Inn the Holiday Mood

The Mission Inn in Riverside is spectacular any time of the year, but especially so at Christmas as every available surface is decorated and often lit with holiday lights. There are many shops that comprise the village atmosphere created both within and surrounding the Inn, which has become the heart of the city of Riverside. The historic Inn has seen both good times and bad, including almost a decade of non-use that precluded purchase by a new corporation, the Historic Mission Inn Corporation, which not only purchased the Inn, but renovated it beyond its original splendor.

This year, I invited both Yucheng and my dear friend, Nadine, to be my guests on a day trip to the Inn. We were all impressed with both the architecture and the historical aspects of the Inn, including original wood benches, artwork, and religious icons, as well as a museum feel to the locale. The Inn is decked out for Christmas, so there were decorations and lights from one end to the another, both inside and out, decorations that come to light with the Festival of the Lights, an evening event that draws thousands of visitors to the Inn. We, however, enjoyed a daytime visit, but still were able to enjoy the many different indoor displays.

We stopped just outside one entrance to the Inn to enjoy a cupcake from Casey’s Cupcakes, a recent winner on the TV show Cupcake Wars. All three of us enjoyed our cupcakes, but my loyal friends assured me that MY cupcakes are better. I will admit that the lemon cake I had was dry, but the buttercream icing was delicious. We also visited various shops in the mall outside the Inn, including one that featured the most unusual holiday tree I’ve seen – and loved! Nadine found the perfect holiday gift, a Santa on Skis, for her son who anticipates the annual holiday season solely for the skiing!

We enjoyed lunch at the American cuisine restaurant, which was filled to capacity the entire time we were at the Inn. The food was delicious, and sitting outside to enjoy lunch in late December was a real treat: beautiful weather and surrounded with Christmas decorations and music. Although Riverside may not be considered as a major tourist destination, the Mission Inn is certainly a must-stop while in the city, and most especially during the Christmas holidays.