The California Railroad made its first journey through the Temecula valley in 1882, and it didn't take long after that for Old Town Temecula to spring up around the train tracks. Today, the railroad is no longer running, but the Old Town remains and still has a number of whimsical, historical features that make it a great place to visit.
The Temecula Valley Museum has exhibits that explore the most important historical moments of Temecula from its discovery to the modern day. The museum features three permanent exhibits, and these displays include antique farming equipment, handcrafted artifacts, photographs, and old documents.
Founded in 2002, Leoness Cellars is perched on a hilltop overlooking their vineyard's 20 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. The stunning vista is one of the best views in the area, and it makes Leoness a popular wedding venue as well as a great place for family photos.
The Ponte family, whose members have been growing grapes in the Temecula valley since 1984, owns the gorgeous Ponte Winery. Guests can wander through the manicured gardens, taste a variety of wines in the tasting room, or book one of several winery tours.
The Wiens Family Cellars were established in 2001 and have since become known for their "Big Reds." The main tasting room is open daily to provide samples of the winery's red, white, and dessert wines, and red wine enthusiasts can head down to the working cellar production room for an exclusive tasting of limited production and reserve wines.
As part of the Pechanga Resort and Casino, the Pechanga Theater is one of the premier performance venues in Southern California. It regularly hosts a wide variety of concerts, Broadway theatrical performances, stand up comedy shows, and musicals.
Mount Palomar winery was founded in 1969, and it is situated in the heart of the Temecula valley on a 315-acre estate that includes 55 acres of vineyards. Visitors are welcome to drop by the tasting room any day of the week, and there is a bistro/bar onsite open every day for lunch as well as for dinner on weekend evenings.
With A Grape Escape Balloon Adventure, visitors to Temecula can get a stunning bird's eye view of the entire valley at sunrise. The pilot will act as a tour guide during the hour-long flight, pointing out areas of interest and answering any questions. Once the balloon lands, guests are served a picnic-style continental breakfast with champagne and orange juice at the Europa Village winery.
Since opening in the late 1990s, the Promenade Mall has become the biggest shopping center in the Temecula valley. The mall is located just off Interstate 15 and has an indoor-outdoor layout that includes two parking tower
Located at Wilson Creek Winery, Wine Country Trails by Horseback offers visitors the chance to experience the Temecula valley from the back of one of their well-trained horses. The business owner and operator Diana Lefort is passionate about rehabilitating abused horses, and she uses all proceeds from her business to provide the horses with food, shelter, and medical care.