The charming town of Temecula, in southwestern Riverside County, California. is known for its wineries, and golf courses. It also hosts various festivals including the Temecula Valley Wine and Balloon Festival.
Find things to do and where to stay in Temecula, here
Temecula has over 45 wineries and is becoming a wine-tasting destination that rivals the Central Coast and Napa. If you are into gambling, you can stay at Pala Casino, down the road on the Pala Indian Reservation.
Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival
Wine lovers visiting Temecula will love its Balloon & Wine Festival which is a premiere event in town and quite spectacular. While I was attending a conference in town, my partner booked himself on a balloon ride to take some photos. He got up before dawn to meet up with his group.
I was sorry to have missed out because he had a blast.
Visit wineries while you are there
The Temecula Valley has over 50 wineries that are spread throughout the area and up its sprawling hills. You can taste award-winning and artisan Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.
We had dinner at Restaurant at Ponte at the Ponte Family Estate Winery and Vineyard Inn. It is located at 35053 Rancho California Road, Temecula, CA 92591.
We sat outside and dined al fresco in the garden. It was a beautiful night and we shared a fabulous plate of Paella along with some wine.
Stroll through Old Town
Old Town Temecula was designed to look like an old Western town with wooden slat sidewalks. It’s a fun place to stroll or shop at boutiques, wine-tasting rooms, gift shops, and specialty stores.
Visit Temecula
If you want a casual and relaxing getaway, Temecula is a sure bet. I recommend that you visit during the week to avoid crowds as the weekends get busy with events.
If you’re out that way and love to drink wine, at least stop by for the day. I guarantee you’ll enjoy it.
Hi Rebecca! It looks like you had an awesome weekend. I’m not sure if it looks like Doug had more fun than you did, but how great that you both were able to take advantage of a fun weekend. The only time we usually go to Temecula is on our way to San Diego for the desert. Now we might have to stop at one of those restaurants for lunch! ~Kathy
Hi Kathy, Yes, I think Doug had a pretty good time. He enjoyed the balloon flight and I get to use his pictures for my blog. LOL You should definitely stop in Temecula if you live nearby. There are tons of great places to eat. Thanks for your comment. ~ Rebecca
I’ve only been to California once (I live on the East Coast), if you don’t count a stop over once in San Francisco’s airport. I visited San Diego for a week, and it was unforgettable. I would love to go back “one day”.
Hi Alana,
I hope you get a chance to come back to California. I’m surprised you thought San Diego was unforgettable. There are so many fun things to do there. It’s one of my favorite towns. Next time you go there, ask me and maybe I can point you toward a more interesting experience. I love San Francisco too!
Looks like an awesome time. Those balloons are stunning, but I don’t think I’d like to be in one! The food looks amazing…especially that Tiramisu
I have to agree with you about going up in the balloon. I think I’m done with heights ever since I did a zip line in Puerto Vallarta. I was shaking like a leaf the entire time. The Tiramisu was even better at the Trattoria Toscana than the ones we had in Italy and they were amazing!
San Diego is my husband’s hometown. You made me miss it! I need to get back there. I love your pics! Thank you so much for linking to #MidLifeLuv.
Thanks Elena,
I could imagine. I love the San Diego area but was really pleasantly surprised by how nice Temecula is. It’s friendly and fun and I hope to go back there soon.
Your food pictures and descriptions are going to wreck my diet! Sounds like you had a wonderful time. Thanks so much for visiting my blog.
Alicia
spashionista.com
LOL. I know. I’m wrecking my own diet. We had a ton of fun there. I love your blog too. Your vintage Italian fashion photos were awesome!
Temecula is a gorgeous place to spend a weekend. Nice that you two were able to enjoy it together. I had one of the best meals there over 2o years ago, so many great places to eat! Thanks for joining us on #MifLifeLuv Rebecca, we’re very glad to have you! Kimberly
Thanks Kimberly,
We love to get away every once in a while and explore new places. There are so many restaurants it was hard to choose. They all seem great. We lucked out on the places we ate at. They were all wonderful! Thanks so much for hosting #MidLifeLuv. I love that women midlife and over are joining together to help each other succeed.
Looks like an amazing time. We’re going hot-air ballooning in a few weeks in Sonoma (wine country). Can’t wait!
I bet you’ll have a great time John. My brother lives in Napa and the hot air balloons go over his house every morning. Have fun!