Page 186 - 2015 Travel Guide to California

»
MUST
SEE,
DO
» Saddle Up Wine Tours Go wine tasting on
horseback through Temecula vineyards; tours
include tastings at one, two or three wineries
between scenic rides through the vines.
› saddleupwinetours.com
» Calico Ghost Town County Park Calico’s
1881 Silver Rush created 500 mines and $20 million
in silver ore, the state’s largest silver strike ever.
Today this State Historical Landmark and county
park offers shops and eateries in an authentically
restored desert ghost town.
› cms.sbcounty.gov/parks/Parks/CalicoGhostTown.aspx
» San Bernardino National Forest Jutting
skyward from the Riverside valley floor, this 660,000-
acre national forest mountain range reaches as high
as the 11,502-foot Mount San Gorgonio.
› fs.usda.gov/sbnf
» Pechanga Resort & Casino The Luiseno
Indians’ tribal casino, California’s largest, offers a
huge concert venue, a 200,000-square-foot
gaming floor, all night poker and a spa.
› pechanga.com
» Mission Inn Hotel & Spa Since 1902, eight
presidents and countless movie stars have visited
this National Historic Landmark, a rambling blend
of Mission Revival, Moorish and Oriental architec-
ture, and Louis Comfort Tiffany mosaics.
› missioninn.com
184 2015 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A
SPECIAL
»
EVENTS 2015
TEMECULA ROD RUN Roaring hot rods descend upon Old Town Temecula. March 6-7
rodruntemecula.com
OLD TOWN TEMECULA BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL March 20-21 cityoftemecula.org
Playing since 1923, the RAMONA OUTDOOR PLAY, a romance about the Ponca Indians,
is America’s longest running outdoor drama. April 18-19 & 25-26, May 2-3 ramonabowl.com
TEMECULA VALLEY BALLOON & WINE FESTIVAL features hot-air balloon rides, wine
tastings and more. May 29-31 tvbwf.com
LAKE ARROWHEAD ANNUAL ANTIQUE & CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT SHOW features
rare antique and classic wooden boats. June 13-14 lakearrowhead.net
BIG BEAR LAKE & LAKE ARROWHEAD VILLAGE OKTOBERFESTS feature bands,
beer and sausages. Weekends, Sept. 26-Oct. 25 bigbear.com, lakearrowheadvillage.com
BIG BEAR LAKE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL offers screenings and parties with
passionate filmmakers. September, check website for details. bigbearlakefilmfestival.com
THE SAN MANUEL BAND of
Mission Indians holds its annual
Pow Wow in San Bernardino,
below; a vineyard at dusk in
Temecula, previous page.
City & Town
Food and wine fans can stroll through Old
Town Temecula’s historic district of 1890s
buildings while wine tasting and sampling
local fare in a friendly, Old West ambience.
Or visit Redlands, the “City of Beautiful
Homes,” and its opulent Victorians and
Arts and Crafts style homes of yesteryear.
North of Temecula, play in the mud or
soak in the soothing mineral waters of the
150-year-old Glen Ivy Hot Springs, dating
from early stagecoach days. For excitement,
soar in a hot air balloon over Temecula
Valley’s 35,000-acre wine country, dotted
with wineries, B&Bs and luxury resorts
amid endless vineyards. Afterwards, relax
with a glass of local wine on a portico in
Temecula’s Old Town or play golf in this
quiet oasis of the California good life.
Heritage & Culture
Head into Riverside to discover a wealth
of California history. Here, the state’s first
and oldest orange tree, planted in 1873,
still stands on Magnolia Avenue where
California’s multi-million-dollar citrus
DIGITAL MEDIA PRO/SHUTTERSTOCK. OPPOSITE: L.A. NATURE GRAPHICS/SHUTTERSTOCK; MARK KRAPELS/SHUTTERSTOCK