I would highly recommend going on the self-guided tour at the mission which has run by the state of California. It's part of the parks now and the fee is very low and well worth your time to see how California began as a mission of the Roman Catholic Church. read more

Mission San Francisco Solano - A guy in the way of the sonoma mission! - Parks Near Me - Sonoma, California

Amazing history, well kept, even perfect for a nice mid day stroll! Highly recommend checking out the exhibits read more

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The most northern of the mission churches in the heart of Sonoma. Park rangers at entrance very knowledgeable helpful and patient. Several bistros and diners. Has a good size gift shop read more

The Last of the 21 California Missions! Between 1769 and 1833 in what is today's state of California, Catholic priests of the Franciscan order established 21 missions. The goal was to evangelize the Native Americans and expand the Spanish Empire into the north and west of North America. Starting in 1769, a chain of 21 missions from San Diego to Sonoma were built. They were built approximately 30 miles apart which is about a day's journey on a mule or horse. The entire trail (called El Camino Real) is approximately 650 miles total and is almost entirely along today's Highway 101. Founded on July 4, 1823, Mission San Francisco de Solano was the twenty-first and last mission. It was built in what is today the city of Sonoma and was the only one founded after Mexico's independence from Spain and without prior approval of the church. The mission was built across the street from the military barracks built in 1836 by General Vallejo. The original was mostly washed away by a thunderstorm but a small portion of the original quadrangle still exists. The complex is now located off E Spain Street in north-eastern corner of Sonoma Plaza near many gourmet eateries and upscale shops. The church at Mission Solano was built in 1841 to replaced the collapsed original structure. In 1906 an earthquake destroyed the complex but it was restored  in 1913 through the dedicated efforts of groups like the Historic Landmarks League. The restored structures includes the church, the padre's quarters that is now a museum, and a large quadrangle. On the west side of the mission there is a commemorative wall with the names of the Native-American neophytes. Dedicated in 1999, it honors the more than 800 people, including over 200 children, who died while living and working at the Mission between 1824 and 1839. Their Christian names are inscribed on this granite memorial. read more

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$3 admission covers the Vallejo House, the Petaluma Adobe and each site can be viewed in 30 minutes . Grateful for clean bathrooms at each facility. I learned the El Camino Real started at the southernmost tip of Baja California and runs up to the northernmost mission of San Francisco Solano read more

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Fascinating! Spanish missions in Sonoma County..Wine country, old army settlement, and the classic Missions..you can read the history here about Native Americans and colonists..European settlers and the Bear Flag Revolt..the Missions lined up in California! The tour bus driver told me about it because I did not walk around and notice...then I walked in and observed the old chapel and there were watercolors on the wall...It costs $3 to go to the Mission. My life is a Chinese mission because then I was near Cathedral Hill where the lady lived and so forth! read more

Small mission right near Sonoma square. I like historical places and history so I stopped by. You can see everything in less than half an hour and it's only $3. It's like every other mission. If you haven't seen many California missions or someone is visiting from out of state, it's a good place to visit. read more

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Last Saturday my boyfriend and I were exploring the historic town and came across this Catholic Church which we came to find was a Historic Landmark! Although it may not look like much, their used to be over 21 rooms in this historic building! Probably the saddest history we learned about were that Indians were forced to work and became ill and many died from the diseases we brought over. My favorite part of the museum was seeing all the beautiful cactuses which were located in the courtyard, as well as the Grinding Stones used to make Olive Oil! I would recommend visiting to learn some history yourself, as well as tour their beautiful courtyard, I found it romantic strolling along with my boyfriend! I will return with a tour guide to learn more about the history behind this church, for instance did you know this was the first church under Mexican Rule and the last to be built in Alta California?! read more

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It's a great place to go. It's like a fun history lesson right in downtown Sonoma right by the Square so go for a picnic right after! Such a quaint town! read more

