HOW TO REACH THE MISSIONS
SAN DIEGO. From Los Angeles to San Diego, Santa Fé Railway, 126 miles,
one way fare $3.85; round trip $5.00, good ten days; or $7.00, good 30
days, with stop-over privileges at Oceanside, which allows a visit to
San Luis Rey and Pala (via Oceanside) and San Juan Capistrano. Or
steamship, $3.00 and $2.25; round trip, first class, $5.25. The Mission
is six miles from San Diego, and a carriage must be taken all the way,
or the electric car to the bluff, fare five cents; thence by Bluff Road,
on burro, two miles, fare fifty cents. The better way is to drive by Old
Town and return by the Bluff Road.
SAN LUIS REY. From Los Angeles to Oceanside, Santa Fé Railway, 85 miles,
fare $2.55; round trip, ten days, $4.60. Take carriage from livery, or
walk to Mission, 4 miles. The trip to Pala may be taken at the same
time, though sleeping accommodations are uncertain at Pala. Meals may be
had at one or two of the Indian houses, as a rule.
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO. From Los Angeles to Capistrano, Santa Fé Railway,
58 miles, fare $1.70. The Mission is close to the station. Hotel
accommodations are poor.
SAN GABRIEL. From Los Angeles to San Gabriel, Southern Pacific Railway,
8 miles, fare 25 cents. Or Pacific electric car from Los Angeles,
25 cents.
SAN FERNANDO. From Los Angeles to San Fernando, Southern Pacific
Railway, 21 miles, fare 65 cents. Thence by carriage or on foot or
horseback to the Mission, 1 1/2 miles. Livery and hotel at San Fernando.
SAN BUENAVENTURA. From Los Angeles to San Buenaventura, Southern Pacific
Railway, 76 miles, fare $2.30. Or steamship, $2.35, special, Saturday to
Monday, $3.00 round trip. Electric cars from Southern Pacific Station
pass the Mission.
SANTA BARBARA. From Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, Southern Pacific
Railway, fare $3.15; special round trip, Saturday to Monday, $3.50. From
San Francisco to Santa Barbara, 370 miles, Southern Pacific Railway,
fare $13.40 and $11.65. Street car passes the Mission.
SANTA INÉS. This is not on the line of any railway. It can be reached
from Santa Barbara, 25 miles, by carriage, or from Los Olivos, four
miles, by stage. Los Olivos is on the line of the Pacific Coast Railway.
To reach it take Southern Pacific Railway to San Luis Obispo, change
cars. It is then 66 miles to Los Olivos, fare $3.00. The better way is
to go by Southern Pacific to Lompoc, take carriage and visit the site
of Old La Purísima, then Purísima, then drive to Santa Inés and return.
With a good team this can be done in a day. Distance 25 miles.
LA PURÍSIMA CONCEPCIÓN. Go to Lompoc on the coast line of the Southern
Pacific either from Los Angeles (181 miles, $5.60) or San Francisco (294
miles, $9.35). Carriage from livery to the ruins of Old Purísima, thence
to the later one, five miles.
SAN LUIS OBISPO. Southern Pacific Railway from either Los Angeles (222
miles, $6.70) or San Francisco (253 miles, $7.30), or steamship to Port
Hartford and the Pacific Coast Railway, 211 miles, $6.50. The Mission is
in the town.
SAN MIGUEL. The Mission is but a few rods from the Southern Pacific
Station, reached either from Los Angeles (273 miles, $8.05) or San
Francisco (208 miles, $5.95). By far the better way, however, is to go
to Paso Robles, where one can bathe in the Hot Springs so noted even in
Indian days, while enjoying the hospitalities of one of the best hotels
on the Pacific Coast. Carriages may be secured from one of the livery
stables. From here visit Santa Isabel Ranch and Hot Springs (which used
to belong to San Miguel), then drive 16 miles to San Miguel. On account
of the completeness of its interior decorations, this is, in many
respects, especially to the student, the most interesting Mission of the
whole chain.
[Illustration: THE CITY HALL, SANTA MONICA, CALIF.]
[Illustration: MISSION CHAPEL AT LOS ANGELES, FROM THE PLAZA PARK.]
[Illustration: RESIDENCE IN LOS ANGELES, CALIF. Showing influence of
Mission style of architecture.]
SAN ANTONIO DE PADUA. It is a twenty-mile stage ride from King's
City, on the line of the Southern Pacific (216 miles from Los Angeles,
$9.35) to Jolon (fare $2.00), the quaintest little village now remaining
in California, which is practically the gateway to Mission San Antonio
de Padua. At Jolon one secures a team, and, after a six-mile drive
through a beautiful park, dotted on every hand with majestic
live-oaks,--ancient monarchs that have accumulated moss and majesty with
their years,--the ruins of the old Mission come into view. From San
Francisco to King's City is 164 miles, fare $4.65.
LA SOLEDAD. The Mission is four miles from the town of Soledad on the
Southern Pacific Railway. From Los Angeles, 337 miles, fare $9.95. From
San Francisco, 144 miles, fare $4.00. Livery from Soledad to
the Mission.
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA is six miles from Sargent's Station on the Southern
Pacific. Two stages run daily, fare $1.00 for the round trip. Visitors
may be accommodated at the Plaza Hotel, conducted by William Haydon.
From Los Angeles to Sargent's, 394 miles, fare $11.65. From San
Francisco, 87 miles, fare $2.35.
SAN CARLOS BORROMEO, MONTEREY. The old presidio church is in the town of
Monterey, and reached by car-line from Hotel del Monte or the town. San
Carlos Carmelo is about six miles from Monterey, and must be reached by
carriage or automobile. By far the best way is to stop at either Hotel
del Monte or Hotel Carmelo, Pacific Grove, and then on taking the
seventeen-mile drive, make the side trip to San Carlos. To Monterey from
San Francisco, on the Southern Pacific Railway, is 126 miles, fare
$3.00. Friday to Tuesday excursion, round trip, $4.50. From Los Angeles
to Monterey, Southern Pacific Railway, 398 miles, fare $11.45.
SANTA CRUZ. It is well to go from San Francisco on the narrow gauge, 80
miles, Southern Pacific, and return on the broad gauge, 121 miles. Fare
on either line $2.80. On the narrow gauge are the Big Trees, at which an
interesting stop-over can be enjoyed.
SANTA CLARA. While there is a city of Santa Clara it is better to go to
San José (the first town established in California), and stay at Hotel
Vendome, and then drive or go by electric car, down the old Alameda to
Santa Clara Mission, 3-1/2 miles.
MISSION SAN JOSÉ. So called to distinguish it from the city of San José.
By Southern Pacific Railway from San Francisco to Irvington, 34 miles,
fare 85 cents. Or from the city of San José, 14 miles by Southern
Pacific, or a pleasant carriage drive. From Irvington to the Mission,
three miles, stage twice daily, fare 25 cents.
SAN FRANCISCO DE ASIS is on Sixteenth and Dolores Streets, three miles
from Palace Hotel. Take Valencia or Howard electric cars.
SAN RAFAEL. There is nothing left at San Rafael of the old Mission. The
town is reached by North Pacific Coast Railway, 18 miles, or California
Northwestern, 15 miles, fare 35 cents.
SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO is in the town of Sonoma. Reached by North Pacific
Coast Railway, 43 miles, fare $1.00.
THE END.