Temecula sits in a beautiful Southern California valley just an hour north of San Diego and about an hour and a half southeast of Los Angeles. The perfect spot for a weekend getaway. The area is famous for hot air balloon rides and wineries, and brides love to plan weddings here thanks to the natural beauty of the region — the writer of this article included. There are many things to do beyond wine-tasting, though, from a round of golf and spa treatments to horseback riding and farm tours. Here are our suggestions to help you plan your perfect Temecula getaway, including many ways to explore different parts of Old Town Temecula.
Hot air balloon photo above by Nu Aerial.
1 | Temecula Wineries
If you’re interested in wine tasting, we have recommendations for the best ones to visit and itineraries to keep you busy all weekend. Several wineries offer unique experiences. You can book a wine blending workshop at Bottaia Winery and go home with a bottle of your blend, or rent a cabana for the day at their seasonal pool. Peltzer Winery is a working farm with a seasonal pumpkin patch and ice rink; Danza del Sol provides an UTV tour of its property, and Raúl Ramirez Winery puts on Andalusian horse shows a few times yearly.
Most wineries host live musicians on the weekend, but South Coast Winery hosts a concert series, Rhythm on the Vine, where artists like Jewel, Los Lobos, and Chris Isaac have played in the past. Check out more nightlife ideas.
2 | Hot-Air Balloon Rides
A spectacular way to view the valley is from high up in one of those famous hot-air balloons. Operators like A Grape Escape and California Dreamin’ will take you on an hour-long public or private tour of the sky and have lovely touches like a champagne toast upon landing. See all hot air balloon operators.
3 | Unique Tours of the Town
Get to know the area better with a uniquely Temecula experience. Fly through the valley hills on a Sidecar Tour or go at a slower pace on horseback. Brave souls can spend the evening on a Ghost Tour of Old Town Temecula, and romantic couples can book a horse-drawn carriage tour of the vines. Uys Wines offers e-bike rentals to help you zip around wine country with an optional add-on to taste their wines at the end of your tour. Tour del Vino offers customized luxury tours, tailored to your preferences. See more tour ideas here »
4 | Farm Visits, Workshops, and Dinners
Agricultural tourism is alive and well in Temecula, with the Temecula Olive Oil Company’s ranch tours and farm dinners leading the pack. Seasonally, visitors can tour (and pick at) local farms like Temecula Berry Co. and Fork & Plow Lavender Farm. Animal lovers will enjoy Sugarplum Zoo near Lorimar Winery in wine country. It’s a chocolate shop, wine tasting room, and animal sanctuary all in one! If you’d prefer to stay in town but would still like to connect to the farming community, there is a Farmer’s Market every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm in Old Town on 6th Street, and Temecula Olive Oil Company has a tasting room on Front Street.
5 | Old Town Temecula
Old Town Temecula is a must for any visit to Temecula. Inside all of the historic storefronts, you’ll find shops, gastropubs, romantic dining spots, a host of new wine bars, breweries, and our beautiful City Hall at the center of it. If you enjoy live music there is a seasonal jazz series at The Merc and The Vibe (formerly The Old Town Blues Club) on Front Street. Along Fifth Street alone you’ll find many of our top recommended spots for food and drink: Small Barn Restaurant, La Fata Cellars tasting room, Blackbird Tavern, and Two Travelers Wine Bar. There’s also some beautiful architecture along that stretch and the wonderful Old Town Spice and Tea Merchants,
The Temecula Valley Museum is steps from the main drag, and has a terrific photography collection of the early days of Temecula. The museum is a great spot for kids with a playground outside, as is Pennypickle’s Workshop over on Main Street.
See our itinerary for ideas on how to spend the day in Old Town »
6 | Pechanga Resort Casino
Award-winning Pechanga Resort Casino offers a lot for its visitors and is a weekend destination in its own right. It’s also listed below for its golf and spa experiences. But in addition to the world-class casino, you’ll find multiple fine-dining restaurants, a hotel, waterslides that you can visit for the day, and performances from internationally known entertainers like Jerry Seinfeld, Jon Stewart, and Patti Labelle.
7 | Vail Ranch Headquarters
This historic spot was once the headquarters of the 87,000 acre Vail Cattle Ranch that extended all the way from Murrieta to Camp Pendleton. There was a saloon, livery stable, hotel, general store, stagecoach stop, post office, and school. Today, the resorted Vail Headquarters buildings house shops, family-friendly restaurants, a brewery, and a tasting room from one of Temecula’s most influential winemakers, Marshall Stuart.
8 | Golf Courses
For a small town, Temecula offers a wealth of options for golfers. There are community golf courses in Red Hawk and Temeku Hills. You can also make a weekend of it at the Journey Golf Course at Pechanga Resort Casino or one of the four-star rated courses at Temecula Creek Inn.
9 | Brewery Tours
Under the radar, though it may be compared to the wineries, the Temecula brewery scene is thriving. From gastropubs like Oscars Brewing Company and 8 Bit Brewing to meaderies like Batch Mead and Chubby Cheeks Meadery, one could easily plan a whole weekend just around visiting the area’s craft beer scene. Bare Knuckle Brewing Company at Vail Headquarters is a great spot to relax outside with a hazy pale ale, and Relentless is a casual place for a flight and weekend food trucks.
Plan a day around local breweries with our pub crawl itinerary »
10 | Spa Day
Temecula is a land of vacationing, and what better way to unwind than at a beautiful spa? Pechanga Resort Casino, South Coast Winery & Resort, and Murrieta Hot Springs each offer high-end massages, nail treatments, and facials, as well as a place to stay. Find out more about each spa here »
