Your journey begins in Huntington Beach, California, just across the Coastal Range, west of California's southern Temecula Valley wine region. With the Pacific Ocean only 22 miles away, the Temecula Valley covers an area of 32 square miles and elevations ranging from 1,175 to 2,600 feet. The region is characterized by its natural, undulating hills and a large open sky above. In winter, the snowy peaks of Mount San Jacinto and Palomar Mountain, as well as the San Bernardino and San Gorgonio mountains to the north, form a semicircle over panoramic views of the valley.
Temecula is known for its wineries, golf courses, and casinos, but it is also a family-friendly destination. Less than 5% of residents are African-American and less than 1% are Native Americans or Pacific Islanders. Some of the best places to visit include Temecula Stampede, Bailey's Old Town Temecula restaurant, and the Old Town Blues Club with its excellent schedule of live music events from Thursday to Sunday. If you're looking for a true party scene, Los Angeles or San Diego are better options.
Other attractions include the Temecula Valley Museum and Pennypickle workshop at the Temecula Children's Museum, bowling at Temecula Lanes, and wonderful parks, public gardens, and local farms. Temecula is an affordable city in comparison to other California cities due to its interior location and lack of beachside status. The climate is pleasant for most of the year with mild winters. You can calculate the cost of driving from Huntington Beach to Temecula based on current local gas prices and an estimate of your car's best gas mileage.
There are also services departing from Temecula and arriving at Long Beach Downtown Transit Gallery via San Ysidro Bus Terminal. The city has dozens of fantastic restaurants offering California cuisine and flavors from around the world. While it is closer to San Diego than Los Angeles and there tends to be less traffic along the way, commuting becomes expensive if you work there. Fortunately, fewer than 100 cases of violent crime have been reported in more than 114,000 Temecula residents.
The Temecula Valley is also home to an exquisite wine region in Southern California that rivals Sonoma and Napa Valley.
