Easy and beautiful road trip stops, full of history, gardens and art
Visiting the Spanish missions means experiencing more than old churches.
These are the easiest and best missions to stop at on the drive.
Outside of downtown, this quiet historic mission is where you begin your El Camino Real road trip.
Famous for it's migratory swallow population, it's unique among California missions with its ruins and gardens.
Still a very active church, this is one of the best maintained California missions, with a great museum too.
After a visit, walk through the town and enjoy coastal life.
If you're not doing the El Camino Real road trip, these are easy day trips from San Francisco.
This road trip is one of the most interesting, and California's missions offer more historic insight than you'd imagine.
road trip plan, educational insights and extra things to do along the route