Temecula Creek Inn: The Ultimate Golf Retreat in Wine Country

If you’re looking for a Southern California getaway that includes wine country, a stunningly picturesque setting along with quiet and seclusion, look no further than Temecula Creek Inn.Though I’ve stayed at several Temecula winery hotels, there’s something unique and special about this Inn, situated in the rolling verdant hills of Temecula. It’s a place where you can relax, slow down, and just enjoy the natural surroundings without a care in the world. And though the Inn’s courses are incredibly popular with the avid golfer, you do not have to be a golf aficionado to enjoy all the Inn offers.Location of the InnTemecula Creek Inn overlooks the rolling Santa Margarita Mountains in Temecula Valley. It’s a bit off the beaten path on a winding Rainbow Canyon Road. This allows for more privacy and escapism, yet it’s only a nine-minute drive to Old Town Temecula and 15 minutes to the heart of wine country. It’s a destination that appeals to those looking for a peaceful retreat with opportunities for outdoor activities, fine dining, and wine tasting.History of the Temecula Creek InnTo truly appreciate your stay at the Inn, you’ll want to know a little about the property’s story.The historic Stone House was completed on the grounds in 1885 as a bunkhouse for Temecula Granite Quarry workers and later for local ranch hands. That house is the perfect venue for weddings and celebrations. Doesn’t this look dreamy?Construction began on the golf course and resort in 1968, and the course and resort opened a year later. Since 1990, players can enjoy nine additional holes.Inn AccommodationsThe resort features 130 rooms with a range of accommodations. Queen and king guest rooms and suites, all designed with comfort and relaxation in mind. Rooms and suites offer views overlooking the golf course, gardens, or mountains.Though rooms offer a mix of rustic charm and modern décor, the combination reflects the area’s natural beauty to a T.My husband and I loved our room that overlooked the golf course fairway and a wooded area. The spacious premium corner deluxe king accommodation with a wrap-around balcony included a wet bar, refrigerator, 65-inch TV, desk space, and a deck with lounge chairs. A large bathroom offered a shower-tub combination. The bed was extremely comfortable, with soft bedding and blackout curtains, making for very restful, peaceful sleep. The only sounds we heard were the crickets chirping at night and the birds’ welcome wake-up calls in the morning.The Resort GroundsGolf CoursesOne of the top reasons of staying at Temecula Creek Inn is the ability for guests to enjoy the immense beauty of its stunning grounds.The property sits on over 300 acres of landscaped and wooded land with three golf courses sporting some of the most outstanding conditions in the Inland Empire.Creek Course is the easiest of the three offering family fairways with direct approaches. Oaks provides golfers with fun, memorable shots on its oak-lined course. Set alongside the historic cottage, the nine holes of the Stone House course are considered the most challenging due to the dramatic elevation changes and bends requiring distance control and shot shaping.Guests are also welcome to rent a golf cart to get around the three courses and check out the immense beauty of the property, which includes streams and creeks running through the property. Don’t forget to make reservations!Chef’s Garden and Butterfly HabitatThe over 1,000-square foot garden is located in front of the resort’s signature restaurant Cork Fire Kitchen. It contains over 40 edible varieties of fresh ingredients used in the restaurant. Guests are welcome to walk through the garden to see what’s currently growing there seasonally.Located next to the Chef’s Garden, the Butterfly Habitat provides a home for all species of butterfly, notably the endangered monarch. Created in partnership with the organization Monarchs in the Rough, the habitat is located in out-of-play