If you're interested in historical sites, a visit to the San Diego Mission, one of the most historic places in all of California, should be right up your alley. I like historical sites, and this one particularly interested me because I studied California history in elementary school, as California students still do. The current building is not the original mission, which was established in 1769. What you'll be touring is a combination of a renovation (of parts of the building as it was in 1813), plus "new" buildings (constructed in 1931) that were built to LOOK like that same 1813 structure. You'll be able to see two different sanctuaries. The larger one, called the Mission Church, is home to Catholic services, because Mission San Diego remains an active Catholic Parish! (In fact, on the day I toured the Mission, I had to wait until a funeral service was over before I could tour the sanctuary area.) The smaller sanctuary, La Capilla (ka-PEE-ya), remains in use as well. Both sanctuaries feature lovely altar areas. The mission's beautiful bell tower is probably the first thing that you'll notice about the building as you arrive. It still has one of its original bells--the large bell with a "crown" on it. Bells were important to mission life back before timepieces were readily available. The ringing of the bells called the mission's occupants to church services, work, and meals. One part of the mission that I felt was really special was Father Serra's quarters. Father Serra was the religious leader of the expedition whose goal was to establish a chain of missions in California. (This humble room was amazing to be in, just knowing the importance it held to California's history.) Eventually, there came to be 21 missions, each established at approximately one day's journey from the one before it.
Today, Mission San Diego also features lovely gardens planted with Western flora and featuring religious statues. Your self-guided tour begins and ends in the gift shop, which helps raise money for the continued care of the Mission buildings. Admission is $3/adults and $1/children. No food or drink is sold or permitted at the Mission.