We concluded National Birthday Week with my family at The Mission Inn for brunch. The Mission Inn is a historic hotel in Riverside that dates back to 1876, when Riverside was the wealthiest city per capita in United States. (Like I said, citrus. Lots and lots of citrus.) Tourists flocked from all around in search of warmer weather during those brutal winters I’ve only heard about, and to make their stay brighter, literally, the hotel developed a reputation for their annual Festival of Lights.
Each year, on the Friday evening following Thanksgiving, the 3.5 million lights that decorate the hotel for the holidays turn on at the conclusion of a Times Square count down. I’ve never been, but I hope to one day. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 50,000 people show up to see the lights turn on, so I would have an easier time convincing The Mister to cut his pinkie off with a butter knife than to brave a large crowd with two small children. The thought that we could lose them in such a large crowd puts him on edge. Maybe when they are older, who knows.
But brunch! That’s safe! So we went, and while I was there I remembered what I liked so much about one of the many historic landmarks you’ll find in the Inland Empire. Between the avocados an hour earlier and dining al fresco surrounded by mission revival style architecture, it was a swift and effective reminder that I take where I live for granted.
A word about the Inland Empire. Southern California is often mocked for its dearth of culture and refinement. We lack seasons. Our residents are shallow and flighty. We are often the butt of jokes and, hell, even northern California wants nothing to do with us. Well, if southern California is the crazy aunt everyone expects to liven up Thanksgiving, the Inland Empire is the cousin known for his mullet and ample supply of weed. We get no love from our own people. There is a perception that we are wretchedly uncool hicks trapped in a collection of one horse towns. It’s a perception held by some of our own residents, past and current, and it’s one I hope to change this January by blogging regularly, in a new section of the blog I have yet to develop, about life in southern Califonia in general and the Inland Empire specifically.
I’m doing this for two reasons. One, I love where I live. I don’t know of anywhere else in the country where can you visit the mountains, the desert, the beach, and the opera in an hour. Two, no matter where you live, you should always hold it dear and appreciate the unique opportunities it presents you. I can’t imagine a better way to do that than by visiting every nook and cranny of my side of California. I did a quick search on things to do in my area, and I� haven’t visited 99.9% of the locales mentioned. Shameful, don’t you think?
How about you? Do you live somewhere cultured and refined, or does your town get no respect? (Funny enough, the one horse town in which I live is larger in population than most cities across the United States.)
p.s.� You know what else I did to conclude National Birthday Week? I picked a winner for the look book giveaway using Random.org. You can see if you are the winner by visiting the original post.
Nebraska is pretty laughed at, so yes, I think I understand where you are coming from. It’s a great place to live though. I’m excited to see your California posts though!
I have one word: Idaho. For most of my life we were known for two things: potatoes and skinheads. A few years ago, I was visiting my friend in Denmark, when she introduced me to another friend of hers. He asked where I was from. I told him. He said, “Oh, Napolean Dynamite!”
Sigh.
Needless to say, I too have been trying to blog on the finer points of Boise-living. :)
I understand about no respect for where you live. I live 40 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in a true one horse town-Leechburg. Population-maybe 2000. We are not far from Amish country which is beautiful. Brutal winters – very much so. We already have 8 inches of snow. Which is nothing compared to where my daughter and grandson live – Erie, Pa. They already have 18 inches of snow. This is why I love your California blog. I do a lot of California dreaming after I read your blog in the morning.
When I tell people I live in Kansas they just assume that Dorothy is still here and that we have livestock everywhere. It’s ridiculous.
I’m looking forward to hearing more about where you live. Mostly because I want to pretend I live there during January while it’s cold and icy here in the midwest.
I don’t understand this post.. I really love southern California. It’s beautiful. I don’t know if I’ve been where you live, exactly, but everywhere I’ve been..it’s gorgeous (not a huge fan of the Hollywood/LA area though). La Jolla..it’s just perfect, and the same with Laguna Beach. We do not have seals here, like you have there. And, our ocean is not as ‘tame’ as yours is I think. It’s hard to explain…but our ocean is darker, more brown at times, which I always attribute to the ocean being angry and with all the waves….but Cali’s is blue-er more, I think. :)
Your pictures look similar to San Diego..and I think that the Mission may be there, in Old Towne?? Not sure, but it seems familiar. I think that it’s a really nice area, with great Mexican food!
I’m from northeastern NC, close to the Outer Banks, which is truly spectacular. I now live in Georgia, close to Atlanta…and will be moving to Atlanta in January. Due to my career I’ve been lucky enough to travel all around the US, and honestly, I really enjoy most everywhere I get to visit. Note: I’ve never been to Idaho or Nebraska though. I will put it on my to-do list. :)
I admit that I wouldn’t appreciate living there because there aren’t four seasons. How could I appreciate spring, if there wasn’t a winter?? Plus, putting up a Christmas tree in shorts…well, it doesn’t feel right.
I love the Mission Inn Jules. I often go there with my Mom when I visit my family. Good choice on the bright pictures too. :)
Another place that’s an hour (and a half) from the mountains, the beach, the desert and the opera is Portland, Oregon. Oregon is such a beautiful place. Green lush valleys, the coast, the Cascade Mountain range, an amazing city… I live an hour south of Portland and I love it. Love it, love it, love it.
I live outside a town of about 5,000 people. We’re 50 minutes from Houston, though, so that kept me sane through my teenage years. When I went to college in New York City for a couple years, and then moved back to the town of 5,000, I actually grew to appreciate it so much more than I ever had. The shops, the people, the small town vibe–I love it now!
