Unless visiting all 21 California missions is on your bucket list, most folks want to hit the more well known missions.  Close to half of them are off the beaten path and would take a serious side trip to find and see.  Not saying it wouldn’t be worth it, but you’d have to be dedicated to the trip.  Let’s talk about the “big” ones.

San Diego

Mission San Diego de Alcala’ was the first mission to be built.  The most distinctive part of this mission is the bell tower.  You’ll recognize the bells as a recurrent image as you follow the mission trail up the coast.  If you’re there close to mid-July, you can check out their “Mission of the Bells” festival commemorating the founding date of July 16.

I’m skipping past San Luis Rey and headed to San Juan Capistrano.

San Juan Capistrano

This mission is also known as the “Jewel of the Missions” because of its landscaped grounds, the ruins of the church (which was the largest in the mission chain) and it’s bell tower.  You may be familiar with the return of the swallows which happens, climate change permitting, every March.  One thing to keep in mind, try to avoid Wednesday’s during the school year.  Lots of kids on field trips and it’ll probably be crazy crowded.

Movin on up…skipping San Gabriel, San Fernando and San Buenaventura.

Santa Barbara

This mission is the only one that has been continually operating since its founding.  It’s known as the “Queen of the Missions” because of the architecture and gardens.  If you’re in Santa Barbara, try and swing by to see it.

Assuming you’re driving up the 101, looking for mission highlights, skip Santa Ines and La Purisima Concepcion.

San Luis Obispo

This mission can be found in downtown San Luis Obispo.  This is one site along the trail where the Native Americans who were living in the area before the padres got there were fighting back.  They burned mission buildings down three times before the padres started using red tiles to avoid the fire danger.  Surprisingly with all the burning, this is the only mission that never had to relocate and stands on the original grounds.

Here’s where it gets a little wonky.  If you’re not on a 21 mission, mission, then keep on PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) and follow the coast.  We’ll skip San Miguel, San Antonio and La Soledad because those are really inland and somewhat isolated.  Next up Mission Carmel and the last few missions north through the Bay Area.

May the road rise to meet you and the wind be at your back,

Jae