It is hard to imagine a more beautiful location for a boutique hotel. Driving down a winding road in the mountain foothills of Temecula, which are sheltered by tree canopies, you arrive at Temecula Creek Inn. Just 56 mi from San Diego, it is an ideal setting for a weekend getaway from San Diego. Ideal for relaxation, parking your car until you leave, and doing what you enjoy most.
THE ROOM
Temecula Creek Inn has 123 rooms, most of which have gorgeous views of the golf course. The highlight of the room was the patio where I spent time enjoying a glass of wine and watching the golfers tee off. The welcome gift of a bag of their signature Snickerdoodle cookies waiting in the room for us was a nice touch. Perfect with that glass of wine and patio view.
There is plenty of parking at Temecula Creek Inn, and the rooms are close enough to the restaurants, golf course, pool, and wedding area that there is no need to use your car. If you have not booked your room yet, you will see that they offer golfing and accommodation deals.
DINING
Corkfire Kitchen, the onsite restaurant at Temecula Creek Inn, serves contemporary cuisine California cuisine with locally sourced ingredients from local farms and their own chef’s garden. When we visited, a quick walk through the garden was enjoyable, as we saw many of those vegetables served to us later that evening for dinner. As you enter, there is a bar area that specializes in hand-crafted cocktails. Be sure to ask, as they have signature spirits that are bottled for them.
Since the menu at Temecula Creek Inn changes seasonally, I will not recommend any specific dishes to try, but do suggest that you hear what the daily specials are first. The formal dining area is to the left, but there is also a more casual inside and patio dining area where breakfast and lunch are served. The view of the golf course and Temecula hills is lovely from the patio. We were really impressed with the dishes from executive chef Ben Diaz, and that he was able to cater to vegan and dietary needs.
GOLFING
Temecula Creek Inn has three separate golf courses (Creek, Oaks, and Stone House), with a total of 27 holes. These courses are a golfer’s dream, making it the ideal SoCal getaway for a golfer. Spending the day enjoying their three hundred acres of natural beauty, manicured greens, trees, and majestic mountain views is quite easy to do. The gold course was awarded a Four-Star rating from Golf Digest’s Places to Play.
WEDDINGS
As you are diving into the Inn, you pass the outdoor wedding area at Temecula Creek Inn. It is visually stunning. Surrounded by trees and a lush landscape, it is no surprise that Temecula Creek Inn is such a popular spot to get married, as it is so pretty. If you are looking for a secluded place to get married, you have found the right spot.
Fun things to do in Temecula
Go wine tasting
I find it hard to visit Temecula and not set aside some time to go wine tasting in the area.
There are vineyards all around the area, and they are perfect for a relaxing day sipping good wine and enjoying the sunny weather. No reservations are required at most of the fifty neighboring wineries.
EXPLORE OLD TOWN
Explore Old Town – Set aside some time to swing by Old Town Temecula. You will find charming historic buildings and cozy cafes. It is a fun place to go shopping, check out antiques, enjoy their restaurants and bars, and visit some curio stores. You can find dining, entertainment, and shopping tips at Visit Temecula Valley.
Take a Hot air balloon ride
Soar high over Temecula in a hot air balloon. They have flights available year-round, weather permitting of course. You will get dramatic views of the hills and panoramic views of the vineyards of the Temecula Valley. There are three companies that offer hot air balloon rides in the area:
- A Grape Escape https://hotairtours.com/grape-escape/
- Cielo Balloons https://cieloballoonstemecula.com/
- Magical Adventure Balloon Rides https://www.hotairfun.com/
GO GAMBLING AT PECHANGA
Pechanga Casino Resort & Spa is just minutes away. They have a large modern non-smoking casino.
Best time of the year to visit
The best time to visit Temecula Creek Inn and Temecula is at the end of harvest season 9, between the end of August and October. Unless you enjoy the heat, I do not suggest visiting in July through the beginning of August, as it can get extremely hot, with temperatures up to one hundred degrees.
