California Missions with Catholic Answers

Our Catholic Answers pilgrimage begins as we touch down this morning at the San Diego Airport (flight not included). We collect our baggage and belongings and are greeted in the arrivals hall by our Canterbury tour manager who remains with us every step along our way. We board our private motor coach and arrive at our first stop, Presidio Park, to visit the Junipero Serra Museum, overlooking the site of the first California mission built in 1769. We break for lunch on our own and journey to our second stop, Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá, the first of the 21 California Missions. We participate in a tour of the beautiful Mission church and grounds. Our day continues at the Mission Trails Regional Park, where we visit the Old Mission Dam. We enjoy a welcome dinner in the Seaport Village this evening and check into our hotel for the night.

Overnight in Oceanside, CA (Dinner)

Today we start with a warm breakfast at our hotel. We set off to visit Mission San Luis Rey de Francía known as “King of The Missions”, because of its size, population and crop production. We continue to Mission San Juan Capistrano where we have the opportunity to pray inside the Serra Chapel. Built in 1782, the Serra Chapel is the oldest standing building in all of California. We take time at leisure to stop for lunch on our own in Laguna Beach, a small coastal city known for its many art galleries, coves and beaches. Later this afternoon we proceed to visit St. Michael’s Abbey, a Norbertine monastery tucked beside the Silverado Canyon. We enjoy dinner together tonight at arrive at our hotel.

Overnight Los Angeles (Breakfast & dinner)

After breakfast this morning, we continue on our journey, stopping to visit the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel (the Mission suffered fire damage in 2020 and is currently closed, though the restoration of the Church is expected to be completed this summer). We continue our day with time for lunch on our own, before making a visit to the Mission San Fernando Rey de España and the Mission San Buenaventura, the last mission to be founded during St. Serra’s lifetime. This evening, we have dinner and check into our hotel.

Overnight in Santa Barbara (Breakfast & Dinner)

Following breakfast, we visit the “Queen of the Missions,” Mission Santa Bárbara, the only mission to have remained in Franciscan custody since its founding date. Before leaving Santa Barbara, we take time to appreciate its lovely shops and streets, enjoying lunch on our own and a little time for exploration. Later, we proceed to Solvang, a Danish town where the old-world charm of Northern Europe meets the blue skies of Southern California. Upon arrival, we enjoy a smörgåsbord, a Scandinavian buffet-style meal at a traditional Danish restaurant.

Overnight in Solvang (Breakfast & Dinner)

We enjoy breakfast at our hotel and remain in Solvang a bit longer to enjoy a tour of the Mission Santa Inés, noted as one of the best-preserved California Missions. From here we journey north to visit the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, the 5th mission which was founded by St. Junipero himself. The area was dubbed by earlier hunters the ‘Canyon of the Bears’ and when food began to run low at other missions, St. Junipero sent a hunting mission to the area to test the legend. The mission was a huge success and Mission San Luis Obispo was founded. We take time for lunch on Higuera Street, followed by leisure time in Morro Bay. We can see why the bay’s prominent ‘Morro Rock’, a volcanic plug, is commonly known as the Gibraltar of the Pacific. The area boasts miles of unspoiled beaches and nature trails to roam. Later, we check into our hotel for dinner.

Overnight in San Luis Obispo (Breakfast & Dinner)

After breakfast, we’re off to Big Sur, a majestic stretch of land located off the famous Pacific Coast Highway. Bordered by the Santa Lucia Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Big Sur offers unmatched scenic beauty you can’t find anywhere else. We continue the scenic drive north where we stop for lunch in Carmel-By-The-Sea, a quaint beach town on the Monterey Peninsula. This afternoon, we make a visit to the Carmelite Monastery of Our Lady and Saint Therese, a stunning, ivory-hued monastery built in 1931 that houses Carmelite Sisters. We enjoy dinner and arrive at our hotel for the evening.

Overnight in Monterey (Breakfast & dinner)

We enjoy breakfast at our hotel this morning before making an irreplaceable visit to Mission San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo. St. Junípero Serra is entombed beneath the sanctuary of the mission church. Here we view his sarcophagus, see his room where he passed away in 1784, and view several of his vestments. On to our next stop, we depart for the Mission San Francisco de Asís, the oldest surviving structure in San Francisco. We cap the day with dinner in the Pier 39 area of San Francisco and explore its many sights and shops. We enjoy dinner this evening befoe arriving at our hotel for check-in.

Overnight in San Francisco (Breakfast & Dinner)

After breakfast, we make our way to the San Francisco airport. With a renewed sense of pilgrimage and an invigorated love of our Catholic faith, we bid farewell to our fellow pilgrims and new friends and board our plane for the flight home (flight not included).

(Breakfast)