golf course areas to preserve these endangered populations. Property AmenitiesHow important are amenities to today’s savvy traveler? In my opinion, a lot. This is why a resort that offers so many options matters. The benefits of staying at Temecula Creek Inn include:An outdoor pool and spa tubFitness center24-hour reception deskFree parkingOn-site diningGolf pro shopFree high-speed Wi-FiComplimentary shuttle service to Pechanga Resort & Casino50 percent off day passes for the Cove at Pechanga, which features three pools, a swim-up bar, two waterslides, and five whirlpool spas.Resort DiningConsidered a gem among Temecula’s many fine restaurants, Cork Fire Kitchen is the Inn’s signature restaurant. It offers contemporary California garden-to-table dining.I had dined here before staying at the Inn and was so impressed that I couldn’t have been more excited to return. The views alone are worth a visit, with exquisite dining overlooking the verdant golf courses.Cork Fire Kitchen is open for brunch and dinner and offers amazing creations by Executive Chef Ben Diaz. We had the pleasure of dining here for both brunch and dinner and couldn’t have been more pleased with our entrees.BrunchThe brunch menu features starters, leafy choices, breakfast-focused items from the coop and the griddle. For heartier options, order broiler entrees such as a grilled chicken sandwich, a CFK Angus burger, and fish and chips. Do not miss ordering the Strawberries and Champagne salad, also available on the dinner menu. It comes with frisee, arugula, toma fromage, fresh strawberries, Marcona almonds, and a balsamic reduction. Diners have the option to add either free-range chicken or prawns if desired.My hubby touted the double-patty Angus burger as one of the best he’s had. Just know that if you order a main entrée, the portions are large and shareable, and if you don’t choose to share, you’ll be asking for a “to-go” box.DinnerDinner here is a magical experience with stunning sunsets and twinkling lights appearing at dusk. We love the rustic tables and cuddly romantic booths.Chef Ben’s artistic, inventive dishes are divine. I’ve dined here with both my hubby and on a previous visit with friends. I can truly share that those two experiences were unforgettable.The dinner menu features shares, greens, vegetable dishes, and selections from the land and sea, along with some lovely enhancements. What’s good? Everything I’ve tasted! Standouts definitely include the Parisian scallops with beef tallow grits, guanciale, hazelnut crumble, popcorn shoots, and a persimmon balsamic. Another not-to-be-missed winner is the incredible Lumina Farms braised lamb shank prepared with a vadouvan red wine reduction, braised pearl onions, and confit tomatoes over a honeynut squash puree. If you’re a lamb lover, this dish tantalizes the palate.A full wine menu is available, and servers are well-versed in the selections to help you choose the perfect accompaniment. If you’re into cocktails, don’t miss the creative bar concoctions made with a variety of top-notch mixers.Please save some room for dessert (even if you share). There are only three desserts on the menu, but oh, are they ever divine. The chocolate olive oil cake, ricotta doughnut holes, and cast-iron bread pudding are all amazing. Feel free to follow your heart (or your palate).You know a place has a special meaning when you wake up on the day of checkout and don’t really want to – check-out, that is. This is why I highly recommend a stay at Temecula Creek Inn, and I look forward to my next visit. Check for availability and rates here>>Disclaimer: This post was written by Noreen Kompanik for San Diego Explorer. As customary in the travel writing industry, the writer was hosted to experience the Temecula Creek Inn golf resort and its amenities to research this article. This has not influenced the author’s opinion of these experiences.The post Temecula Creek Inn: The Ultimate Golf Retreat in Wine Country appeared first on San Diego Explorer.

