Fodor's Expert Review Mission Inn and Spa

One of California's most historic hotels, the inn grew from a modest adobe lodge in 1876 to the grand Spanish-Revival structure it is today. From the late 1800s, when millionaires were flocking to California in search of wealth, to 1935, owner Frank Miller enlarged and embellished the property with Tiffany glass, an antique Asian bell collection, and many fine paintings. The inn has welcomed 10 U.S. presidents over the years, including Theodore Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, and John F. Kennedy. After a long period of decline, the hotel was purchased by Duane Roberts, who began a total renovation in the 1990s. The grand archways, flying buttresses, secluded gardens, and two inspirational chapels remain, but the gorgeous structure is now totally modern. The restaurants here include the popular Spanish Patio and Duane's, where locals go for special occasions. Check out the celebrity photos that line walls in the bar, where you'll see snaps of Barbra Streisand, Betty White, and members of multiple generations of the Bush family. Hotel guests and patrons of Kelly's Spa have access to a gorgeous swimming pool. Hand-painted frescoes, Venetian chandeliers, and barrel-vaulted ceilings lend a regal touch to the Tuscan-style spa, which has 12 treatment rooms and two private villas with outdoor teak rain showers, marble-encased aromatherapy baths, and flat-screen TVs.