I remember very clearly my 4th grade class visiting this mission almost 70 years ago. Funny how the brain remembers some things. We had studied missions and since we were only 2 hours away decided to visit some of the missions themselves. This being the last of the 21 missions built made it especially significant. They have a very interesting museum with many significant items from the early days. Now they have included a series of paintings of all 21 of the mission's. Very interesting how they built them all. The Indians were very good workers having created those buildings. Sad that many of the original missions have been destroyed by mother nature, but fortunately they have been restored to look much like the originals. The artwork throughout this building is quite interesting. A definite must stop for any history buff. read more

This mission, the northernmost of all the missions, is remarkable most of all for the precious artwork bequeathed by the son of the artist, Chris Jorgensen. The artist and his wife, Angela Ghirardelli, also an artist, travelled the state for a couple years studying the landscape and perusing old documents so he could draw the missions as they originally appeared. All of them have been rebuilt over the years, most of them several times. It was a real pleasure to see these renditions. The collection has appeared in famous places including Washington DC. The mission contains other artifacts from the era and placards on he walls explain the history. At the entrance are the names of all the souls who lived and died there. All the names are Spanish, so clearly the natives were given Spanish names when they were baptized. Entrance is $3:00 per adult and gains you access also to General Vallejo's house and headquarters. read more

We visited for my son's fourth grade CA Mission project and we were honored by the most amazing tour guide (April F) and we loved visiting this mission and learning about the history of the site. It's inspired us to visit more missions. And she kept the attention of all our kids and ensured they were engaged and felt part of the tour. We can't thank April enough for making this trip even more special. She even gave us feedback on other places to visit. read more

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There is no doubt that the Mission San Francisco Solano is a beautiful piece of history. But after visiting the General Vallejo House down the street, I just expected a bit more. The Mission San Francisco Solano was established in the early 1800's and is the twenty-first Mission in California. It is the only Mission that was built under the Mexican rule and was also the last to be built in Alta California. The Mission features the bell room, dining room, chapel, and courtyard. Guided tours are available on the hour and you can also conduct a self guided tour of the premises. Inside, you will find several exhibits featuring a mini replica of the Mission, a land map, and original bells and other furniture dating back 500 years. There are several placards located throughout the building with informative transcriptions that will give you insight into its' history. There is a $3 entrance fee that will also allow entrance into other historic parks nearby including the General Vallejo Home and the Sonoma Barracks. No flash photography is allowed and many of the observed antiques cannot be touched. It's a great deal if you are planning on visiting another historic park or museum nearby. I would recommend a guided tour if you have time. This will really help to gain insight on the history of the Mission. read more

Good thing it cost $3. I had higher hopes for this mission. The two women working there were very welcoming and I would give this place more stars because of that, but I thought it was going to be larger and better than it was. I thought there would be more to see, and take more than 25 minutes to read & see everything. I liked the court yard with the fall colored leaves and the fresh air. Honestly there was not much to see, only pictures and some information on the walls inside 2 rooms and a small chapel. I wish there was more to look at like some of the other missions. The small town of Sonoma was cute and I thought the movie theater was decorated very well for Halloween. I visited the historic park nearby and that was a little more impressive than the mission, noticing how low the doorways were. read more

Mission San Francisco Solano - Parks Near Me - Sonoma, California

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Beautiful part of Sonoma history. Small mission but the $3 self touring fee is well worth it. read more

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Although this mission a little smaller than some of the bigger ones in California, for a mere $3 adult admission, not only you get to walk around the well preserved last mission built in California and its surrounding grounds, the knowledgeable docents will also provide you with rather comprehensive history of the establishment of missions in California, the activities of the Spanish empire and Mexican expansion in North America, as well as the information about the other missions in the state. The mission right by the Sonoma Plaza next to all the shops, galleries and restaurants around the plaza. read more

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Diana was awesome. She took us on a tour of the place and answered all our questions. This was a trip that we took, because our Grandson, 4th grade, was assigned to research and write a paper on. We were so fortunate to take the 475 mile trip to help him with his first hands on, project. We were thrilled to be a part of the whole journey and now that his report is due in a few days, I am glad, that he is that much smarter for having journeyed to Sonoma. So much to learn about these Missions. I am a fan. Looking forward to seeing my Grandsons finished project and will post a photo at a later date. read more

Mission San Francisco Solano - Front of the Mission - Parks Near Me - Sonoma, California

I'm somewhat of a history freak. I tend to do better in history and humanities than I do in the sciences and math. With that being said, I really enjoyed visiting the Mission Solano in Sonoma during my short overnight trip to Sonoma. It is now a museum and is operated by the State Parks Commission. Visiting the Mission costs $2.00 per person. You get entrance into the Mission, as well as the Military Fort and Barracks and Mayor/General Vallejo's home that are all within walking distance. 2 bucks a person and three historic museums, this couldn't have been a better money well spent location. This particular this Mission is the last and Northern most Mission in California, so along with great information, there was great history of California itself. Overall, this Mission Solano in Sonoma was definitely one of the beautiful highlights to my short Wine Country trip. read more

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Refused to accommodate a class of 33 children and 8 chaperones needed to drive them there because they set some arbitrary limit of 35 maximum per tour. These are 4th grade students who haven't been able to go on field trips for 3 years. Meanwhile we have California state officials who openly defy COVID regulations at public venues. read more

Mission San Francisco Solano was founded in 1823, and named for Francis Solanus, a missionary to the indigenous population of Peru, born in Montilla, Spain, and known at that time as the "Wonder Worker of the New World." Originally planned as an asistencia ("sub-mission") to Mission San Rafael Arcángel, it is the northernmost of the Spanish missions in California. It's located right off Sonoma Plaza and Gayle and I had a chance to see it in Christmas season glory during a Saturday Evening Open House. That included Luminaria bags leading the way and a special mass within the Chapel for those lucky enough to have made their reservations for this special time. read more

Take a break from wine-tasting and know a piece of your California history! No need to take a class at a community college or university, it is right in your own backyard (if you live in California.) Tuition Fee (Entrance Fee): $3.00 Mission San Francisco Solano was established on July 4, 1823. It is the last mission to be built in California and the only mission built under the Mexican rule. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zL751PHI4hCUrF3RhlitJA?select=8PGF2S7TSAATtEPlurBNYg http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zL751PHI4hCUrF3RhlitJA?select=oTxxmlv_fHf6XBgFi3yT0g My fiance and I spent close to two hours between Mission Sonoma and the Barracks. They were not very big but we read every description and admired the artifacts. Only five rooms of the original mission remain. We visited: THE CHAPEL: Built between 1840-41, it has been decorated common to the California mission era. And check out the gravesite of General Vallejo's mother-in-law inside the chapel! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zL751PHI4hCUrF3RhlitJA?select=2K6H8RrY7fos6x-3kMSSiw http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zL751PHI4hCUrF3RhlitJA?select=VuuzPXvHUXiso6-kedEUNA THE DINING ROOM: The long heavy wood country dining table is my dream dining table for dreamhome someday. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zL751PHI4hCUrF3RhlitJA?select=zDrcvoZJk_6AHyfJVjaI1Q But paintings that are not to be missed are the works of painter Chris Jorgensen (1859-1935). He traveled around California to paint different missions including missions in Carmel, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, etc. THE COURTYARD: Huge, spacious, serene. It has been replanted to show the 19th century mission garden. There is an old wishing fountain, giant outdoor oven, tannery, etc. This was my favorite part of the mission. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zL751PHI4hCUrF3RhlitJA?select=TaDGpN6tmbIQJoQpTqXM5w http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zL751PHI4hCUrF3RhlitJA?select=qKAizSoYXLKoRVvFNhRb2Q Check out the gigantic prickly cactus that served as a living fence and food source. I had to stay away since it is not safe for a klutz like me to fall onto one. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zL751PHI4hCUrF3RhlitJA?select=Qgf0z5QmbBwGYOJD6AWX3w And the giant outdoor oven: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zL751PHI4hCUrF3RhlitJA?select=qKAizSoYXLKoRVvFNhRb2Q And check out the plaque which honors the California Indians who died and were buried in the mission cemetery during its 11 year existence. You have completed a brief history lesson on Mission San Francisco Solano. You get an A+++! (The $3 admission on the same day includes the Mission, General Vallejo's Home, Sonoma Barracks and Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park.) Note to self: Visit the General's home and Petaluma Historic Park on my next trip to Sonoma. MUST VISIT IN SONOMA! read more