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Discover One of the Best Golf Resorts in San Diego: Fairmont Grand Golf Club

We’ve got a lot to be thankful for in San Diego. We have the best weather and some of the best beaches and golf courses in the world–Torrey Pines, Aviara, La Costa, and Maderas. Another course that certainly belongs in that conversation is one that I hadn’t played in nearly 20 years, The Fairmont Grand Golf Club in Del Mar.Only a 20-minute drive from my house in Carlsbad and just minutes off Interstate 5, the Grand is the only San Diego course designed by Tom Fazio, a legend in the field of golf course architecture who’s crafted courses in 38 states. The semi-private course is part of the Fairmont Grand Del Mar, an award-winning luxury resort on 400 acres of a pristine coastal canyon. The Fairmont Grand is one of 14 properties in the world to earn the prestigious Triple Five-Star award from Forbes Travel Guide.GOLFING THE FAIRMONT GRAND GOLF CLUBWhen I last played here in 2005, the course was debuting as the Grand Golf Club, having been rebranded from Del Mar National and before that Del Mar Meadows, a high-end daily fee facility that opened in 1999. The late 1990s was the golden era of golf in San Diego, when new golf courses were opening every month or so in San Diego County.The original Tom Fazio routing through the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve has remained intact. A few tee boxes have been added to give the par 3s additional distance and the downhill 16th hole has been lengthened and converted to a par 5 from a par 4, making the 7,160-yard course a true par 72. Just off the course, the practice facility has been built out– there’s now two-sides to the driving range and a short game and teaching area have been added.I didn’t experience the redesigned 16th hole as I only played the front nine of the Grand, but I was struck by the course’s playability as a 16 handicap. After losing a ball left on my opening tee shot, I didn’t lose another ball and finished with four pars on the remaining eight holes. Fazio did a masterful job of blending lush fairways with dramatic elevations and diverse bunkers. He also makes you feel as if you’re alone out there, as no holes are visible other than the one you’re playing.“Fazio carves out a course much differently than a lot of designers,” said Erik Wilson, The Grand’s Director of Golf. “Fairness and playability are two of his best attributes. Our course may look tight off the tees with native brush left and right, but there’s more room out there than your eyes give you credit for. You have these rolling fairways with a bowl effect on a lot of the holes. You may miss one left or right, but it’s not like a Donald Ross [design] where you’re going to fall off the planet. The greens are also very generous, and they also have that bowl effect around them.”Multi-million dollar Del Mar homes hover high above the canyons, barely visible from the fairways, so there’s no claustrophobic feeling while standing over the ball. “You go from the canyons, then you’re on a vista and then back down to the canyons,” Wilson said. “Fazio really used the canvas of Los Peñasquitos Canyon to lay out the routing. Even though we played on a day when temperatures climbed into the 80s, the Pacific Ocean breezes cooled us off throughout the round.JOE, THE OG OF CADDIESSince I hadn’t played the course in two decades and my partners were Grand rookies, we needed a guide–someone to help us navigate the fairways, read putts, fix divots, rake sand traps, and keep us relaxed. Joe, our forecaddie, was that guy. A former caddie at Bandon Dunes (Oregon), a world-class golf resort in Oregon, Joe has been at the Grand for over 15 years.He provided the perfect combination of information, morale-boosting, and comedic relief. He knew every clipping of grass on the entire course and every golf movie ever created. His Bill Murray impersonation from the classic golf movie Caddyshack was spot on. My only other forecaddie experience was last year in Northern Ireland at Royal County Down, the No. 1 rated course in the world. I’ve never played a course in San Diego that provided one. “We added the forecaddies to personalize the experience,” Wilson said. “Our caddies have all been here 10-plus years, they’re our property ambassadors. We want to provide a luxury golf experience, but we also want to harness and embrace So Cal vibe.”FRESH LOOK FOR MEMBERS CLUBHOUSETo accommodate a growing membership, The Grand recently renovated its golf clubhouse and member spaces. The clubhouse refresh includes a variety of updates, from upholstered furniture in luxurious textures and warm colors, pendants and sconces with brass and Venetian glass, window and wall treatments with softer and lighter fabrics, and custom patterned carpeting. The Ladies’ Lounge renovation includes adding an indoor-outdoor bar and a grand infrared sauna with an illuminated Himalayan salt wall. The Mens’ Lounge added more locker space, and the club’s reimagined outdoor space now features more patio seating and umbrellas, offering a flexible, transitional space for dining and club events.Just off the clubhouse sits Addison, San Diego’s first and only three-star Michelin restaurant. The seasonal tasting menus from Chef William Bradley offer a culinary perspective through an experience that celebrates Southern California’s ingredients and influences.HOW TO PLAY THE GRANDThe Fairmont Grand Del Mar is offering stay-and-play packages. They include luxury guestroom or suite accommodations, two rounds of golf daily at the Grand Golf Club, and a complimentary one-level guestroom upgrade or suite upgrade based on availability at check-in.Another way to play The Grand is to become a club member. The initiation fee for golf membership is $100,000. Benefits include priority tee times, an unrivaled pace of play, access to Fairmont Grand Del Mar amenities, and member-only events. Wilson said 70% of total play at the Grand comes from members and their guests and 30% from resort guests at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar.Do you need another excuse to treat yourself to a stay at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar and play some golf? Disclaimer: This post was written by Dave McKibben for San Diego Explorer. As customary in the travel writing industry, the writer was hosted to experience the golf course and new club house to research this article. This has not influenced the author’s opinion of these experiences.The post Discover One of the Best Golf Resorts in San Diego: Fairmont Grand Golf Club appeared first on San Diego Explorer.

