All about the 21 California missions; things to do

All about the 21 California Missions

California’s “crown jewels” run the length of the state.  They feature a distinct architecture of thick adobe bricks, terra-cotta tile roofs, and enclosed patios and gardens. Many of the mission gardens and fountains still provide visitors with a tranquil retreat, just as they did two centuries ago when the Franciscan padres presided over them.  Some of the missions have been almost completely restored, while others are in ruins.  A few no longer retain any physical evidence of the graceful church and quadrangle that once existed, replaced now by dusty spaces or even modern buildings.  Still, each site provides a sense of what life was like during the mission era.  Read more . . .


More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers