15 Great Girlfriend Getaway Ideas in Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country

TEMECULA VALLEY Southern California Wine Country, August 28, 2012 – “Southern California women in-the-know of all ages – from Thousand Oaks, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, Los Angeles and Pasadena; to Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Irvine, and Yorba Linda; as well as Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, Indian Wells; Carlsbad to Coronado; and beyond – are discovering that Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country is the perfect Girlfriend Getaway that is not far away,” affirms Kimberly Adams, Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau president and CEO. “For all female friends and family (sisters, moms, daughters, cousins), VisitTemecula.org is happy to share 15 great ‘Girlfriend Getaway’ ideas.” The casual, picturesque Temecula Valley includes Downtown, Old Town Temecula, Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country, and Pechanga Resort & Casino; and is 1 hour from Orange County, Palm Desert, and San Diego; and 1½ hours from Los Angeles.

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1-Get away to Temecula Valley midweek

Less-busy weekdays mean the potential for conversations with winery family-members and winemakers in Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country, more personal attention in Old Town Temecula and at Promenade Temecula. Additionally, most of Temecula Valley’s 15 inviting hotels, motels, and resorts offer special (better-than-weekend) rates Sunday-through-Thursday. Go to VisitTemecula.org for special hotel rates and offers.

2-Discover the De Portola Wine Trail in Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country

Taste award-winning premium varietals along the De Portola Wine Trail at established boutique wineries like Cougar, Danza del Sol, Gershon Bachus, Keyways, Leoness, Oak Mountain, and Robert Renzoni. Most are family-owned and open daily for wine tasting. For carefree enjoyment, reserve in advance with one of the local, wine-country tour-and-transportation companies. Also visit again in the spring for the De Portola Wine Trail Big Red Fest.

3-Explore the Old Town Temecula Tasting Trail

Palate-pleasing establishments abound in Old Town Temecula. At Temecula Olive Oil Company, taste and learn at the olive oil and balsamic-vinegar tasting bar (complimentary daily). Sample the fresh-brewed tea of the day and browse the shelves at Old Town Spice Merchants. Check-out Old Town Root Beer Company’s 300+ varieties of sodas, root beers, and ginger ales including novelty flavors like “bacon” and “peanut butter and jelly.” Then taste the fresh-made fudge at Old Town Sweet Shop – a favorite destination for chocolate lovers and nostalgic candy fans. Plan to visit again in spring to attend the Taste of Temecula Valley on Town Square.

4-Relax and indulge in Temecula Valley spa treatments

A trio of spas beckon! With signature, vine-based treatments, massage and body rituals, the GrapeSeed Spa is known for vintage relaxation. Also reserve in advance: a private or small-group yoga session. Spa Pechanga is a tranquil refuge for rejuvenating mind and body – from hot stone massages to organic, nourishing, body wraps. Murrieta Day Spa is a pampering escape offering massages and facials, and impeccable manicures and pedicures. With each and all, inquire about special, seasonal treatments and services like rose facials and peppermint foot massages.

5-Shop Promenade Temecula

With more than 170 specialty shops to choose from and a distinctive indoor-outdoor lifestyle layout, Promenade Temecula includes sought-after stores like Macy’s, H&M, Lemonchello Boutique, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, and Apple. Savor a meal at Lazy Dog Café, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, or Yard House then catch the newest blockbuster at Edwards 15 Cinemas.

6-Experience the excitement of Pechanga Resort & Casino

The largest casino in the entire Western U.S., Pechanga Resort & Casino features nightly poker tournaments in the 54-table poker room, 130 table games, and 3,800 Las Vegas-style slot machines. Pechanga also hosts popular concerts with top-name entertainment like Ringo Starr and Dierks Bentley; and 9 award-winning restaurants like the Great Oak fine-dining steakhouse.

7-Take flight over Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country in a hot air balloon

Launch the day at sunrise with an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime, hot air balloon flight. Companies like A Grape Escape, California Dreamin’, D&D Ballooning, and Magical Adventures float quietly and serenely with majestic views of the vineyards and rolling hills. What an ultimately memorable experience!

8-Shop Old Town Temecula

The pedestrian-friendly, 12-block Old Town Temecula shopping-dining-entertainment district includes 60+ individually owned, specialty stores. A favorite shopping destination is The Farmer’s Wife; women love this store! Shop here for classic knits, sandals, accessories, books and journals, home décor, and garden accents. Charming, Temecula Lavender Company features locally grown, pure, small-batch, signature lavender products for bath, body, and home. For locally grown and made lavender lotions and oils, plus lavender flea-repellent pet products seek out Old California Lavender. Granny’s Attic is just across the river from Old Town Temecula. Browse and select from a great variety of collectibles, antiques, vintage clothing, and one-of-a-kind American furniture dating to the 1800s. Between Old Town shopping adventures, dine alfresco at Front Street Bar & Grill, Palumbo’s Ristorante, Soro’s Mediterranean Grill, or Sweet Lumpy’s. Save room for old-fashioned, made-from-scratch dessert at Robin’s Nest. Old Town Temecula hosts a bevy of events throughout the year. Plan to return for the Old Town Temecula Bluegrass Festival, Old Town Temecula Western Days, Old Town Temecula Street Painting & Plein Air Festival, Hot Summer Nights, the Old Town Temecula Quilt Show, and a variety of holiday activities celebrated as Old Town Temecula Winterfest.

