California Roaming
“California day, California weather. Take the clouds away, I’ll feel a whole lot better. California day. There’s nothing like the sunshine to get me out of doors.” – California Day
This has been the coldest winter that I have experienced since I moved to California and the wettest. It has been stifling indoors, so when the sun broke out wandering Veena was on the move, a very ambitious move at that. Glad that I had company and that my poor son took over the driving.
Snowcapped peaks have become a more frequent sign since the cold and rain arrived. The sight of the Hollywood sign against snow was a once in a lifetime picture that was touted all over social media. In the foothills of the San Bernadino mountains with the sun shining and trees still devoid of buds the sight was breathtaking.
Oak Glen is home to apple orchards and the best apple pie. Even though this is not apple picking season, many people were out here enjoying the sun and the various family style attractions.
Peacocks and peahens were strutting around like they owned the area. Perhaps they do. Anyhow not a sight I expected to see in the San Bernadino mountains of Southern California.
Since the Cabazon outlets were not too far, we decided to make a detour and spend some time shopping. I am not much of a shopper, so I found a nice spot in the sun and relaxed my eyes. To my chagrin I found that I had actually dozed off not that’s a big surprise after a big lunch and a huge slice of the most delicious apple pie.
The cherry on top of a gorgeous day was a stop at the Riverside Misson Inn and Spa. We’ll reserve the Spa for a revisit when I can actually enjoy the facilities but for today, we toured the property and had a nice drink and appetizers. Known as the President’s hotel since apparently the Nixons got married here and the Reagans might have honeymooned here too it’s a gorgeous meld of different architectures and rare antiques.
The Nanjing Bell; an imperial temple bell from China. It is considered to be the oldest bell in Christendom dating back to the Boxer revolution in China.
From a quaint adobe boarding house in 1876 the inn has now grown to 238 luxurious rooms and suites and is part of the luxury historic hotel collection in the United States. US Presidents, Hollywood royalty and many noted notables have stayed here. Boasting a variety of architectural styles with antiques and precious items scattered around it, it’s definitely worth a visit. In fact, I plan to go back during Christmas time for the famous festival of lights.
Wishing that we had more time, we still made time to explore the various wings. I was in search of the spiral staircase which I had seen pictures of.
There’s a chapel, which was closed for a private event and fountains and pools and whimsical architecture and flowers everywhere.
Ah hah! finally found the spiral staircase. It looks so gorgeous with a bust of Abraham Lincoln at the top level.
Fountains and flowers made for nice picture spots, and we got a few group photos together.
The entrance and the bells probably liberated from a nearby mission give the entrance so much character especially at night.
The joy of discovery and exploration is the same whether it’s within an hours drive from home or a 15-hour flight to another part of the world.