Blog

According the Explore Riverside website, it states, With a population of more than 300,000, the City of Riverside is ranked as the 12th largest city in California and the 6th largest city in Southern California. The City is the seat of the 2nd fastest growing county in the nation and leads the region known as the Inland Empire in virtually every measure of economic power.

Downtown Riverside is the heart of this growing city where the feel is clearly Spanish influenced in architecture. One of the biggest draws of Downtown Riverside is The Mission Inn and Spa, a luxury, historic hotel that makes guests feel as if they are on a luxury Spanish vacation.

The Mission Inn is a National Historic Landmark with 238 guests rooms and 27 magnificent suites. Boasting 5 restaurants, a luxury spa, an Olympic sized pool and even a wedding chapel, it’s clear why this hotel has been a destination since 1876.

As if the hotel needed to add another attraction, the Mission Inn is also the home to the winner of Food Network’s popular reality series, Cupcake Wars, Casey’s Cupcakes. Casey Reindhardt is the daugther of Kelly and Duane Roberts, the owners of the Mission Inn.

Casey’s Cupcakes must get a lot of orders from guests. Not only because her cupcakes are well-known and delicious, but also because the Mission Inn hosts wedding ceremoniesand receptions in their beautiful grounds and the famous St. Francis Assissi chapel.

With the Mission Inn taking up an entire 2 acres, it’s easy to get lost walking through the property with it’s coves, stairways and walkways leading to parts of the hotel you would have never known existed. It’s almost recommended to get lost in the property, much like it’s recommended to tour European cities by foot to see the best sites. The hotel actually conducts guided tours daily, to tell guests about it’s great history of past Presidential guests, and interesting stories of how it’s first owner Frank Miller collected all the great artifacts displayed throughout the hotel and it’s rooms.

If you’re in Southern California and want a nice relaxing getaway, drive to the Inland Empire, Riverside California and spend it at The Mission Inn and Spa. The hotel will take you away and it’s amenities are great for both family and romantic getaways.

*Pictures taken from www.missioninn.com.

Disclosure: My stay at The Mission Inn & Spa was sponsored by the California Milk Advisory Board where attendees of the Modern Day Dairy Farm Tour 2011 were guests.