Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/185541
»»»»»»If You Go ⊲ he city of Temecula is one hour's T drive northeast of San Diego, and an hour-and-a-half southeast from Los Angeles. General information on the region and its attractions can be found at temeculacvb.com ⊲ ind rates and more information F on South Coast Winery Resort & Spa at wineresort.com ⊲ For details on Temecula Creek Inn accommodations and wedding packages, visit temeculacreekinn.com ⊲ Learn more about Pechanga Resort & Casino and Journey golf course at pechanga.com Temecula wine-country must-stops include the glamorous Pechanga Resort (below left) and the award-winning South Coast Winery (right). South Coast wine). Pamper yourself with a couple's massage one morning, then enjoy wine and a tasty light lunch on the sunny deck before unwinding poolside for the afternoon. Cap off the day with a candlelit dinner for two at the resort's Vineyard Rose restaurant. We suggest a spot on the pretty patio overlooking the gardens. If you're craving a more rustic ambience, the nearby Temecula Creek Inn truly delivers. Set on a championship golf course, the warm and welcoming rooms all include balconies or patios overlooking manicured greens or woodlands. Cozy accommodations aside, the Temecula Creek Inn is a hot spot for weddings, thanks to its historic Stone House venue. Once a bunkhouse for quarry workers in the late 1800s, the charming stone building provides the picture-perfect backdrop for a wedding on the sunny lawn surrounded by century-old oak trees. You can also book the Stone House itself as a unique reception space, or to house your buffet table while guests dine in the great outdoors and show off their moves on the wooden dance floor. The best part? The venue is set in a secluded spot far from the inn, so you can feel free to party the night away. 84 Offering more rustic flavour just a few minutes' drive from the inn is Old Town Temecula. Dating back to 1859, the city's oldest district encompasses half a dozen blocks of easy strolling, where you'll pass antique shops and old-timey saloons mixed with trendy new boutiques, plus lively bars and eateries serving fine local wines, as well as refreshing brews from the region's burgeoning craft beer industry. Temecula's vibrant nightlife extends far beyond Old Town, of course. In fact, the city delivers solid proof that not all the glitziest casinos are found in Vegas. Opened in 2002, the Pechanga Resort & Casino features the largest casino floor in all of California. But there's also plenty for nongamblers to see and do at Pechanga, including headliner entertainment (Motown legend Diana Ross made a recent tour stop there) and seven distinctive eateries. Stay in one of the resort's more than 500 stylish guest rooms and suites and access the sundeck and swimming pool, complete with a bar and private cabanas. And be sure to unwind at the full-service Spa Pechanga, with a complete menu of rejuvenating treatments and beautifying salon services. Going big for your wedding day? Pechanga offers several thousand square feet of flexible event space, including a 25,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom that can be divided into three sections. Or, rise above the crowd and book the Eagle's Nest nightclub displaying sweeping views of the valley from the hotel's top floor. The resort is also home to Journey at Pechanga, a world-class PGA golf course ranked in 2009 as one of Golf magazine's best new courses to play. Weddings at Journey promise a serene and private outdoor ceremony site overlooking the nearby mountains and lush course, adjacent to on-site ready rooms where bride and groom can relax in comfort (separately) before saying "I do." For elegant receptions, the Journey's End clubhouse features floor-to-ceiling windows opening out onto an expansive patio perfect for cocktails, while the restaurant's airy interior can accommodate up to 180 guests for a gourmet feast prepared by Pechanga's awardwinning chefs. Wherever you decide to wed (or honeymoon) in the Temecula Valley, just be sure to toast your love with a glass of Wilson Creek's famous Almond Champagne. The sweetly nutty bubbly is one local tradition you won't want to miss. rw PHOTOS: L. PARKER/TEMECULA CREEK INN; (vineyard) TEMECULA valley CVB; KEN EASLEY/PECHANGA RESORT; JUSTIN HULSE/SOUTH COAST WINERY real weddings fall/winter 2013 p82-85 California.indd 84 13-09-23 11:45 AM