If you're thinking about a getaway to wine country, it's only natural that you think about heading north. But all the fun of a trip to the vineyards can be had right here in Southern California in nearby Temecula. In fact, Temecula is so close that you can plan a visit as a day trip if you like.

If you’re looking for some ink, you may want to know what the best tattoo shops are in the Inland Empire. We asked our fans on Facebook, and they voted for the following spots for tattoos and body art:

Located just two hours from the Antelope Valley lie the rolling hills of vineyards and the wineries surrounded by spectacular mountains, creating Temecula Valley's stunning California Wine Country.

Do you like beer, sports and scantily clad women? If you answered yes, you are probably known as a “straight male”- the demographic of choice for Tilted Kilt - Pub and Eatery.

Bring in the new year with style at one of the biggest parties in the Inland Empire and Southern California (OC/LA)! We’re working on expanding this list, so tip us off if you know about others!

With so many wineries in Temecula, it’s hard to know where the young people hang out and grab a glass of wine! We’ve got the list from some Temecula winery insiders on where young adults go to taste, party and hang out at the Temecula wineries.

I recently attended a press FAM trip sponsored by the Temecula Valley Convention and
Visitors Bureau highlighting Old Town Temecula.
Old Town Temecula is an eclectic blend of the past and the present where over 120
years of history is on display. The 12 block area that houses the Old Town district is
full of live entertainment, shopping, dining, specialty food stores and wine bars in a
hodgepodge of original homes and commercial buildings constructed from 1882 to
1936.

Are you ready for a slice of Chicago in the Inland Empire? Rosati’s Authentic Chicago Pizzahas only three locations in California, one of which is in wine county Temecula. Today marked their grand opening, and we were there to find out for ourselves what the buzz is about!

Black Market Brewing Co. in Temecula is one of the Inland Empire’s newest breweries, providing yet another reason not to drive all the way to San Diego for a great brewery. Some may believe this is one of the Inland Empire’s newest breweries. Well, to be exact, they’ve been around for a bit, though the tasting room is brand new. Since this tasting room is just down Interstate 15 from Craft Brewing Company in Lake Elsinore, the brewery hopping potential is fairly obvious.

So you’re a beer head wondering where every brewery and brew-pub in the Inland Empire is? We’ve got the full list!

LEGACY: Take a whirlwind trip of Europe minus the jet lag. In Temecula Valley Wine Country, centrally located between Los Angeles and San Diego, Europa Village tasting room brings three European countries together in a one-stop wine tasting tour inspired by Spain, France and Italy.

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are considered to be the most important and serious holidays in the Jewish religion. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year; Jews use this time to reflect on the year that passed and consider the year ahead of them. Ten days later is Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement, in which Jews refrain from eating and drinking and pray for forgiveness for sins committed throughout the year. If you are Jewish and looking for High Holy Day services to go to in the Inland Empire, look no further! We compiled a list of the many congregations offering services. You can follow their websites for a complete schedule (and prices if that applies).

Temecula, located 90 minutes south from Los Angeles, has a peppered history of bank robbers, floods, fires, moonshine making and cattle ranching. A visit to Old Town Temecula with many of its historic buildings from the 1880’s still preserved allows, with some imagination, this colorful past to come alive.

If you want taco Tuesday in the Inland Empire, you have plenty of choices! We’ve picked out our favorites, and included yours as well!

Looking for some good places to watch the game tonight? Here’s a small list to give you some ideas on where to watch the gridiron action!

Geeks Who Drink hosts pub quizzes at over 100 pubs and restaurants in 13 states including the Inland Empire at Killarney’s in Riverside every Wednesday at 7 p.m. and at Killarney’s in Temecula every Monday at 8 p.m.

Just 20 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, the city of Temecula sits at the southeast tip of the Inland Empire. With a Mediterranean climate, Temecula is perfect for outdoor activities such as hot air balloon rides and touring award-winning wineries. No wonder its nickname is “a tourist’s secret paradise.”

CRUSH Wine & Culinary Showcase 2011 – Temecula

Five Guys Temecula Review Dated Feb. 2, 2011. Updated September 11, 2011.

Nestled at the corner of a strip mall at Margarita and Winchester roads, Five Guys Burgers and Fries is one of the Inland Empire’s more notable burger joints.

Wine country Temecula offers no shortage of festivals and grape stomping events this fall as the harvest comes in!

