A Visit To Redlands and Riverside? Absolutely

For years I've been talking about going to the Mission Inn in Riverside in December to see the holiday lights.  Well, I finally organized a trip to the Inn, and to make it a full day, a stop in Redlands at the Historical Glass Museum on Orange Ave.  Seriously, this is not to be missed.  Both the glass museum and the Mission Inn were better than I could have ever expected.

The Historical Glass Museum is housed in an old Victorian house.  Every inch of the house is filled with American glass, from the late 1800's to the present.  Depression glass, hand blown glass, big vases and bowls, and tiny bowls for salt, all sorts of the most remarkable colors and designs imaginable.  Glass makers like Flint and Fenton and Old Morgantown Glass are well represented.  I was looking at a one glass statue of a dancer and noticed it had been donated by a familiar name.  It turned out it was donated by friends of my mom's.  They had also donated a large collection of perfume bottles.  It was exciting to walk into a museum and find pieces donated by someone you know.

So sorry we didn't have more time in Redlands to explore the historic downtown area, which I hear is spectacular.  Also, there is a library of Lincoln memorabilia that I hope to get to another time.

The Mission Inn in Riverside was the real reason we took this day trip.  They have been decorating the inn for decades, and it is a sight to behold.  I have included a few pictures that don't do it justice.  Someone said it was like fantasy land.  It truly was.  Hundreds of visitors were in an around the inn, to view this spectacular light show.  They start putting the decorations up in August, and don't get everything put away until February.  The 19 foot Christmas tree in the lobby, with gingerbread decorations and bows and bulbs, was a real eye catcher.  The historic area of Riverside, with a pedestrian mall, is filled with food stalls and interesting stores.  Get there if you can.  It is so worth the trip.