Temecula

     Greetings audience! Imagine a land in Southern California between Los Angeles, Orange County and between the Inland Empire and San Diego on Interstate 15. That magical land is Temecula. It is centrally located and has a lot to offer, from wineries to an old town to hot-air balloon rides, as well as the famous Pechanga Resort. I happened to spend my 29th birthday there and can't wait to take YOU on this epic journey.

    Temecula has a lot of attractions and events that bring people to visit every year, such as the Temecula Wine Country, Temecula Valley Wine and Food Festival, Temecula Valley International Film Festival, and of course Old Town Temecula. Our journey starts in Old Town Temecula, which has the perfect old-town vibe. Consisting of historic buildings from the 1890s, Old Town features antique shops, specialty food stores, and collectible stores. If one wanted to go on a weekend, it also has a growing nightlife. Old Town hosts many events such as Rod Run Car Show, Art and Street Painting Festival, Santa Electric Parade Show, and Summer Days. I found Old Town Temecula to be a vibrant place to explore if one has an hour to spare and take in the stylized buildings.

    Another aspect on the journey to Temecula is the world-famous Pechanga Resort and Casino. It's the largest casino in California. It's larger than the MGM Grand. Wow! This resort palace opened its doors on June 24, 2002. The magical resort has a lot to offer, such as a golf course, a spa, 11 restaurants, and The Pechanga Showroom, where many celebrities have performed. This castle is the biggest employer and has 4,000 jobs in Temecula. The Pechanga Resort and Casino is worth checking out in Temecula, though some may not find it special if they have been to Las Vegas or other large resort casinos.

      Without a doubt, the best part of my birthday in Temecula was going up in the air in a hot-air balloon. I mean, how many people can say they've been up in the air in a hot-air balloon? So let’s discuss the basics. It starts early in the morning around 6 a.m. because the weather is cool, which is optimal for flight. The tour guide will take you to a remote part of town for your flight. They load the basket, which takes all the passengers from the jeep, then the balloon is prepared by being filled up with hot air from the flame. Once the balloon is ready, all the passengers ascend and get a fantastic view of the Temecula Valley. On the flight, one will see other balloons up in the air, mountains, houses, and the vast area surrounding Temecula. Let me tell you: the views are incredible. There are not many places in California where one can take a hot-air balloon ride; some of the other places you can do it is Palm Desert and Del Mar. However, those are only seasonal due to their extremely hot climate, while Temecula offers it year-round. This is definitely one thing to cross off your bucket list!

    Temecula has many attractions one can easily check out, and with its central location, one can certainly take a day trip to experience them. From a lively downtown to wineries to an awesome casino to, of course, hot-air balloon rides, Temecula has something to offer for everyone. Please feel free to watch my video on the hot-air balloon ride at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3AbS8cMjK4.