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at Monte de Oro Winery Temecula – Photo Review

Resorts all over the world are carefully designed and constructed to impress and delight guests from the moment they step into the lobby. Restaurants and bars are no exception, as resorts are dramatically changing and upgrading the interiors and exteriors of their dining options to ensure they represent an attractive and central focal point within the property, and not just a ho-hum place to grab a snack or a beverage.

Last week I shared with you the wonderful time that my friend Lois Fishman (owner of Sitting Pretty) and I had at the Pala Casino and Resort. This week I’d like to relate what a great time we had in Temecula. I had been invited to participate in the Summerfest Media Farm tour which involved an Old Temecula Tasting Tour.

Open mic (AKA open mike) nights are held weekly throughout the Inland Empire. If you’re working this circuit or just love watching others perform, don’t miss out on the best in the I.E.

Temecula Valley Wine Country is touted as the next Napa Valley of California. With the ocean breezes flowing through the valley’s rich soil, vintners are seeing incredible results – already there are 30 wineries to visit with more to come. It’s also an ideal wine tasting getaway for those in Southern California as an alternate to Santa Barbara County’s wines. In only an hour and half south from Los Angeles or an hour north from San Diego, Temecula Valley Wine Country offers miles of vineyards to explore in some zany ways.

What began as a quiet morning ten years ago became a day that would mark the new millennium with the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil. On the tenth anniversary of 9/11, many ceremonies will be held to remember the 2,977 victims and recognize the courage of rescuers and Americans in uniform. It is encouraged to wear red, white and blue on Patriot Day, this day of remembrance.

This year, Big Bear Lake is hosting its 41st Oktoberfest, with activities and contests for attendants of all ages. Besides pouring the obligatory steins of German and American beer, Oktoberfest will serve traditional German dishes such as apple strudel and bratwurst from authentic local Southern California German butcher and bakery. This year, the festival’s main beer garden has been expanded to 3,100 square feet to accommodate more guests––grown-ups only, of course.

In a compact section of Temecula's Old Town, on Front Street from First to Sixth streets, there's an array of food stores to tickle the tastebuds. You can find anything from wine tasting and barbecue to an array of hot sauces and cheeses of the world.

Come down in the late afternoon. The wind starts blowing around 4 p.m. to help cool things off, so you can browse and nibble to your heart's content. Grazing is a fun way to try lots of different foods without stuffing yourself.

So you’re stuck in the I.E. this Labor Day Weekend? Check out our list of fun hot spots to check out to make this staycation the best of the year!

For those willing to stay out late, there are places to go dancing around Riverside and San Bernardino every night of the week. Here are some favorites in no particular order. Remember to check with the club first before going as this listing only names the clubs, not the nights and possible changes in schedules.

You know, nothing really surprises me anymore, however, I was amazed to hear so many people to whom I had mentioned that I was taking a trip to So Cal’s Wine Country @SCWinery @temecula_wine came back with, “What? So Cal has a wine country?“ Being from the east coast, I didn’t realize it either, but I kind of expected Californians to be hip to this knowledge. But in fact, the tucked away world nestled 90 miles southeast of L.A. and 60 miles north of San Diego, calls itself “Southern California’s best kept secret” or properly, Temecula Valley.

I was recently invited to join a group of Southern California journalists who were visiting Temecula as guests of the Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau. I did something similar a few years ago with a group of writers from the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association and again jumped at the chance.

So you’re hungry for “fourth meal” and wondering where to go in the I.E. for some tasty grub? We’ve got a massive list to end your hunger before you crash out!

If you’re a female in the I.E. (or a very well manicured guy), you probably love treating yourself on occasion to a day at the spa! Whether it be a deep tissue massage, a signature Inland Empire two-toned hairstyle, or simply a mani-pedi that you’re looking for, we have compiled a list of awesome day spas throughout our Empire for you!

Planning Your Next Weekend Getaway or Group Event? Temecula Creek Inn Resort Offers a 130-Room, 3-Diamond AAA-Rated Hotel, the Best of Wine Country Tours, Nature Trails, Three 9-Hole Golf Courses, Spas, and Resort Meeting Facilities

Old Town Temecula was born with the arrival of the California Southern Railroad and the feeling of bygone days remains with history and charm. It’s a historic town with ongoing year ‘round festivals and festivities.

