Temecula, California,USA- May 31, 2015. Colorful hot air balloons soar over the Temecula wine country at the 2015 Temecula Balloon and Wine Festival. The Temecula Balloon and Wine Festival takes place in the spring at Lake Skinner in the Temecula wine country about 2 hours from Los Angeles.
Temecula Copy for approval…..Located less than 60 miles from San Diego, but considered to be part of the Los Angeles metro area, Temecula, California has much to offer the people who live there, as well as those who visit. The city is located in Riverside County, and is the fifth most populous. The Temecula Indians were the earliest known inhabitants of the area. Though much of the city’s records were lost in the fire that started as the result of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the stunning architecture located throughout Temecula honors their contributions. In 1985, Interstate 15 linking San Diego and Los Angeles was completed. This historic event meant that it was possible for people to commute to work in either of the larger cities and own a home in Temecula. While Temecula is known as the site of Southern California’s wine country, the city offers much more than access to premium wine. For example, the Pechanga Band of Luiseño is the namesake of the Pechange Resort & Casino located in the Temecula Valley. The city is also home to numerous annual festivals that are enjoyed by both residents and visitors alike. The Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival offers a weekend of camping, wine and beer tasting, entertainment, hot air balloons and much more. Other notable festivals include the Temecula Valley International Jazz Festival, the Temecula Bluegrass Festival, the Temecula Valley International Film and Music Festival and the Temecula Street Painting Festival. Just from this short sampling of the many options available in the city makes it evident that there is no shortage of diverse entertainment that is appropriate for a variety of ages. The city boasts 39 parks sprinkled within its borders. It also has 22 miles of trails, making it easy for people to enjoy the beautiful scenery and exceptional weather. Temecula also has a thriving community services sector that provides a range of options for everyone — regardless of their age or interests. Both the Ronald Reagan Sports Park and the Patricia H. Birdsall Park, for example, have lit baseball, soccer and football fields. There are also barbeque facilities, picnic shelters, restrooms, children’s play area and more. The city of Temecula has won multiple awards in diverse categories. In 2017, the Community Services Department created an online series called Around & About Temecula. Profiling the city’s local assets, parks, programs, and, of course, its people, the series has won multiple awards, including a Capella Award of Distinction in 2018 for season one and in 2019 for season two. It even generated a spin-off called Around & About Temecula – Park Adventures. Temecula puts a high value on education as demonstrated by the fact that the schools within the Temecula Valley Unified School District (TVUSD) are ranked among the highest in Riverside County, according to the Academic performance Indices. U.S. News & World Report recognized Temecula Valley, Great Oak and Chaparral high schools with silver medals in the Best High Schools rankings.