With the day starting late, we headed to the San Fernando Mission first (the altar pictured above is from the San Fernando Mission). The surprise here was coming across the final resting grounds for Bob & Delores Hope in a small, sweet garden behind the chapel... a bit of Hollywood history. Leaving San Fernando, we headed west on the 118 freeway and hit the back roads to meander up to Ventura, where we stopped to visit the San Buenaventura Mission on Main Street. Being in the heart of downtown Ventura, what is left of this mission is much smaller than the others but still worth visiting. Afterwards, we went and had an early and delicious dinner at Capriccio, also on Main Street, which left us time to go up to Grant Memorial Park to watch the sunset. Grant Memorial Park sits on the hill just above the city of Ventura and gives you a great vantage point to view the sunset over the Pacific.
The original plan was to start early enough in the day where we could begin with the mission in San Juan Capistrano and visit the three, which is do-able, OR finish at the mission in Santa Barbara (a gorgeous mission with lovely grounds). This is just one of many day trips you can take from your home here at the Gaylord to explore the wonderful southern California region.
