mission inn museum

Went for my birthday. Had dinner, drinks & walked around. beautiful place to go to around christmas time. The christmas decorations are breathtaking.

If you want to visit a hotel that doesn't resemble any Sheraton/Marriot/Hyatt you've ever stayed in, give the Inn a close look. Founded, outfitted and originally managed by an unusually wealthy collector, this odd "hotel" can best be described as architectural chaos. Stuffed with curios and eccentric collections of bells, Asian artifacts, Spanish motifs, the Inn has hosted many political figures in its history and the two hour tour ($25 per couple) can satisfy most curious travelers.We passed on expensive lunch and were not able to see any guest rooms on tour. A tour of the top floors are now soon to be part of a f/b package in April. The tour guides were efficient and made sure there was no photography to slow the progress. No real "mission" warmth but worth a trip to see one man's homage to his whims.

We visited during the Festival of Lights and the place was VERY busy, making getting about on the tour we took quite difficult. Our tour group was rather large which made gathering around the guide equally as difficult. The guide offered a lot of information but the history of this place isn't all that interesting. The founder was a "collector", amassing bells, religious icons, and even aviators whose names he put on wings on a wall. All was done in the name of tourism. It was never a mission and was built as a hotel. Due to the throngs and multiple events, we didn't get to see everything, but we definitely got our money's worth. The staff at the museum is outstanding. From telephone conversations when booking the tour to picking up the tickets, they were helpful and friendly. Despite the crowds, this tour would be less interesting if the Festival of Lights wasn't in full swing.

The drive to Riverside was worth it. We made it a point to drive early so make sure we found street parking to avoid paying parking. There were plenty of food vendors selling hot chocolate to hot dogs. And my favorite part was to sit in front of Mission Inn to just soak in the lights. There was a small line to enter the hotel but again worth it. We tried to get a reservation for happy hour or dinner, but those need to be done at least a week in advance. But not to worry, there are plenty of restaurants to have a nice dinner and take a break from walking around Mission Ave. I cannot underscore the beauty and the magic of the Christmas lights: it was filled with different colors and designs.

Went on a tour during the Festival of Lights & was very disappointed. From what I had read online I expected to see much more of the inn.Some of the things I REALLY wanted to see was the rotunda stair case & the beautiful chapel.We were not permitted to see either.In addition to not fulling getting to explore the inn, we were not allowed to take photos.All the history & amazing architecture & not even allowed to take pictures????Yet everyone else around us, who was NOT on the paid tour were able to.This made no sense to us & was incredibly frustrating.Our docent was a pleasure & we enjoyed learning about the inn & all the history.However we felt completely ripped off that we paid to see pretty much what everyone else saw for free.I really wish we had saved our money,just went to visit the museums & enjoy the Festival of Lights.There's nothing much else to do in the area & we have no interest in returning after this visit.

We were so excited to come to the Mission Inn for the first time and take the Tour during the Christmas season. We booked the 4 pm tour and it was billed to be 90 minutes, and we thought we would see the lights. We came early and saw the museum, which wasn't bad but it is small. Then we went out for the tour and it was only about an hour. You were not allowed to take any photos (which was the ENTIRE reason we took the tour - to see the inside area and take a few photos to share). The cost of the tour was $32 for two people. I didn't care about the Chapel although it was important to others on the tour (it has Tiffany Windows). There were people fighting to get on the tour that were turned away (so maybe it is me that is the odd man out.) I felt like we were rushed through. The guide was nice but I didn't like the comment about "if you want to remember it get a postcard" comment. Guess I should have JUST purchased a postcard and skipped the tour.

We enjoyed seeing the Christmas spendor of lights at the Mission Inn, Disneylandish. We enjoyed getting away from the crowds by stepping into the hotels cozy bar with live music for a nice Christmas cheer. This is a great one time event if you don't mind the drive and the crowds.

My husband and I recently came to see the Christmas lights, which we decided to do based on reviews we read online. Many websites rate this as one of the best things to do in our area at Christmas. I don't know if I would go that far, but the lights were really nice and well-done. It was very crowded and parking was challenging but not as bad as I thought it would be. We found a parking garage a few blocks away from the Mission Inn; the parking map on the Mission Inn's website was extremely helpful.We decided to eat dinner first (around 6:00pm) and found an italian restaurant nearby called Bella Trattoria. The hostess originally told us it would be a three-hour wait, but because there were just two of us, they seated us immediately. (If you go with a large group, you will definitely need a reservation.) The food and atmosphere were great, and the service was good for being such a crowded time of year.We walked around the inn to look at the exterior lights, then stood in the line to go through the inside. You could get a glimpse of the courtyard - where the spectacular lights were - but only hotel guests were allowed inside that area. The wait wasn't very long, despite the long line. It was worth it just to briefly see the inside of the inn. It also helped to pick up some warm almonds covered in butter, sugar, and cinnamon while waiting in line... maybe that's why it went so fast.In addition to the lights and food/merchant tents, there was a pen of small reindeer that you couldn't touch but could take pictures of. There was an ice skating rink with an extremely long line, in which we did not participate. And there were carriage rides, one of which looked like a Cinderella stagecoach, with a long line of young princesses waiting for that.This is probably a great place for people who are looking for a Christmas thing to do.Oh, and if you are looking for a restroom while you are there, go to the Coffee Bean. And as usual, if you are a woman, expect to wait in line.

The Museum is also their store with all types of Christmas items now. BEFORE you take the docent-led tour, allow yourself 30 minutes to read through the small museum as it gives you the essential background data that will help. The docents lead great tours of the Historic Mission Inn -- the best way to get around because unless you are staying AT the hotel, you will find it almost impossible to see INSide the amazing chapel or find the HUGE rotunda staircase. We had all ages with us and all were able to negotiate the tour as they offer elevator access for those who cannot negotiate stairs. 75 minutes seems a long time but there are SO many things to see that that are hidden in niches and hanging from the ceilings that it is head-spinning. Once finished, leave a donation at the museum, find Casey's Cupcakes (they even have Skinny ones and a VEGAN one), allow yourself one, sit outside and people-watch!

I love looking back how time use to be. Seeing actual artifacts that have survided time is an event in itself.

I love this shop with all of the Riverside and Mission themed gifts. Staff are very nice and even let our poodle come in to shop.

This is a terrific place to go to get an overview of this area and the Mission Inn. Lots to see and read. Enjoyed it

I went in here today to purchase metal pressed and stamped christmas ornaments as gifts for my friends. They have yours here available during the day. There are several hotel artifacts and you can spend over an hour here, with a knowledgeable staff to answer your questions.

The place is so historical, there are Docients that care for the pix and documents. A really cool afternoon.

We did the behind the scenes tour of The Mission Inn and we loved it. This place is across between The House on The Rock and The American Club. The tour was as much of a treat as was staying in the hotel.