Start out from wherever you are traveling from and plan to arrive in Sonoma by 10am.

Day One: Friday

• 10:00 am Begin at Mission San Francisco Solano, located in Sonoma.  See the last mission built in the series of 21 missions.  This mission is one of only two owned by the California State Parks Department.  The self guiding tour should last around 45 minutes.
• 10:45 Depart for the San Rafael Mission.  Take Hwy. 121 South to Hwy. 37 West.  Then merge onto Hwy. 101 South to San Rafael.   Take the exit towards Central San Rafael and follow the signs to the mission (on 5th St. between A & B Sts.  This trip should take about 50 minutes.  There is not too many things to see besides the church, so your visit will not last that long.  After you are done, have a nice lunch in downtown San Rafael.
• 1pm Begin traveling to San Francisco.  You get to travel over the Golden Gate, but be sure to have your $4.00 ready for the toll.  After you cross the bridge, take Hwy. 101 (Van Ness Ave.) to Market St.  Go down Market St. until you hit Dolores St.  Make a left turn and travel south until you hit 16th St. The mission is on the corner of 16th and Dolores.  You should probably arrive around 2pm.  The mission is locally known as the Dolores Mission, so if you need directions, that is the term to use.  It is a beautiful mission with a spectacular basilica located next door.  There are beautiful stained glass windows of each mission and of Fr. Serra.  It also has the only cemetery located within the city limits of San Francisco.  After you visit the mission, take advantage of the rest of the day enjoying the many cultural and artistic venues along with some of the tourist attractions like Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, Alcatraz Island, the Zoo, Chinatown, Ghiradelli Square, etc. There are also some world class restaurants for dining.  Best Bet: a Giants game at Pacific Bell Park.

Day Two: Saturday

• Wake up early and visit some of the things you missed yesterday in San Francisco.
• Your next stop is Mission San Jose, located in what city? Of course, the city of Fremont (your first guess I bet!) You have two option for traveling to the mission. OPTION 1: You may go over the Bay Bridge and travel South on I-880.  Exit Stevenson Blvd. and make a left on Stevenson until you reach Mission Blvd.  Make a right turn onto Mission and stay on the road until you reach Mission San Jose on your left.  OPTION 2: Take 101 South to Hwy. 84 East/Dunbarton Bridge.  Travel over the bridge and continue east until you reach I-880.  Go South on 880 and exit at Stevenson Blvd.  Make a left onto Stevenson and follow the road to Mission Blvd.  Make a right on Mission and go south until you reach the mission on your left. Both routes should take about one hour from San Francisco, depending on traffic.
• The mission features a few museums and your tour will last around 45 minutes.
• Your next stop is the Santa Clara Mission, located on the campus of Santa Clara University.  Take Mission Blvd. South to Interstate 880. Take I-880 south and exit at The Alemeda.  Make a right turn northbound on the Alemeda until you reach El Camino Real.  Make a right turn on El Camino Real until you see the signs for the mission (the entrance is on your left).  The mission is located on the property of Santa Clara University.   Your visit should last about 45 minutes.
• When you have completed your visit, take 880 south to Santa Cruz.  The expansive freeway suddenly turns into windy Hwy. 17.  When you reach Santa Cruz, merge onto Hwy. 1 North, which runs through the city of Santa Cruz.  Turn left onto Mission, then another left onto Emmett St.  At the end of Emmett, take a left onto High St. and you will first see Holy Cross Church.  That is not the mission.  It is the small building located nearby.  The hours vary, so call (831)426-5686 before you visit.  You may wish to stay in Santa Cruz and visit the Boardwalk, or travel to Monterey on Hwy. 1 and stay there.  I recommend the city of Monterey, along Munras Ave., for your best value.

• Leave Santa Cruz around 9 am and arrive in Carmel at 10am.  Take Hwy. 1 South to Rio Rd. and make a right.  The mission is on the left.  The museum opens at 10:30, but the grounds are open prior to that on Sundays because of Mass.  I recommend attending the 11am Sunday Mass (the choir mass).  Then complete your visit to the museums and the beautiful gardens.  This mission was the headquarters of all the missions in California and is the final resting place of Fr. Junipero Serra (buried under the sanctuary).  If you have an eight day vacation, instead of seven, I recommend visiting downtown Carmel, Pebble Beach along the 17 Mile Drive, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, Fisherman's Wharf, and the Path of History in Monterey.  You may also wish to visit the site of the Vizcaino Oak, located on the property of the Presidio (owned by the Navy) But if not...
• Your next stop is Mission San Juan Bautista.  Travel north on Hwy. 1 to Hwy. 156 east.  Take 156 to Hwy. 101 north to Hwy. 156 east (again).   Mission San Juan Bautista is located in the center of downtown.
• After you visit the mission, take 101 south to the Soledad mission.  Exit at Arroyo Seco and make a right turn.   It is a very small mission and it closes at 4pm.  (If you do not leave San Juan Bautista at 3pm, you may wish to stay in Salinas and visit this mission at 10am the next day.)  There is not much to do in the Salinas Valley, so you may wish to lodge in King City and get a good night's rest.