9-Tour Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country by horse-drawn carriage or 1914 cable car

Whether with Temecula Carriage Company or Temecula Valley Cable Car Wine Tours, a wine-country ride, wine tasting, and picnic is a sublime experience, putting one in touch with the rhythm of the seasons. Nothing quite compares to fresh air and the great Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country. Plan to return at another time of year to delight in the comparisons and contrasts.

10-Savor “off-the-beaten-path” award-winning wines of Temecula Valley So Cal Wine Country

Local tour-and-transportation companies help make for a relaxed, carefree wine-country tour in a variety of vehicles and styles. Arrange in advance to visit off-the-beaten-path wineries. Most are family-owned and open-daily for wine tasting. Along Calle Contento Road are Briar Rose, Falkner, and Lumiere. Others to visit on roads-less-traveled are Doffo, Foot Path, Palumbo, and the new Lorimar Winery.

11-Hike and picnic at the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve

Get sandwiches and picnic goodies to-go at Campini’s Italian Deli (south of Downtown, Old Town Temecula), E.A.T. Marketplace (in Uptown Temecula), or Temecula Valley Cheese Company (in Old Town Temecula) then head to the nearly 9,000-acre Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve (open sunrise to sunset, daily). Stop first at the Visitors Center (open Tuesday-Sunday) to learn of current, seasonal happenings. Hiking trails (most easy to moderate) total 40 miles. The self-guided, interpretive nature trail and the vernal pool trail are both wheelchair accessible. In summer, catch the afternoon breeze and some shade, too, on the Granite Loop trail. In autumn, hike to the adobe structures dating to 1846, and picnic in the shade of a glorious 400-year-old tree. Small songbirds winter-over in the oak woodlands, and given sufficient rainfall, the miraculous vernal pools linger through spring.

12-Explore historic Old Town Temecula

At the Temecula Valley Visitors Center in Old Town, pick-up an Old Town Temecula guide for an informative, historic, self-guided tour that includes structures like the circa 1890 Burnham Store now The MERC, an entertainment venue and art gallery; and the 1914 First National Bank of Temecula, now The Bank Restaurant of Mexican Food. Walk from arch-to-arch and be sure to visit the They Passed This Way granite monument, a testament to Temecula’s Western glory days, etched with names like legendary scout Kit Carson and mountain-man Jedediah Smith. Then explore the Temecula Valley Museum exhibits followed by a stroll to the Mission Revival-style Civic Center with its remarkable fountain inspired by the design of native Luiseño basket artistry.

13-Golf Temecula Valley’s impressive courses

Celebrate the game of golf at a variety of highly regarded, vacation-worthy courses. Arthur Hills-designed Journey at Pechanga is a California top-course by Golfweek and GOLF Magazine. Journey’s par 4, Hole 6 has a breath-taking, 175-foot drop – the largest elevation drop on a California course. The Dick Rossen/Ted Robinson, Sr.-designed Temecula Creek Inn courses have a 4-star rating in Golf Digest’s “Places to Play” guide. The Ron Fream-designed RedHawk Golf Club is ranked 7^th best among California’s public courses by Golf Today. The Ted Robinson-designed/P. Dye-updated Legends Golf Club is on a rebound to restoring its former glory as one of Southern California’s best golfing experiences. With a championship layout, the Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed Golf Club at Rancho California is on several “Best Public Courses” lists; and the Ted Robinson Sr.-redesigned Pala Mesa Golf course is highly rated by Golf Digest and PGA professionals.

14-Shop Lake Elsinore Outlets

Browse and buy at Lake Elsinore Outlets’ 50+ discounted and factory stores. Shop popular outlets like Bath & Body Works, Billabong, GAP, Guess, Levi’s, O’Neill, OshKosh, and Pacific Sunwear. For name-brand footwear, explore Bass, Nike, Reebok, SKEECHERS, and Vans.

15-Make it a Temecula Valley Celebration

Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country is the ideal location to connect and celebrate birthdays, bachelorette parties, accomplishments, and other special occasions – and with “the more, the merrier” especially midweek. Most Temecula hotels offer special midweek (better-than-weekend) group-rates Sunday-through-Thursday with reservations for 10 guestrooms or more. To learn more, contact Visit Temecula sales at 951/491-6085.

***Information is believed accurate but may be subject to change.

The Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, the region’s official tourism marketing organization and resource for visitors is online at VisitTemecula.org; “Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country” on Facebook; and @Visit_Temecula on Twitter. Open 7 days, the Temecula Valley Visitors Center is in Old Town Temecula, Third Street and Mercedes, next to the Temecula Civic Center. For visitor information and assistance, call 888/363-2852 or 951/491-6085.