Things To Do
Leoness Cellars
There are over 40 wineries in Temecula so take your pick. Temecula’s light, sandy loam soil, comprised mostly of decomposing granite, permits water to drain easily. This forces the roots to grow deeper to find water. The result is stronger vines and smaller grapes. This is ideal for highly concentrated flavor. The elevation here is 1,500 feet above sea level. This provides cool summer nights and afternoon breezes following relatively hot days. You can taste this in the best Temecula wines as bold fruit forward flavors and silky mouth-feel.
Pennypickle's Workshop
Pennypickles workshop is located in Old Town Temecula and a must do for families with kids. It is an exploration to dicover science through play. From the time Phineas was a child, he was fascinated with imagination and invention. He envisioned ways to improve and revolutionize everything from electricity to communication to transportation. As his knowledge of the world, history, science, music, and art increased (from books, of course!), his house became filled with gizmos, gadgets, stuff, stuff, and more stuff. His entire home became his workshop and laboratory.
Potato Chip Rock
The hiker standing or sitting on potato chip rock is an iconic SoCal image. Head out early in the morning as this can be a 'hot' hike and the crowds line up to get this shot. There are multiple hikes available from the Santa Rosa Plateau to Point Loma Cabrillo monument ( turn off roaming or your phone thinks you are in Mexico. The hikes range from easy to difficult. https://californiathroughmylens.com/top-ten-hiking-trails-southern-california
La Jolla Cove
You can chose to walk the streets of La Jolla and visit the boutiques and design shops and grab a patio seat for lunch and enjoy people watching. Or you can head to the coves and rent a kayak and visit the caves and coves up close and personal. Walk along the beach and across the rocks and admire the wind shaped Torrey Pine trees. Take a walk to the children's pool, now the home to a large number of harbour seals.
Hotel del Coronado
You can drive across the bridge to Coronado Island or take the ferry from Downtown San Diego and rent a bike. The island is small and easy to explore. Visit the shops or have lunch at the iconic Hotel Del and maybe you can call upon the ghost of Marilyn Munroe (Some Like It Hot was filmed there).
Balboa Park
Balboa Park is where culture and nature meet. Lush grounds, from gardens to forests, fountains to playgrounds, and sweeping architecture from Spanish Colonial Revival to mid-century Modern span the heart of the Park. More than 17 museums filled with everything from dinosaurs to space travel, science to the study of humankind, photographs to old masters, and automobiles to orchids. Plays, musicals, orchestras, ballet, heritage dancing, song, and the World Famous San Diego Zoo, round out a vast array of things to see and do.
San Diego Zoo
It is well known for its lush, naturalistic habitats and unique animal encounters and is home to more than 3,700 rare and endangered animals representing approximately 660 species and subspecies and a prominent botanical collection with more than 700,000 plants. It is viewed in several ways, first and foremost by walking along pathways, into aviaries, and through bioclimatic zones. There is a 35-minute Guided Bus Tour that gives a good overview of the Zoo, along with an Express Bus that stops at several locations to assist guests in accessing different areas. We suggest taking the Guided Bus Tour upon your arrival to acquaint yourself with the various areas where you would like to spend additional time. The Zoo is a unique walking experience that exhibits animals in the most natural way possible, adding shows and animal presentations throughout the day for additional enjoyment.
USS Midway Museum
USS Midway (CVB/CVA/CV-41) was an aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, the lead ship of her class. Commissioned a week after the end of World War II, Midway was the largest ship in the world until 1955, as well as the first U.S. aircraft carrier too big to transit the Panama Canal. She operated for 47 years, during which time she saw action in the Vietnam War and served as the Persian Gulf flagship in 1991's Operation Desert Storm. Decommissioned in 1992, she is now a museum ship at the USS Midway Museum, in San Diego, California, and the only remaining U.S. aircraft carrier commissioned right after World War II ended that was not an Essex-class aircraft carrier.
Knott's Berry Farm
Knott’s Scary Farm is the largest and most haunting Halloween experience in Southern California, with unimaginable scares and innovative thrills that can’t be found anywhere else. The fully transformed theme park features uniquely haunted mazes and attractions, sinister shows and more than 1,000 horrifying creatures lurking in the fog and hiding in every corner of the park. This Halloween event has all the ingredients of a truly terrifying nightmare. But unlike most dreams, Knott’s Scary Farm is a nightmare you can’t wake up from -- which makes it the thing to do for Halloween. Knott’s Scary Farm takes place on select nights in the fall and is not recommended for children under 13.
Julian Pie Company
Is it too warm in Temecula? Take an hours drive into the mountain to Julian. Take a step back in time to the days of Julian’s beginning rooted in the 1870’s gold rush. Get away from the hectic rush of city life… discover the charms of Julian. See where gold was discovered—shop stores housed in historic buildings dating back to the 1870’s—sleep in a romantic B&B or historic hotel—sample Julian’s famous apple pie —hike and picnic amid oaks and pines—ride down Main Street in a horse-drawn carriage. Enjoy!
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Experience California history with a Mission and Beach drive. Start at the Mission San Juan Capistrano and head south on the 5 to Oceanside. Visit the San Luis Rey Mission in Oceanside and have lunch at Oceanside or Carlsbad Beach. Keep heading south to San Diego ( stop at one of many beaches along the way) and visit San Diego de Alcala, the first Mission built in Calfornia. Have dinner in North Park, Hillcrest, Gaslamp or Old Town while you wait for traffic to end.
Joshua Tree National Park
Two hours from Temecula ( 45 minutes from Palm Desert) is where two deserts meet. Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds and occasional torrents of rain. Dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features add to the wonder of this vast wilderness in southern California. Come explore for yourself. Hike, camp, rock climb or just enjoy the stark natural beauty, Joshua Tree is an experience.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas is an easy 4.5 hour drive from Temecula or a quick flight from San Diego.
South Coast Winery Resort & Spa
Full service spa at the Southcoast winery and spa, 5 minutes from our home.