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Enjoyed a nice day in Sonoma and a great stroll through California's last mission. History abounds in this Adobe. Admission includes the mission, barracks, and Adobe house. A few hours out of our day and spent some time meandering through the shops on the square. read more

Mission Tours: Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm I'm a big fan for the history in the states. When I visited the missions in San Antonio, TX, I knew there are some missions in California. I always wanted to visit these missions one day. Finally, we have a chance to visit Mission San Francisco Solano. It is a small mission. Much smaller than those in San Antonio. The Barracks next to the mission is free. The ticket price for the Mission San Francisco Solano is $3. I thought there would be more things to take a look. A little bit disappointed. I shouldn't miss the tour. read more

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This was the first mission we have ever visited so we have no other to compare it to. However, we gave it four stars just because after paying a small entrance fee ($3 for adults, $2 for kids, free for kids 6 and under) there was a docent standing there who would cater to our 4th grader knowing he was there to collect information for his school report. I believe his name was Bob and he was very informative and talked directly to our son and kept him engaged and asked him questions never making him feel uncomfortable if he didn't know the answer. Bob gave is many factoids about the place and was with us about 30-35 minutes. Well worth the $8 we paid! According to Bob, this is only one of two missions that are State-run. The other 19 are still running as real missions. I like this State-run one since you are free to walk around and not be approached for donations like some of the other Yelp reviewers wrote about at the other missions in California. I'd totally recommend this place if you "have" to get to a mission to write a report on one for school. It's not as elaborate as the others I've read about, but you can still get a feel for what life was like. read more

Good and we'll upkeep Mission. Not overwhelming and easy self-guided tour to learn it's history. Staff are knowledgeable and friendly. They can offer a lot information more than you can absorb and give local tips for local eateries and other activities nearby. A must visit when in charming downtown Sonoma. read more

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I ended up going here on my birthday by myself this year. Womp womp. I was on a business trip anyway, so it's okay. It was POURING rain when I got here, and an art festival was going on at the same time, so it was a mix of busy and cold. Lots of people were under the awnings to get out of the rain, but not many people were shelling out the $3 (cash, no cards!) to check this place out. They've done a great job of renovating what was once a little shell pretty much. The docent is very casual and I was on a tour with one obnoxious family with children. I have to give credit to the docent for being patient because I could barely contain my eyes from rolling. There's always somebody on a tour that feels the need to show off rather than ask genuine questions. Apparently there are a few items in that have been reproduced that aren't reproductions of anything that would have been present at the time the building was in use. I'm not sure I understand the logic in that. I'm specifically speaking about the chapel, but regardless, still odd. The place has a small gift shop and reproductions of all of the California missions which were nice. Overall, I'd say it was a decent afternoon tour, but I'd have to see how the tour varies when there isn't inclement weather before I could increase the star count. read more

Mission San Francisco Solano is fascinating. It's the last of the missions... and the only one in the United States built under the Mexican government. It's not a fancy mission like Santa Barbara or San Diego, that typify Californian elegance. It's rustic... more reminiscent of San Miguel, the oldest mission church in the US, that is off the Santa Fe (New Mexico) Plaza, or San Jose Las Trampas, on the way to Taos. It speaks of the frontier with its quiet adobe walls. Mission St. Francis Solano is named for the patron saint of Peru,a missionary to the Americas. Very fitting. St. Francis Solano was canonized in 1675, so when this mission was built in the 1800s, they were going for a contemporary saint. The missions were intended to be temporary, before actual parishes would take over. Paradoxically, most mission churches are now permanent parishes- with the exception of this one, and La Purisima in Lompoc. The museum is interesting, albeit not as sophisticated as anything one would see in San Francisco. What was once the priest's dining room now serves as an art gallery with watercolors of the missions in ruins. The chapel itself is a place of serenity. Eerily, there is a cold spot right above Maria Carrillo's grave... the chapel isn't a warm place, but it is icy there. It isn't creepy. The chapel maintains its air of sanctity, despite the fact it was deconsecrated. The garden is another refuge, with its vast cacti and pomegranates. It's the serene end of the mission trail... whether one starts in San Diego, or San Miguel (in Santa Fe) Educational and beautiful! read more

