Temecula
With days long on sunshine and stunning landscapes that stretch for miles, Temecula offers visitors a relaxed setting of vineyards spilling down lush hillsides. Lavish spa resorts and Western sensibilities give visitors a favorable exchange for the pressure cooker of the big city. Escape to a region where meals are experienced, not just served, and where fine art piques the senses and a stroll through Old Town will make you wish for silver spurs and a horse named Trigger.
Visit Temecula
Play the Old Way
Old Town Temecula has successfully married Old West sensibility with modern amenities and extravagances. Walk the Old Western boardwalks to shop for locally crafted goods, take in an outdoor festival or dance the night away like residents of the Wild West did here 125 years ago. One difference between today and the 1880s: You won’t be eating at the chuck wagon, as the food is exceptional at today’s restaurants in Old Town.
Polo, Anyone?
Take in a match at the Valley Polo Club, where top-notch polo players raise money for charitable causes throughout the valley. Once the match is completed, visit the Equestrian Center on the grounds of Galway Downs for more horsing around, with dressage festivals and horse racing.
Gorgeous Golf Courses
Year-round golf on four public courses brings duffers to Temecula to take on challenging fairways and even more demanding greens. With water features, magnificent oak trees and strenuous elevation changes, golfers will only think they are playing at the Masters.
Spa a Minute
Take advantage of some downtime to luxuriate in one of the numerous spas in the region. Combine a champagne facial with a massage and a Vino Vinyasa yoga class for the ultimate in Temecula relaxation.
Temecula on Two Wheels
More than 90 miles of bike trails make Temecula a favorite among cyclists of every skill set. Enjoy a challenging ride through Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, or cruise around Temecula Valley’s wine country at leisure.
Playing Pechanga
Roll the dice at Pechanga Resort Casino, where gaming is only one of the many activities offered. With professional entertainment, Broadway productions and events like Chocolate Decadence and Pechanga Wine Festival, the chips are never down in the largest casino in the western United States.
Emaz Designs
Vineyard Envy
Voted as one of the 10 Best Wine Travel Destinations, the Temecula Valley is home to more than 40 wineries and tasting rooms. Take a guided wine tasting tour and let someone else do the driving while sampling some of the region’s best labels. Guests can design their own itinerary with vineyard and production tours, extravagant private meals and interaction with owners. Cheers!
Blue Grass and Ballet
Tap your toes at a bluegrass concert or point your toe shoes for ballet at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater. From Spanish dance to stage productions and orchestral offerings, the community theater promotes unmatched variety in the arts and culture of the Temecula Valley.
A Lot of Hot Air
A staple in the region, the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival in late May combines two great loves, hot air ballooning and vino. Picture a romantic hot air balloon ride over a verdant valley covered in grapevines, insert an arts and crafts festival and live entertainment, and you’ve got a popular event that calls for a toast!
Racing Rally
What do you get when you mix 120 reality stars, a scavenger hunt, a celebrity-chef showcase and a cowboy stampede? You get the Reality Rally, Temecula’s version of The Amazing Race, created to raise funds for a local cancer center held every May.
Ranchers to Vintners
The Temecula Tribe lived in the region for hundreds of years before exposure to Europeans in 1797. The Spanish established the Mission San Luis Rey de Francia the next year and when Mexico gained access in 1821, land grants were issued for the valley. Ranches began to grow, and so did the area’s standing as a distribution center for cattle and grain. The Butterfield Overland Mail added a stage stop in Temecula and the town incorporated in 1859. In the 1900s, viticulture really took off as the area’s grape growing potential was realized.
A Secret No More
By the 1900s, settlers began purchasing land. Walter Vail, in particular, accumulated large parcels. By 1947 Vail had over 87,000 acres and the economy of Temecula centered around business associated with Vail Ranch. When residents of nearby San Diego and Los Angeles realized the cost of property in Temecula was much more reasonable, the population grew. Today, around 114,000 people make Temecula their home.
For More Information
Visit Temecula Valley
888-363-2852
www.visittemeculavalley.com
California Tourism
877-225-4367
www.visitcalifornia.com