I live in So Cal too. Orange County to be exact and while we do mock the 909 for their “bros, bro hoes, and Fontuckey” we have our fair share of embarrassment too. Namely, everything praised in “The OC” and “The Real Housewives of Orange County”. Also, LA likes to think we are Single White Femaling them. Let me just say not all of us ladies are full of plastic, short on brains and class, and trying to sniff out a rich husband. While Nor Cal might think they’re better than us because they’re cultured ex-hippies I just have to say they can keep their redwoods and icy water because I enjoy sunny beaches and the desert heat. BTW, can we just acknowledge that while Nor Cal and So Cal are always discussed no one even bothers to mention Central Cal, ie the Grapevine, that long stretch of farmland that takes you from SD to SF. It’s like the black sheep of our family.
I envy your California livin’. It’s cold here. Really cold. And I’m sitting here watching snow pour down by the bucketload. I could do with some sun. Warm sun.
As for appreciating where you live … I am 10 miles south of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and I’ve NEVER been there. Not even on a school trip. I also live less than 2 hours from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and I’ve never been there either.
I can, however, tell you where any mall is located in Northeast Ohio :D
…the Inland Empire is the cousin known for his mullet and ample supply of weed. We get no love from our own people….
Oh my. You are the wittiest wit around.
“no matter where you live, you should always hold it dear and appreciate the unique opportunities it presents you.”
I needed to read this bit of wisdom. For five years I have daily cringed at the fact that I followed my husband to this part of Central Texas with horrible education (even with nearby Baylor), polluted air, and poverty. But the lake is beautiful as are the little hills and big trees.
And I am excited about winning the lookbook!
Oh my GAWSH I am dying reading this!!! Can I just say, you failed to mention that it is sometimes thought so lowly of a place it doesn’t even deserve to be called by it’s full name, but simply the “IE”. Aw man, Riverside does get a bad rap. A very distinguished gentleman I sat next to on the plane last week who currently lives in Paris, told me about all 3 of his children and where they attended college. He told me that one of his sons went to UCR, but immediately backed it up by saying “You know they do have a fantastic music program, one of the best.” I almost said to him, “don’t worry, I ain’t judging. I went to UCSB, where half the kids were smoking ‘shrooms and getting wasted on DP.” I feel your pain, I grew up in Whittier, which if you know anything about Whittier, is actually a very pretty and historic town. I was explaining to someone the other day where Whittier was and I said “it’s where Nixon was born and grew up” and they said in return “I wouldn’t state that as the town’s claim to fame.”
Anyhow, I loved this..
Oh, and the whole point of the post, the Mission Inn…funny thing is I was JUST saying yesterday to my girlfriend that I’ve always wanted to go to the spa at the Mission Inn and that I want to arrange a girl’s trip there…hey, maybe you can meet me there!
I never thought people called it IE because it is so lowly a place that it doesn’t deserve a full name. People started calling it that after that ridiculous show “The OC.” I never watched that show, but that’s when I first noticed it.
The Inland Empire just isn’t that bad, and neither is Whittier. (Whoever said that to you is really stupid.) People need to pull their heads out. My brothers live in LA and I have friends from Orange County, and it’s not like I’m bowled over by either area when I visit. Really, we all put our pants on one leg at a time. Elitist attitudes about where one lives is annoying enough to make me want to pull my hair out.
Did you mean Cal State SB?
are you being facetious about Cal State SB, or are you really asking? Sometimes I don’t know ;) I meant University of California Santa Barbara. I mean, I know it’s no Harvard, but referring to it as a Cal State is a little mean (haha, that’s a little UC vs Cal State snobbery joke). Apologies if none of this is coming off funny, I spent 6 hours in the car today and unpacked and did all the laundry, so I’m a little loony!
And p.s. the girl that said that to me was one of the models we use in the NY showroom. I was feeling snarky and so I just replied, “oh, please, you’re just young.” She shut up after that.
So if I was looking to go to the Mission Inn with the family would you recommend for brunch or go at night so we could see the lights?
My husband went to a Cal State, so I wasn’t being facetious. ;)
Gosh, I have no idea on the brunch v. lights issue. The brunch is expensive, but tasty. I imagine there are plenty of places in your area that serve brunch. The lights are pretty, and free, so you can some see them, walk around the corridor of shops the city has (mainly antiques and home decor–Mrs. TigglyWinks is a favorite), have gingerbread/funnel cake and hot cocoa, go ice skating, and then on your way out of town stop at a restaurant for dinner.
well said! i’m from the ie and i loved growing up there! i live in the san fernando valley now and go back almost every weekend to spend with family. all my favorite places are in the ie!
thank you for this post it warmed my heart!
“the Inland Empire is the cousin known for his mullet and ample supply of weed. ”
Okay, this made me laugh so hard. I’ve lived in Riverside my whole life and I am guilty of hating on the Inland Empire. Maybe your posts will help me appreciate the area a bit more. I do really love the Mission Inn/Main Street area though. When my husband and I were house hunting I was so hoping for a cute old house in the wood streets but we had to settle in Corona instead. I still try to get out there for a Simple Simons lunch and a walk though Mrs Tigglywinks and the giant antique store.
Yeah, I’m one of the native Southern California haters you talk about, but you make some good points. I go back and forth — on the one hand, I despise certain aspects of Southern California, but then I also feel like there are things about it that are better than anywhere else. Also, I acknowledge that who I am today developed completely because of Southern California. So, I shall read your posts with interest.
I love your blog (even though I’m reading this a week late!). And I’ve always been proud that I also live in the Inland Empire (Redlands–although I’m a transplant from Michigan) and know and appreciate all the things you write about. I feel like if I were to see you out and about in the great IE, it would be like a celebrity sighting! :)