Warm wind rushes past as you stick your head out the car window and turn your face to the sun. You smell hot earth and sagebrush as your hair whips around your ears. Turning your eyes to the valley below, you see acres of vineyards, suggesting a Mediterranean vacation closer to home.
The Temecula Valley is located in Riverside County. It’s just under a hundred miles from Topanga, making it an ideal weekend getaway for groups of adults, whether it be a romantic couple, a girls’ trip, or a sibling bonding trip. While several of the vineyards and activities are child-friendly, the area is more adult-focused, with its emphasis on gambling and alcohol.
With Temecula’s wild west history, we recommend dressing for a wine tasting with a slight western flair. We also recommend bringing sun protection including a broad-brimmed hat and sunscreen, as well as electrolytes and plenty of water and snacks.
Vineyards
Temecula has a wide variety of vineyards to explore for everyone. Each one has a different flavor, and there’s one to suit everyone’s tastes:
Altisima Wineries – notes of young 20-30 somethings, groups of friends and a few couples. Provides excellent sweeping views of the valley below.
Cougar Winery – notes of suburban wine aficionado mothers, pairs nicely with the on-site deli, Sangio’s.
Miramonte Winery – notes of families of all ages, their sangria pairs nicely with their charcuterie and other dining offerings.
Longshadow Ranch Winery – notes of young families, with a distinct flavor of country fair. On-site barbeque truck, farm animals, and playground. A great option for those with children. Our testers recommend the Buttero Rosé, both for flavor, and as it triggered no sulfide-related allergies.
Hot Air Balloon Rides – Enjoy beautiful sweeping views of Riverside County while enjoying wine and cheese. Our balloon ride picks include A Grape Escape Balloon Adventure, Cielo Balloons, and California Dreamin’ Balloon Adventures.
Casinos – As you, dear reader, have likely heard of, from innumerable radio and billboard ads, the Pechanga Resort and Casino is located in Temecula, and it’s a great place to stop for high-profile concerts, pools, and a variety of gambling.
Spas – The Temecula area is noted for its relaxing spas. Top picks include Glen Ivy Hot Springs in Corona, and Grapeseed Spa at South Coast Winery and Spa in Temecula, and Murrieta Hot Springs Resort in Murrieta. Enjoy soothing mud baths, springs, and massages while indulging in grown-up grape juice.
Annual Temecula events include the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival, the Temecula Valley International Film Festival, the Temecula Greek Festival, and the Temecula Valley Jazz Festival.
Temecula was incorporated on December 1, 1989, and its city hall was designed in the Mission Revival style. If that’s not exciting enough for you, you’ll be obsessed to find out that both singer Olivia Rodrigo and comedienne Taylor Tomlinson grew up in Temecula.
Until the mid-1960’s, Temecula stood as one of the last bastions of the wild west, home to ranchers, cattle, and a bank robbery. Temecula sits in Riverside County, and experienced a population boom in the late twentieth century, as a more affordable, commuter option for those from San Diego, Escondido, and Orange County. In November of 1989, residents elected to incorporate as a city, rejecting the name “Rancho California,” proposed by Kaiser-Aetna Development Company, in favor of keeping the name Temecula. Today, Temecula stands alongside Topanga and Malibu as one of the few California cities to be known by its original native name, rather than a Spanish or English one.
Temecula makes for an excellent weekend getaway or day trip for Angelenos looking for a local vacation, providing options to tailor your trip for any group, whether it be a family, a romantic couple, a girls’ trip, or a sibling bonding trip. Temecula is noted for its wine, views, gambling, and spas, and provides world-class hospitality offerings for visitors.
In the spirit of our usual disclaimer, please remember to drink safely and responsibly.
