Discover Riverside

This makes it possible to decide what you want to focus on before looking for a hotel.

Temecula Valley: Wine and Tours

More than 30 grape varieties are grown on gently rolling hills and high plateaus in the Temecula Valley. Temecula Valley Wine Country is home to nearly 50 wineries, most of them along the three wine routes: Rancho California Road, Calle Contento and De Portola Road. The routes provide a regional guide to the wine offerings, although not all the wineries are located along them.

In Temecula Wine Country, wineries offer vineyard tours and cellar tastings; visitors can also stomp grapes. Wine Country welcomes its guests with award-winning wines, gourmet restaurants and impressive views. Wine tours use shuttles, buses and limousines. The options range from insights into wine growing and tastings to tours where the journey itself is part of the experience.

Water and Nature at Lake Perris

Swimming is available at Perris Beach and Moreno Beach on Lake Perris. There are several boat ramps for motorized boats; non-motorized watercraft such as kayaks and paddleboards can access the water via a sandy launch area. This distinction can help you choose the type of water activity that best fits your plans. Fishing is also possible: the fish species listed include largemouth bass, catfish, crappie and carp, as well as particularly large bluegills.

Camping at Lake Perris includes 431 sites. Of these, 167 sites have no hookups and 264 are paved sites with hookups. The figures show that both types of sites make up a considerable part of the camping options. The lake combines water activities with outdoor overnight stays; when choosing a hotel, what matters is whether you plan to center your stay on activities by the water or on other interests.

Trails and Plant Communities at the UCR Botanic Gardens

The UCR Botanic Gardens is a living plant museum spanning 40 acres. Its collection includes more than 3,500 plant species and thousands of specimens from around the world. More than four miles of trails run through the garden. About one-third of the area consists of native plant communities, including coastal sage scrub and annual grasslands. A visit therefore highlights both the diversity of plants and the garden’s different habitats.

Museums of Nature, History and Culture

On Lake Perris, the Ya'i Heki' Regional Indian Museum is dedicated to presenting and preserving the history, culture and traditions of Indigenous tribes in the Inland Empire region. California Citrus State Historic Park is an open-air museum spanning more than 250 acres. March Field Air Museum offers self-guided tours of its 30-acre grounds, featuring two main hangars, a replica of the Vietnam War base Firebase Romeo Charlie and the Frank Zizzo Radio Room.

Art and natural history are also among the subjects covered by museums in Riverside County. Riverside Art Museum cares for a permanent collection of approximately 1,500 objects. Western Science Center is the largest natural history museum in Riverside County and covers topics ranging from Ice Age giants to archaeological mysteries. The county also has museums with exhibitions on photography and local culture. The different collections offer a variety of ways to shape your stay around your cultural interests.

On select Saturdays, Temecula Valley Museum offers one-hour walking tours of Old Town Temecula. They begin at the museum at 10:30 a.m. and end on Main Street at 11:30 a.m. If you plan to join this tour, check in advance whether your preferred Saturday is among the dates offered.

Discover more destinations: Palm Desert, Riverside, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Banning, Blythe, Hemet, Indian Wells, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Temecula, Corona, Canyon Lake, Lake Elsinore, Moreno Valley, Indio, La Quinta, Norco, Yucaipa, Perris, Idyllwild-Pine Cove, Beaumont, Menifee, San Jacinto, Murrieta, Bermuda Dunes, Thousand Palms, Mira Loma, Thermal, Wildomar, Eastvale.

For the broader travel overview: California.