A Day Trip to Temecula CA

As if there isn’t enough to do in Palm Springs while on vacation, add wine tasting to your list. If you find yourself craving local California wines or simply wondering what’s on the other side of Mt. San Jacinto, you owe it to yourself to take a little side trip to Temecula. You’ll enjoy a day of wine country tours, antiquing, and adventure.

The Temecula Valley is a beautiful town located just north of the San Diego County line. The cool coastal breezes make their way from the Pacific Ocean and through the “Rainbow Gap”, cooling Temecula down each night and providing it with an optimal climate for grape growing. As a result, the valley has become a premier wine country and ideal travel destination.

Charming wineries line Rancho California Road with a few additional ones scattered slightly off the main route. You’ll find huge, industrial wineries such as the well known Callaway Winery and smaller, more intimate wineries complete with tail-wagging dogs hanging out on the porch.

All of the wineries have tasting rooms with prices that vary from a few dollars including a souvenir glass to the more expensive choices with generous pours. Wine tasting packages, as well as a variety of touring options, are also available. On weekends, it’s not unusual to see stretched out Hummers, limousines, and shuttle buses loaded with wine lovers.

With over twenty wineries to choose from, you’ll have a full day of touring ahead of you. Special events, live music, freshly baked bread loaded with melted brie, and roaring bonfires are among the added perks you’ll enjoy while sipping the fine wines crafted here.

Another way to spend your day in Temecula is by strolling the boarded sidewalks of Old Town. Here you’ll find museums, including the fabulous children’s museum, Imagination Workshop, featuring a wacky inventor and his labs, and the charming Temecula Valley Museum. You’ll also find excellent dining choices, antique shops galore, and the new “Old Town Community Theatre”. Watch as motorcycles and classic cars cruise down Front Street on their way out for a ride in the nearby mountains, or surf the internet using Old Town’s free wifi internet access.

Temecula hosts numerous events and festivals throughout the year. The Balloon and Wine Festival features hot air balloons, live entertainment, and wine tasting over a three day period each spring. The Temecula Valley International Film and Music Festival attracts filmmakers, celebrities, and movie lovers from all over the world each September. Classic car shows come to town twice a year and other events such as the Street Painting Festival, the Bluegrass Music Festival, and the Erle Stanley Gardner mystery weekend keep residents and tourists busy.

The Pechanga Resort and Casino is a beautiful facility that has earned the Four Diamond designation from AAA. It features resort lodging, fine dining, Indian gaming, nightclubbing, RV camping, and entertainment. Regularly scheduled Broadway performances, boxing events, and concerts entertain the masses in the 1200 seat theatre.

Temecula is about an hour away from Palm Springs.

Helpful Links:
Temecula Convention & Visitor's Bureau
Temecula Wine Growers & Wineries
More About Temecula CA

The Palm Springs Desert Resort cities include Palm Springs, Palm Desert,
Cathedral City, Indian Wells, Indio, Desert Hot Springs, La Quinta and
Rancho Mirage. Abbreviations for California include CA, Calif. and Cal.