• Your first stop is Mission San Antonio de Padua in Jolon.  Take Jolon Rd. off 101 to Mission Creek Rd.  Make a right turn to the Ft. Hunter Liggett gate.  You will be asked for a drivers license and proof of insurance before you may continue onto Army property.  Continue on Mission Creek road until you reach the mission on your left.  This mission, along with La Purisima, gives a visitor a sense of what the missions really felt like back in the 1770's because one can find nothing but open fields surrounding the mission.  Your visit will last around 45 minutes.
• The next mission southward is Mission San Miguel.  Go back on Mission Creek to Jolon Rd. and make a right.  Follow Jolon Rd. to Hwy. 101 South. Take 101 South and exit 10th St. to Mission and make a right. You will see the mission on your right.
• Your final mission of the day is located 40 minutes south in the town of San Luis Obisbo.  Take 101 South to Osos St.  Make a left turn to Monterey.  Make a right turn and you will see the mission in front of you.  You may find parking along the street surrounding the mission.  Besides visiting the fifth mission founded by Serra, the city of "SLO" offers a nice late afternoon stroll downtown with unique shops and good restaurants.  If you happen to be there on Thursday, the Farmers Market is a worthwhile visit.  You may wish to stay in San Luis Obisbo, travel 10 minutes north to the beach front town of Morro Bay, or travel 10 minutes south to the quaint ocean side town of Pismo Beach.

• Mission La Purisima Conception is located in the town of Lompoc, near Vandenberg Air Force Base.  Take 101 South to Orcutt.  Exit Clark Ave. and make a right turn.  Clark Rd. will take you to Hwy 135 south.  Take 135 south to Hwy 1 south.  As Hwy 1 curves right, you need to stay straight.  This road will turn into Purisima and take you to the mission, which is located on your left.  Leave around 8:30 am so you can arrive around 10 am at the mission.
• The Mission is similar to San Antonio (other than military influence nearby) because there has been no development around the mission since the 18th century.  Besides the open hills surrounding the mission, La Purisima features a museum and numerous domesticated animals (the kids will love it!).
• Santa Ines Mission is the next mission eastward.  Take 246 east to the Danish town of Solvang.  Go through the town and you will see the mission on your right.  On your way from Lompoc to Solvang, you may wish to stop in at Anderson's Famous Pea Soup in Buelton (a must for any visitor to try once).
• Santa Ines Mission is located on the edge of town and features a spectacular view of the Santa Ynez Valley.  After a visit to the mission, lunch and a stroll in downtown Solvang is always a good bet.
• Around 1 or 2, you may want to head towards your final stop of the day, Mission Santa Barbara.  Take 256 east to Hwy. 154 south, which meanders along the scenic Chumash lake.  Go all the way to the end of 154 and make a left onto State St.  Take State to Los Olivos and make a left.  You will see the "Queen of the Missions" on your left.
• Mission Santa Barbara overlooks the beautiful Channel Islands and Pacific Ocean.  This was the first mission founded after Fr. Serra's death.  It is comprised of a few museums and a large church.  When you have finished your visit at this mission, you may wish to head downtown to take a stroll and have dinner along State St.  The waterfront, especially Sterns Wharf is also worthwhile.  You may wish to stay in Santa Barbara or, if your budget is tight, Carpenteria.

• Continuing your journey southward, your next mission to visit is the San Buenaventura mission in Ventura.  You can get there by exiting 101 south at Main St. and following Main St. to the mission (on your left).
• This mission is the last one founded by Fr. Serra and features a small museum and courtyard.  The tree to the right of the mission is laced with christmas lights and can be seen from most parts of the town at night.
• When you have finished your visit, it is time to head into the teeth of LA traffic as our venture takes us to the San Fernando Mission.  Take 101 south towards Los Angeles.  AVOID 101 through the valley by taking 23 north to the 118 eastbound.  Exit at Sepulveda Blvd. (just past the 405) and turn left.  Take Sepulveda to San Fernando Mission Blvd. and turn right.  You will see the mission on your left.
• After you finish your visit to San Fernando, your final mission of the day is the San Gabriel Mission.  Take the 118 to the 210.  Go through Pasadena to S. San Gabriel Blvd.  Make a right turn and travel about 4 miles south on San Gabriel to Mission Dr.  Make a right turn and you will see the mission on the right.
• This was the fourth mission founded by Fr. Serra (1771).  Keep in mind the mission closes at 5pm, so try to be at the mission no later than 4:15 for a complete tour of the complex.
• You may wish to spend the rest of your evening checking out the night life of LA (Citywalk at Universal Studios is recommended, but I have never been there personally).  You may also wish to avout LA altogether and head south near your next mission stop, Mission San Juan Capistrano.  My recommendation, head south and avoid the traffic battle the next morning.

• Take I-5 south to the city of San Juan Capistrano.  Exit at Ortega Hwy. and turn right onto Ortega.  The mission is on your right.
• This is the missions that the swallows are said to return on St. Joseph's day.  It is also home to the only church that has remained intact in which Fr. Serra celebrated Mass.  It is a well run mission (like Carmel) and periodically features events that bring the history of the mission alive.  This visit will last about one hour (minimum).
• When you have completed your tour, head south to Oceanside for Mission San Luis Rey. Head south on I-5 (past Camp Pendleton Marine Base) and exit east onto Hwy 76.  Take 76 (also known as Mission Ave.) to the San Luis Rey Mission.
• After your visit, your final stop of the trip is Mission San Diego.  Take I-5 south towards San Diego.  Then merge onto I-8 east to I-15 north.  The next exit is San Diego Mission Rd.  Make a right turn and head towards the mission, which will be located on your left.
• The first mission founded in Alta California, Mission San Diego is a good mission to finish off your pilgrimage.  Pat yourself (and your family) on the back and relax.  Then prepare for your journey home!

If you do go on a pilgrimage of this nature, please email me at missions@catholic.org and let me know the details of your vacation.  I would love to add a section to this website called "Mission Travel Diaries".