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THINGS
TO DO IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA |
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Mission
Inn Riverside Day Trip
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By Matthew Martz |
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If you’re
looking for a romantic getaway, Riverside, California
may not be high on the list of places one might associate
with romance. But for decades, lovers have been flocking
to the Riverside Mission Inn with its unique blend of
Spanish Gothic, Mission Revival, Moorish Revival, Renaissance
Revival, and Mediterranean Revival style architecture.
Welcome to the Winchester Mystery House meets Hearst
Castle, with room service.
Unlike your standard hotel, no two floors here are
exactly alike. The inn is a labyrinth filled with spiral
staircases, slender passageways, hidden hallways, and
secret courtyards surrounded by lush and sometimes obscure
landscaping.
This magnificent architectural gem is nestled in the
old town district of Riverside, and is both a National
Historic Landmark, and a City of Riverside Historic
Landmark. While the exterior of the hotel is enough
to take your breath away, once you get lost inside,
you find endless rooms that keep you wandering.
While guests are invited to explore the inn on their
own, they do offer walking tours that lead to and around
the inn’s exterior arcades, turrets, flying buttresses,
staircases, five-story rotunda and gardens. However,
it's fun just to walk around the lobby enjoying the
tapestry carpets featuring the 21 California Missions,
the 10 or so portrait paintings of the U.S. Presidents
who have stayed at the inn, or to sit in the over-sized
chair that was custom-made for President Taft.
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President Roosevelt and
Nixon were married at one of the two wedding chapels on
the property, while the Reagan’s honeymooned at the
Mission Inn. The charm and lore of this unique place has
also attracted famous socialites and entertainers, including
Henry Ford, Joseph Pulitzer, Clark Gable, and Harry Houdini.
The guided tour tells the story of founder, Frank Miller
who received a small block of the hotel from his parents.
And while the Mission Inn is not a religious establishment,
Miller named it as such to bring the experience of missions
to the west. During the inn’s 30-year construction
period, Miller traveled abroad and traded with many people.
Each room at the Mission Inn is different, and a long
time ago, he would have price tags on almost everything
in the hotel room in case you were interested in purchasing
it.
Miller also had a fascination with bells, and at one
point in time had over 800 of all sizes and shapes placed
throughout the inn. Today there are only about 500, including
the ones in the famous clock tower that chime every hour.
As you venture through Miller’s enchanting creation,
you will notice from time to time that things sometimes
don’t match or seem out of place. All of it has
to do with his collection of artifacts from all over the
world and him using it as decor in his hotel.
For instance, iron gates that are two different styles,
two giant stained-glass windows in the St. Francis of
Assisi Chapel that Miller received from Tiffany &
Co., and the side surrounding Las Campanas Restaurant
that has chains that were taken off a sunken ship and
used as decoration.
With all of its quirkiness and beauty, the Mission Inn
today is known for having the second largest light show
in the nation, and every year is decorated with hundreds
of thousands of colorful Christmas lights, ranging from
the sublime to the ridiculous. There are also dozens of
animatronics that are absolutely breathtaking and really
evoke the magic of the holiday season. They even provide
horse-drawn Cinderella carriages rides.
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With all these things to explore at the
Mission Inn, one might forget that this one of a kind
Spanish-style structure hosts an elegant hotel, 5-star
restaurant, and full-service spa.
Duane's Steakhouse is one of the best
in the entire city and is absolutely a culinary delight,
while Kelly's Spa is a little slice of heaven. Nothing
can make you feel any better than a glass of champagne
in a warm robe, soft music, and the scent of Eucalyptus
that permeates the air.
Finally, when you’re looking to
wind down, the Presidential Lounge is a great place to
grab a nightcap. Beautiful wood décor and leather
seats takes you back in time while you sip a martini and
listen to live jazz. There’s quite an extensive
drink menu, with plenty of cocktails named after past
presidents.
Mission Inn nforgettable elegant place for a wedding.
Couples have a choice of two wedding chapels St. Francis
of Assisi wedding Chapel or St. Cecilia Chapel dedicated
to St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music. Wedding receptions
can be hled for groups up to 300 persons in an assorment
of Banquet rooms.
All things considered, the Mission Inn
is a great place to come explore, stay, and soak in a
bit of early Riverside history. And best of all, you don’t
have to travel too far.
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Mission
Inn
239 guest rooms, many
with private patios. Book a romantic getaway at
Mission Inn. |
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