Nice mission, the northernmost and most recent of those created, first built in 1823. It seems entirely incongruous to have an old Spanish mission smack dab in the center of an Sonoma, but it seems to work out well. State Park-owned missions are always a little more frustrating than church-run ones, as they are preserved more as sterile historical relics rather than vibrant, still extant centers of faith and community. That said, San Francisco Solano is an accessible, pleasant little mission in Northern California, and a pleasant way to ends one's northernmost journey up the mission trail. read more

This is an interesting bit of California history. This mission is small and somewhat spartan, but worth visiting while you're in Sonoma. It happens to be the most northern California mission, and it took a lot to get the building restored to what it is today, which is still less glamorous than many of the other missions I have visited. The admission fee is only $3, which also gets you entrance to several other historical sites. We tried to show up on the hour to get a tour, but it turned out to be unnecessary. The docent had a more casual style where he just walked around asking guests if they had questions and answered them, which makes more sense given the ebb and flow of the visitors. Warning: We made the mistake of thinking that the Vallejo house (one of the other sites that the admission price will get you into) was just a few streets away. I highly recommend driving there instead of walking unless you need exercise and the weather is super mild. It's over a 2 mile hike and in the heat, at 8 months pregnant, it was strenuous to say the least. I wish they had told us how far it was! read more

My 4th grader has taken a fascination to California history this year, with particular interest in the missions so we figured we'd hit up a few starting with a day out in Sonoma. Sonoma's Mission, confusingly called Mission San Francisco Solano, is the northernmost, last to be built and also allegedly the site of the first vineyards in California. All of the missions have been changed, remodeled, reconstructed, etc over the years and it's a bit hard to tell from the websites exactly what you'll find. We found a modest, renovated mission just off the square in downtown Sonoma. It's a state park and your low ($3 adult/$2 kid) admission fee gets you into the mission, next door Barracks and Toscano Hotel, General Vallejo's home (a few blocks away) and the Petaluma Adobe (which we did not go to). The ranger behind the counter was super friendly, and although their docent (who according to the website leads tours) had not shown up, we found we were just fine with the information posted. I'm mainly interested from a historical perspective and the mission has a nice, if relatively small informative museum type display. By itself it was a 3 star experience, but when you add in the Barracks and General Vallejo's home you easily get to 4. Then, well, anybody can make a 5 star day out of a trip to Sonoma can't they? We brought a picnic and enjoyed watching locals play petanque, the french version of bocce, in Depot Park, which is nestled behind the barracks and free mission parking lot. Unfortunately the Depot Museum just happened to be closed that day but we walked over and checked out the local high school baseball team warming up at their field just behind the park (a great bike path runs through the area too). Our day also included the requisite stroll around the plaza, a stop for ice cream, etc. Surprisingly no wine...and very little whine. A good time was had by all, and my son was excited to really get the visuals behind what they'd been talking about at school. read more

mixed views on this historic landmark. MOSLTY because the gift shop employees are so rude and hostile. I have been there countless times over the decades and every time I learn something new. I think people forgot how horribly the Native folks in the area were treated by the catholics/spaniards during the mission era.This mission is a good reminder of that. Lovely chapel. Spacious grounds. A step back in time read more

Nice little mission and park. Kind of grumpy ranger, at least the day I was there. You can also get into the barracks, the Vallejo home and the old hotel down the street on the same $2 ticket. What always peeves me about these missions is that you don't know what is authentic and what is a recreation, and the state park people aren't especially forthcoming. From what I can tell, the original mission burned down in like the 1830s or something, was rebuilt, was damaged by the 1906 earthquake and was rebuilt again. One of the exhibits in the mission says that it was rebuilt by amateurs, not archaeologists, and they were just guessing what a mission might have looked like. So all that kind of spoils it for me. It's more Williamsburg than relic. read more

