Replying to Anyone familiar with the town of Corona, CA?

What up NS, let me start by saying I have never been to the great state of California and I'm looking for some insight.

I'm looking to visit there about 10 months from now, for a week, to check it out.

I'm currently a junior in college in New York state (lived here all my life) and need to start considering places I'd like to live after school.

I've been thinking for a long time that I'd like to live in California and fulfill the dream of "skiing and surfing in the same day". Well...kinda...money doesn't exactly grow on trees so I don't see that happening very often, but you get the point. Also, I'm just kinda tired of the east coast and need to experience something different for a year or 2, or 3.

Corona, CA intrigues me because it appears to be about 40 minutes in one direction from the coast, but about an hour and a half in the other direction to Bear Mountain.

I don't know much about this city other than what I've read on Wikipedia. If anyone is familiar with it, I'd love some insight. Cost of living? A lot of crime? Tons of traffic? Main things I should know?

It looks like the next closes main city is Riverside, CA. How about there?

BUT ALSO, I look to NS to possibly point me to other cities that have a reasonable distance to both skiing and the beach.

What I really want to avoid is a cold climate and living in the country. I like people around me.

Thanks!