Temecula, California's best kept secret

This month - January 19 through th 21st - I had the pleasure of visiting, a little known gem in Southern California. If you are a wine lover, you probably have heard of it; a golfer, you probably played on one of it's championship courses; and for the gamblers among you - it's proximity to the Pechanga Casino has made you aware of it.

For the rest of people, Temecula is south of Riverside, and north of San Diego - off the I-15 freeway, and there are many freeways - from all over the State - that will have connections to get visitors to the I-15. The area is convednient to both the Ontario Airport and the San Diego Airport, for out-of-state visitors to fly into, rent a car and head for the freeway.

This is a question, many of you are probably asking - I believe the followoing three things are the most popular, to keep visitors very active, on a weekend getaway - of even longer, for those with more time.

1. Temecula Valley Wine Country, whichhas over 35,000 acres of rolling hills, is very rural, and was once the home of farms and orchards. It took about a 100 years before the valley saw it's first vineyards and wineries, which were developed to attract home buyers to the Rancho California housing development, which had been established in 1964, by the Kaiser Development Company. The city was incorporated in 1989, and has grown considerably. Each year they host "wine events" to attract visitors to "over 30 wineries" for wine tasting to sample hundreds of award-winning wines - from Syrah to Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Cabernet.

There are many ways to indulge in a "wine-tasting tour - individually by car, or if travelling with a group it can be by Jeep, Bus, or Limo - depending on the size of the group. One of the advantages of going on a "packaged tour" is that they are able to get special prices at the wineries. One of the most beautiful of these wineries is Monte De Oro, with its cathedral ceilings, unique glass floor, where the Barrel room beneath it can be seen, and massive picture windows with views of the valley

2. Another fun and unique place is "Old Town". This is virtually where Temecula began, and it has been preserved to reflect the history and architecture of a town, that began 1882 when the California Railroad came through the valley, and local investors created the first bank. Among the many alleyways and streets, one can discover, specialty shops, art galleries, and antique stores - all with whimsical and historical features that make them fun to visit. Among the multitude of places, these were my three favories -

a. The Temecula Lavender Co, where the lovely scent of lavender welcomes you as you enter the store. Browse among the pure, natural products made from lavender - soaps, lotions, creams, oils, and soy candles.
b. The Horse-drawn tour of "Old Town", travels leisurely through the streets, stopping often to let visitors visit the many places of interest, and as you are not walking it is a good time to purchase something of interest. They also do tours to the wineries in Temecula Valley a great way to visit the vineyards - riding in a carriage drawn by elegant horses.
c. Pennypickle's Workshop welcomes children of all ages to the home of Professor Phineas T. Pennypickle - scientist - to see his wacky inventions - that amaze, delight and puzzle. See secret passageways, strange gadgets and gizmos, and weird machines.

These are only a few of many the unique places to visit in the town. One can also see the "first bank that was robbed"; the historic Jail site; and the first hotel opened in the town - many of them have plaques with the history of the site inscribed on it. After all the walking and it's time to rest and get a bite to eat, there are many cafes and restaurants, and for those who wish to be truly immersed in the past, stay at one of the hotels right in the heart of the town.

3. Pechanga. For thousands of years the "Pechanga people" have called the Temecula Valley home. In 2002 the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians opened the Pechanga Resort and Hotel Complex,. Within a 10 minutes drive of Temecula, the resort is an ideal place to residents stay, gamble and be entertained. The modern hotel has 517 rooms; the Casino floor is one of the largest in the world; and the theatre showcases top rated entertainers throughout the year. The food court has a variety of places to get a quick bite to eat, and there are many other restaurants with different cuisines. Golfers can play on "Journey" the championship golf course, which opened in 2008, between Pechanga Creek and the mountainside. For some Pechanga is the destination, for others it is an added plus to a stay at Temecula.



The Temecula Valley has long been a secret gem in the Inland Empire, and for those who have discovered it, it is a great get-a-way for residents of southern California, and excellent place to visit for visitors.