Mission San Francisco Solano - Parks Near Me - Sonoma, California

Great place if you are interested in history. Only cot $3 entrance fee for adults and free for children under the age of 6. The entrance fee allows you to see the not only the Mission, but also the Barracks, Toscano Hotel (was not open to the public at the time we were there. You were just able to look at the bar and lobby area through the gate) and General Vallejo's House. For the Mission, Barracks and General Vallejo's house there were docents that were available to answer your questions, but at General Vallejo's house, we basically got a free guided tour. Definitely worth the $3 admission fee! read more

While I've been to this Mission before ... I never knew then, that the woman buried within the wall, is that of my 8th generation, but 6th Great Grandmother's, youngest and last born daughter; Maria Ygnacia de la Candelaria Lopez de Carrillo. Thus, making her my 5th Great Aunt. Just today, I found the most interesting write up of her mother, and Maria Ygnacia. Ironically, today also happens to be my 5th Great Grandmother's birthday, Maria Juliana Josefa Lopez de Osuna - 16 Mar 1781:) 230 yrs. ago ... I have a copy of her will, estate of Rancho San Dieguito. She was Candelaria's older sister. I owe much Juliana for deeds done long before I ever came into existence. She was one very special woman, just like her mother :) Thank you to Leah E. for the great write up, pics ... most appreciated. Lisa M. Cross (Marron de Osuna) Keep editing bc I have generational counting difficulties. read more

I love history and I love our missions here in California , but this mission sadly was not as breath taking or interesting as the other ones. However this mission does have a peaceful open yard with huge olive trees and an original fountain , I went on a weekday , so it was very peaceful and absolutely not tourist besides us. It was relaxing . read more

Mission San Francisco Solano - One of the smallest missions in CA. - Parks Near Me - Sonoma, California

Love locations like these.. Fun educational and super cheap date! $3 omg!! Win!! Awesome historical site.. Nice public spaces to hang out and enjoy the scenery read more

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We love visiting the Missions. Educational and calming. This is the 21st and last mission built. There's also Vallejo's house across the street. read more

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We call it the Sonoma Mission but it's officially The Mission San Francisco de Solano. It's the end of the Mission Trail. The farthest North that the missons were built. These missions were one of the original defenses against the Russians on American soil. Can you beat that? Although to be fair at the time it was Spanish soil. That's just one of the reasons why I wanted my daughter to have her wedding here. Rebuilt almost 100 years ago it's got charm, charm, charm. The main sanctuary is cozy and welcoming. The courtyard idyllic. The mini museum I could go without but it is a state park. In planning the wedding ceremony I was surprised at how great the help was that we got from the State Park Office and their rangers at the Mission. On the day of her wedding my daughter and her bridesmaids pull up in the limo in front of this beautiful stucco church. The tourists surround us, the August heat of Sonoma surrounds us. The bridesmaids are lined up on the porch in front. "Congratulations!" the tourists shout. We take a moment and then it's time. When we stepped out as the most beautiful sight I had ever seen. We walked together down to the sanctuary in the Mission's cozy stucco confines. The scene inside was beautiful too and a fitting match to a wonderful day. read more

Informative place! The ladies in the front were so helpful and patient with my two kids. We took the self guided tour and learned a lot about the mission. read more

I never quite understood why it took me this long to make my way up to Sonoma, having been to Napa more than just a few times by now. I decided that, after only one trip, I love Sonoma. It's like Napa's less pretentious, less brand-conscious little sister. And since I'm always fascinated by the history of California Mission, one could only imagine my delight when I was only five minutes into exploring the downtown Sonoma when I chanced upon Mission San Francisco Solano, the northernmost California Mission, on the northeastern corner of downtown. To my surprise, unlike the ones that I have visited in the past, this particular Mission doesn't hold any masses anymore these days and instead is converted to a museum. Nonetheless, it was still awesome hanging out on the front porch and feeling the cool adobe walls as we leaned against them whilst examining the giant cactus (cacti?) on the courtyard. It was fun going through the different rooms and looking through the exhibit. It was fascinating to discover that El Camino Real, which in Sunnyvale is eponymous to Little Korea, goes all the way down to Baja California. read more