Hotel at a Glance: The Mission Hotel and Spa

What began as an adobe boarding house in 1876 has evolved into The Mission Hotel and Spa, a palatial estate-style resort that occupies a full city block in Riverside. Built with architectural flourishes meant to mimic the region’s iconic Spanish missions, guest accommodations offer memorable features spread across four distinct wings; some have outdoor entrances that open onto cascades of flowering bougainvillea, while others look out onto the sparkling outdoor pool. This castle-like hotel is located near the Main Street Pedestrian Mall, a half-mile from the Riverside Convention Center, and has hosted past guests including presidents and Pulitzer Prize winners.

• Eat well at the hotel’s numerous restaurants and lounges; popular choices include freshly seared steaks at Duane’s Prime Steak and Seafood Restaurant, housemade pasta at Bella Trattoria, upscale Mexican dishes at Las Campanas, signature California cuisine in The Mission Inn Restaurant, or al fresco dining on the Spanish Patio
• Drink like a president: Formerly the hotel’s four-room luxury apartment, the Presidential Lounge now commemorates The Mission Inn’s history with the commander-in-chief; stop in for a JFK Cosmopolitan or a Herbert Hoover Lemon Drop.
• Presidential history: The Mission Inn has welcomed 10 US Presidents through its doors. Guests can still see the sturdy banquet chair that the hotel commissioned for William Howard Taft for a 1908 banquet or visit the fireplace in the Presidential Lounge where Richard and Patricia Nixon were married
• Sun yourself at the beautiful outdoor pool, a 2,550-square-foot oasis in the middle of the hotel’s grounds.
• Relax at Kelly’s Spa, which Condé Nast Traveler once ranked as the top 10 of its “Top 50 Hotel Spas in the United States” list.
• Learn something with a tour from the Mission Inn Museum, whose docents give guests an in-depth exploration of the hotel’s striking architecture and celebrity-filled history.

California’s Inland Empire: Urban Centers and Diverse Terrain Just East of LA

It’s hard to believe that the same region of California whose fertile fields have been turning out citrus since the 1870s is also home to the arid deserts of Joshua Tree National Park. But it’s true, and a testament to the size and topographical diversity of the Inland Empire. Spread across Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, the region comprises parts of the Santa Ana Mountains, San Jose Hills, San Bernardino National Forest, and Sonoran Desert, along with fertile mountain valleys. It’s also where you’ll find the spas of Palm Springs and the resorts of Lake Arrowhead, as well as lakeside activities and skiing at Big Bear Lake.

The area also serves as a mecca for hiking and nature excursions. Angelenos often visit Box Springs Mountain Park in Moreno Valley to hike more than 1,000 acres of trails that meander past fields of star lilies, pine groves, and rocky outcroppings. Lake Perris State Recreation Area offers horseback riding, rock climbing, and skydiving. The valley is also home to several museums, including the March Field Air Museum, which displays World War I and II fighter planes and historic photographs and aviation gear. Sometimes you can even see airplanes in action overhead. And right in San Bernardino is the McDonald’s Museum, located on the site of the world first McDonald’s.

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