly competition in softball, volleyball, football, soccer and basketball. Classes and training are available in many outdoor and recreational activities including rock climbing, camping, tennis, and marathon race training.