Ever been to any of the Missions?

[ChisJo]

I just realized the plentiful amount of Missions that are situated across California. I was wondering if anybody has ever ventured over to any of them and what your thoughts were. They look lovely, but are they worth the trip to see them, and which ones more so then others?

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I think San Juan Capistrano is worth seeing - it's probably 30-45 minutes away from Disneyland and is really beautiful... of course, I do have pics.

 

[iceskatejen]

I agree with Mission San Juan Capistrano. It's gorgeous. I haven't been for a while, though I have been in the area. There's a lot of cute stores around it and there's a train station about a block away if you don't have a car (take a taxi to the Anaheim train station). But, I don't think there are too many swallows there anymore. They've returned, but they're all at my house instead (we have at least 6 nests on the house).

 

[mtemm]

the Mission Santa Barbara is called the Queen of the Missions and is lovely. I was confirmed there and know it well. definitely a hike, though, probably around 2 hours or so.

San Juan is very nice and definitely much closer.

 

[Judy from Boise]

If you decide to see the one in Santa Barbara, stop in Ventura on the way, they also have a mission....but even better is the cross which is on a hill that has world class views!

 

[Itinkso]

The Santa Barbara mission is beautiful. If you go, there is a Natural History Museum next to it. The San Luis Obispo Mission and the Carmel Mission are also very nice but much farther from DL.

 

[TiggerCate]

We loved it! It's a beautiful mission in a gorgeous city. I have decided when I win the lottery (and since I never play that's a long way off- LOL), I am moving to Santa Barbara.

 

[darner]

Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala in San Diego... 1st one in Calif... this is the one with the 5 bell tower

2hr drive from DL or hop on Amtrak then SD Trolley... tons of other stuff to see & do in SD would make this trip even more worthwhile...

http://www.missionsandiego.com

 

[JC Butterfly]

what exactly is a mission? What do you do there?

 

[disneychrista]

We went to the Mission in Ventura a couple years ago after my DD did her 4th grade mission project on it. We enjoyed it.

Make sure that the mission you plan to visit is open to the public. The Mission in Sonoma seems to only be open to school field trips, with advance planning necessary.

 

[cruiseletters]

the missions were established up the coast line of ca. by the catholic priest father junipero, starting with the mission in san diego and going up thru santa cruise. they are all wonderful to go visit some being larger and more detailed in their restoration then others but to my knowledge they are all being used to this day as active church meeting facilities. regardless of your faith these are such historical gems with many of them having old cemetaries beside them that are very interesting to see the dates and inscriptions on the grave markers. it does take some time to travel up the coast to visit them because ca. is such a long state but the scenery along the way is spectacular. hope some of you get a chance to visit some of them.