Fodor's Expert Review The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa

A National Historic Landmark, this property grew from a modest adobe lodge in 1876 to the current grand Spanish Revival–style inn—one where each guest room has plush amenities, unique design touches, and priceless antiques. From the late 1800s to 1935, owner Frank Miller enlarged and embellished the property with decorative items such as Tiffany glass, an antique Asian bell collection, and fine paintings. In 1992, after a long period of decline, the inn was purchased and renovated by Duane Roberts, who preserved its grand archways, flying buttresses, secluded gardens, and inspirational chapels. Elite guests over the years have included 10 U.S. presidents, Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan among them. The walls of the bar feature photos of Barbra Streisand, Betty White, and members of multiple generations of the Bush family. The popular Mission Inn Restaurant and Duane's are where locals go for special occasions. Hand-painted frescoes, Venetian chandeliers, and barrel-vaulted ceilings are regal features of the Tuscan-style Kelly's Spa, which has 12 treatment rooms and two private villas with outdoor teak rain showers, marble-encased aromatherapy baths, and flat-screen TVs. Both spa patrons and hotel guests have access to a gorgeous swimming pool.