| If the last time you were in Temecula was fifteen | | | | take groups up for an hour ride above the |
| or twenty years ago, you wouldn't recognize it | | | | Temecula valley. And don't miss the annual balloon |
| now. People from all over have made this | | | | & wine festival! If you are looking for another |
| beautiful valley home since then, and with it, has | | | | type of adventure, try a bi-plane ride - this area is |
| come the malls, plenty of shopping and lots of | | | | well known for these types of aerial tours as well! |
| housing developments. Of course, the other | | | | Old Town Temecula: The old town area is a |
| changes have happened in the hills to the east - | | | | popular place to go out to eat, and enjoy some |
| the rise of the local wine region and hot air balloon | | | | entertainment. Because this area has a long and |
| rides in Temecula. In the past ten years, this area | | | | interesting history, there are many old buildings |
| has become a "southern Napa" in many ways, | | | | that are still standing. One such edifice is the |
| bringing people from all over the world to see | | | | Welty Building, which was a store/saloon as well |
| what this wine capital is all about. Located in | | | | as a hotel in the late 1800's. In 1902 it became |
| Riverside County, Temecula is a fast growing city | | | | the "Ramona Inn". Today, it's an antique store. |
| with lots of business opportunity and family | | | | Antoher historic building is the Wine Cellar |
| activities. Surrounded by gorgeous hills, this area is | | | | Temecula Jail, which was originally built as a wine |
| a natural wonderland. "Temecula" is a native | | | | cellar. Because it was built with granite from a |
| American word ("ta-meck-you-la"), translated as | | | | local quarry, it became a suitable place to hold |
| "where the sun shines through the mist. And | | | | criminals. If you've never been to Old Town, you |
| here's a strange Temecula fact for you - Granite | | | | should consider going, its great to see such |
| from its old early century quarries constitute | | | | history in Southern California, where most of |
| most of San Francisco's street curbs. So, what | | | | what you see is recent development. |
| can you do here? | | | | Pechanga Casino: This entertainment hot spot has |
| Temecula's Wine Experience: There are over | | | | been big on the scene since the early 1990's, |
| twenty world class wineries in the hills of | | | | where slot players can play 2,000 state-of-the-art |
| Temecula, and although its not as well known as | | | | slot and video poker machines, play table games |
| Napa, Sonoma, or France, its done very well, | | | | on over 160 tables including Blackjack, Three-Card |
| produced some excellent wines, and has come up | | | | Poker, Let It Ride, Mini-Baccarat, and Pechanga |
| from no where to win many awards in the | | | | Craps. |
| industry. It all really started in the early 1800's | | | | The hotel, which opened in 2002, was designed in |
| when Franciscan missionaries planted the first | | | | the Frank Lloyd Wright style, and showcases |
| grapevines here, but cattle raising became more | | | | Native American art and culture. It has been |
| important. In 1971, the first Temecula wines were | | | | honored with a AAA Four Diamond rating award. |
| produced and then in the early 1990's the area | | | | Looking for a great place to eat? There are eight |
| took off. | | | | restaurants, four of which are gourmet - |
| Ballooning & Aerial Tours: This area has a long | | | | Paisano's, The Grotto, Kelsey's and The Great |
| history as a hot air balloon capital. You can ride | | | | Oak Steakhouse |
| with friends, family or even strangers - it really | | | | Temecula has a little bit of everything - and |
| doesn't matter, you'll have a blast! The beauty of | | | | there's no place like it in all of Southern California. |
| the valley and the near perfect climate conditions | | | | Thousands of new residents have found this area |
| make for an ideal experience. There are a handful | | | | to be a great place to raise a family, and visitors |
| of hot air balloon ride companies in the area that | | | | can enjoy a number of things to do. |