So you want to test your luck at the casino? The Inland Empire is the place to be, with over one dozen casinos offering no shortage of reasons to skip the long drive to Vegas! We’ve listed all of the big hot spots in the Inland Empire below, in no particular order.

Temecula -- known for its old west structures, spectacular wines, and proximity to Pechanga Casino -- makes for a fantastic weekend excursion, especially now that Summerfest is in full swing.

We aren’t skipping Days #5, #6, & #7. I just have a lot, a lot, a lot to write about the Media FAM trip to So Cal wine country, Old Town Temecula and Borrego Springs, California’s hidden desert, with tons of photos to accompany. So please be patient and we’ll get this up and over to you.

Temecula -- known for its old west structures, spectacular wines, and proximity to Pechanga Casino -- makes for a fantastic weekend excursion, especially now that Summerfest is in full swing.

Temecula is primarily known as a destination for wine tasting but it's also home to an excellent farmers' market that matches, if not rivals, the best markets in San Diego (which, trust me, is saying something).

The minute I walked into Monte De Oro Winery, I looked at my husband and said, ”We should have a party here.” Open 1 ½ years ago, this winery is owned by 67 families (investors) throughout the U.S., England and South Africa. What makes this winery special is their glass floor in the middle of the tasting room. Looking through the glass is their barrel storage room and a table set in the middle for an intimate dinner party.

Visit the ambiance of Spain, France and Italy while sipping wines at Temecula’s Europa Village. Opened 3 ½ months ago, they put a lot of money into their charming temporary tasting facility. It’s a picturesque location for sipping wine as visitors step inside the front garden filled with iceberg roses and olive trees overlooking acres of grapes.

Tastings are fun inside Tesoro Winery & Vineyards. The wine stewards are very knowledgeable about their product and happily educate visitors while pouring some tasty reds and whites.

Our first wine-tasting stop in Temecula was the Lorimar tasting room on Main St. in Old Town Temecula. Owned by Mark Manfield and his brother-in-law Lawrence, hence the name Lorimar.

Our first wine-tasting stop in Temecula was the Lorimar tasting room on Main St. in Old Town Temecula. Owned by Mark Manfield and his brother-in-law Lawrence, hence the name Lorimar.

Tastings are fun inside Tesoro Winery & Vineyards. The wine stewards are very knowledgeable about their product and happily educate visitors while pouring some tasty reds and whites.

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We’re off on a Media FAM Trip
AUGUST 5, 2011 10:02 AM PAMELA SORENSEN 0 COMMENTS
Today, we ride. Lindsay and I are headed to Temecula, Calif., (a few hours south of L.A.) a small town known for it’s unique place in the state’s history, wineries, and small town family community feel. The agenda looks busy today and tonight. Then Saturday we leave for Borrego Springs in the desert. It’s the Palm Springs of San Diego. Since it’s the off season, the resort will be ours to enjoy. We were given several suggestions for cool spots as well as large art to check out.

Today, we ride. Lindsay and I are headed to Temecula, Calif., (a few hours south of L.A.) a small town known for it’s unique place in the state’s history, wineries, and small town family community feel. The agenda looks busy today and tonight. Then Saturday we leave for Borrego Springs in the desert. It’s the Palm Springs of San Diego. Since it’s the off season, the resort will be ours to enjoy. We were given several suggestions for cool spots as well as large art to check out.

Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival 2011 – Photo Review

Temecula Valley Slow Food presented Field to the Fork on May 21, 2011 at Leonesse Cellars in Temecula’s wine country with dozens of vendors offering upscale food tastings, wine of all varieties, craft breweries and more, all from around the Temecula Valley.

It’s time to elevate your mood, as Pechanga is to host the 4th annual Chocolate Decadence event along with a Wine Festival.

Explore some of California's best golf courses in Southern San Diego and Temecula Valley

Burned out need a break

Bustling old town temecula...

Temecula Valley: California's Other Wine Country...

Long known as a plac e to play by millions of its
Southern California neighbors, the Temecula Valley has a new
sense of purpose these days.

What point on the map lies just about a one-hour drive from San Diego, Orange County,
Los Angeles, and Palm Springs? TemeculaValley.This primo location alone makes the area a natural destination
for meetings, conventions, and group gatherings

Once in a while, we all need to do it. To pick up and leave town—right
in the middle of the week—and play hooky. If you do it right, it just
takes a night or two away to completely recharge. If you’re lucky enough...