Wineries are a highlight of the Temecula Valley and a primary reason we love to visit the area. We have been conducting “research” by tasting at Temecula wines; here’s a list of our favorites that we recommend: 1. Mount Palomar: Our wedding venue, and the wines are consistently spectacular. 2. Europa: Right next door to Mount Palomar, and we’ve been there twice, partly because we enjoy their wines and partly because of their great service. 3. Lorimar: We are planning on tasting and having lunch at this winery on April 12th, and we hope you’ll join us! (Please see the RSVP section.) We had a great tasting experience here. 4. Danza del Sol: Good wines, large tasting room, and very friendly staff. 5. Robert Renzoni: One of our favorite wine pourers at Mount Palomar suggested we visit this winery, and we are glad we did. It’s likely to be busy because it’s good wine! If you go exploring other wineries, we hope you'll find your own that you love and share your experience with us!
Old Town Temecula is worth a visit, whether it's to shop, dine, or simply walk around enjoy the atmosphere. Old Town Front St is where you'll find most of the restaurants, stores, bars, and nightlife, and there are hotels in the area if you'd like to stay there overnight, as well. Taste the olive oil, too, if you get the chance!
Even if you don’t plan on staying at the Pechanga hotel, you should consider stopping by, especially if you’re inclined to gamble a bit. We think it’s a an exceptionally nice “Vegas-strip-style” casino, and it’s very large and accommodating! (One of us won a little bit on a penny slot machine...)
The vast City of Angels, which is about an hour and a half from Temecula by car, provides a variety of options if you have time to take an extended vacation. Some of our favorite excursions in L.A. and surrounding areas include the Getty Center, the beaches (Santa Monica, Malibu, and Venice are the most accessible), Griffith Park, Huntington Library, Dodger Stadium (catch a game while the Dodgers are in town), the Broad, the Centre Theatre Group playhouses, and the Grammy Museum. Great restaurants abound, too, especially for fans of sushi or Mexican food. For shopping, plan on visiting The Grove in Fairfax (next to L.A.'s historical Farmer's Market) or Santa Monica Promenade. Whatever you do, have fun in La La Land and share your adventures with us!
San Diego, a beautiful city on the coast of Southern California, is only about an hour drive from Temecula, so consider taking a trip there before or after the wedding, especially if you've never been. Highlights include the Gaslamp Quarter (especially for great restaurants and nightlife), Old Town (shopping and Mexican food in particular), Coronado Island (visit the Coronado Hotel if you go), and the San Diego Zoo. There's also Petco Park where the Padres play if you're up for some baseball (and it's April so who isn't?).