Founded on the Butterfield Stage Route, Temecula is the gateway to California's youngest wine country. The Temecula Valley is home to more than 40 wineries, most of them clustered along Rancho California Road east of the freeway. You can tour them by car, take a winery shuttle, or — for the full effect — see the vines from a hot-air balloon at dawn.
Old Town Temecula, centered on Front Street, is a walkable stretch of antique shops, restaurants, and western-style storefronts. The annual Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival in June draws crowds from across Southern California. If you're coming from San Diego or Los Angeles, it's a straightforward 90-minute drive — enough for a comfortable day trip or weekend.