Great sights and shopping around the schools of Claremont

Folk Music Center

What: Dulcimers, banjos, sitars, tablas, harps, and hundreds of other acoustic noisemakers. When: 10-6 Tue-Sat, 11-4 Sun. Where: 220 Yale Ave.; www.folkmusiccenter.org or 909/624-2928.

Claremont Fine Arts

What: California regional painters of the '30s through the '50s, such as former Scripps art professor Millard Sheets. When: 11-4:30 Thu-Sat or by appointment. Where: 206 Yale Ave.; 909/624-5078.

Walter's Restaurant

What: A Claremont institution. We love the Friday and Saturday night Afghan specials, especially anything flavored with cardamom. When: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. How much: $$. Where: 310 Yale Ave.; 909/624-4914.

The Grove House

What: A Pitzer sandwich shop in a landmark 1907 house with gorgeous palm gardens. Try homemade cookies and fresh limeade. When: 9-4 and 7-11 Mon-Thu, 9-4 Fri, 12-3 Sat, 7-11 Sun. How much: $. Where: On campus, east of Mills Ave.; 909/607-3654.

Info: The city of Claremont is 35 miles east of downtown L.A. via I-10. Take the Indian Hill Blvd. exit and head north to First St.