Known as Southern California’s Napa Valley, Temecula has transformed in the past few decades from a sleepy commuter town into a must visit wine destination.
But there’s more to Temecula than just wine as I soon discovered.
Arriving tired and exhausted after the two hour ‘white knuckle’ drive through the maze of Los Angeles freeways, the welcoming Temecula Creek Inn beckoned like a home away from home. Within minutes, I’d booked in, unpacked, and was on the veranda outside my room, coffee in hand, breathing in the fresh air and enjoying the view of Temecula Creek’s sprawling 27 hole golf course.
Checking out the next morning, I programmed the GPS for Old Town Temecula. First on the agenda was breakfast. On the recommendation of the Temecula Creek Inn’s front desk staff, I headed for Swing Inn Café where, they promised, I’d find some real home cooking and they sure weren‘t kidding. A favorite with locals and visitors alike, the Swing Inn Café was busy with a constant stream of people coming in and out.
After filling up on pancakes and eggs, it was time to do some walking and Old Town, with plenty of history and shops, was just the place to do it.
Armed with a tour map from the Temecula Valley Museum, I wandered the streets of Old Town, learning about the various historic buildings, including the Hotel Palomar, the town’s first modern hotel with electricity and indoor restrooms.
Turns out that the Hotel Palomar and the Swing Inn Café, both built in 1927, are the only two historic buildings in Temecula that still run the same type of business that they were built for.
Friday, April 29, 2011
California Snapshot: Old Town Temecula
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Write to Travel Has Gone to California...
Having had enough of the quakes and shakes around my hometown, I’ve run away to California for a couple of weeks.
This spur of the moment vacation is, in part, the result of finding a cheap plane ticket (thanks Air New Zealand)and winning (in last year’s Passport with Purpose fundraising raffle) a 5 night stay at the Riviera Resort and Spa in Palm Springs.
I flew into LAX yesterday and spent the day lazing by the pool at the Marriott LAX to recover from jet lag caused by the long haul flight from New Zealand to the States.
Later today I’ll pick up a car and brave the Los Angeles freeways and head to the desert.
First stop is Temecula Valley to check out their wines and wineries.
From there, it’s a week in the desert, exploring Palm Springs and it’s surrounds, including Joshua Tree NP and maybe even the San Andreas fault.
Then it’s back to the coastline for a week in the Central Coast, staying in San Luis Obispo (America's happiest city) and Cambria,checking out yet again, the wines and wineries around the region.
From there, a one night stay in Santa Monica and then back home to Christchurch.
Sun, sand, and sea - what else could a person ask for.
Depending on internet access, I’ll be checking in every day, sharing a daily California snapshot. Why not come along for the ride…
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Weekly Top 5 Blog Posts for Writers..
Friday, April 08, 2011
Travel Writing Miscellanea...
The Guardian asks Has technology robbed travel of its riches? (via @niltiac)
Entertaining review of Travel Blogger's Unite TUB'11 conference - TBU ’11: A List Of Top Non-Tens
In the New York Times, Paul Theroux on Why We Travel
Travel Writing 2.0 has A Conversation with Rolf Potts
Media Bistro looks at Educational Travel Writing: A Market with Great Potential
USA Today discusses 10 great places to take a library tour
Monday, April 04, 2011
Slideshow: Travel writer discusses 'travel writing at ground level'
Interesting presentation notes by Lola (Akinmade) Åkerström from her talk 'Travel Writing at Ground Level' presented at Travel Bloggers Unite TBU'11
Friday, April 01, 2011
A Misadventure Travel Writing Contest...
Book publishers Bantam Dell are running a travel writing contest in conjunction with the release of author Rachel Friedman travel memoir The Good Girl’s Guide to Getting Lost.
They are calling for entries of 500 words or less that describe your most memorable travel mishap.
The bigger the misadventure the better - double points if there’s a language barrier. Triple points if your life flashed before your eyes
Submit them to rachelfriedmanwriter@gmail.com with your contact information no later than May 6th, 2011, and by June 1st Rachel will choose one lucky winner to receive a year’s worth of travel reading* (not limited to travelogues, but fiction and nonfiction set in foreign destinations) with the option to choose 10 books from a list of up to 20, including:
One Fodor’s title of a destination of the winner’s choice
You Shall Know Our Velocity by Dave Eggers
The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman
Into the Wild by John Krakauer
In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
Istanbul by Orham Pamuk
Blind Descent by James M. Tabor
Mad Dogs and an Englishwoman by Polly Evans
A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen
A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz
One entry per person, valid in the 50 United States and District of Columbia. Void where prohibited. Sphere: Related Content