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Go Car Tour San Diego – A Fun Way to Explore

If you’ve seen the small yellow cars driving around San Diego, you should look up Go Car Tour San Diego and book a slot immediately.For those unfamiliar, the Go Car San Diego Tours provide one of the most unique and fun ways to explore America’s Finest City. Whether you’re only here for a weekend or you’ve lived here for years, the tour takes you to some of the most well-known areas in town.Don’t let the size of the car intimidate you — I’m 6’6” and fit in just fine. That said, the friend I brought along with me was much more petite, and I don’t know if we both would have fit if her legs were the same size as mine.The car itself operates as a three-wheeled vehicle that’s a mix between a scooter and a bike. The built-in GPS also guides you through an effortless journey that won’t leave you lost in the city. You also have a physical map with you to help you map out where you’ll go before you do so, which could provide valuable information for you to plan.To start your adventure, meet at the headquarters of the San Diego GoCars to watch a safety video that gives you the essential information needed for a successful trip. It explains the two brakes on the side of the driver’s handlebars, which work the same as brakes on a bike. You’ll find the gas on the right handlebar, and you simply pull it toward you to give it a go.Even if you’re nervous, that’ll disappear by the time you get to the end of the street. The tour avoids major freeways and takes you effortlessly around some of the busiest streets. Downtown & Balboa Park Go Car Tour San DiegoYour tour choice determines where the tour takes you, and the tours range from one hour all the way up to eight. Personally, I did the 2-hour Downtown & Balboa Park Tour, which the company dubs “THE essential San Diego tour.” It costs $173 per vehicle, not per person, but each vehicle only seats two, so keep that in mind. You’re free to extend your tour if you’d like, but they charge in 15-minute increments when you do. Although I didn’t experience any of the other tours, I would agree that the Downtown & Balboa Park Tour is essential, especially if you’ve only got a few days to spare. It begins in Old Town, where all tours do, then takes you down toward the Maritime Museum, the U.S.S. Midway, and Seaport Village along the harbor next to the ocean. You’ll learn some random facts along the way, including a story about the iconic statue of a couple kissing and its influence from the LIFE magazine photo snapped at the end of World War II.Once the ocean’s in your rearview, follow along through the historic Gaslamp Quarter, which highlights some of the older architecture and is still one of the most popular nighttime spots in the area. When it takes you through Little Italy, just know that all of the smells coming from the restaurants will make you hungry, so either give yourself a little extra time to stop or take note of a place you’d like to try out once you finish the tour.The exploration of Balboa Park is the best part of this tour if you ask me. This park has so much more to offer than what initially meets the eye. Even if you frequent the museums or attend shows at The Old Globe, the GoCar Tour will still fill you in on some fun facts you may or may not know, especially when it comes to the organ.Other San Diego Go Car ToursOutside of the Downtown & Balboa Park tour, there are a number of other tours including, but not limited to, the Downtown and Old Town Tour, the Coronado San Diego Tour, the Sunset Cliffs & Beaches Tour, the Full Day Tour (5 hours), the Night Owl Special Tour, and the Land & Sea Tour that also comes with a speedboat adventure that looks super fun. Tours have different durations, but all require a valid Driver’s License to operate the vehicle. Outside of the tours, they also offer scooter and e-bike rentals for you to explore a little more on your own. The next time you’re looking for an experience you’ll never forget, check out the GoCar San Diego City Tours for one of the most unbeatable explorations of this city. Allow yourself some extra time if you have it, grab a bite to eat along the way, and see what all the fuss is about San Diego, whether you’re a local or not. Last Updated on August 29, 2024 by Maria HaaseThe post Go Car Tour San Diego – A Fun Way to Explore appeared first on San Diego Explorer.

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