As you know, Xan and I were on vacation last week with his family. We went to Temecula, California for the wedding of a close family friend and then stayed for vacation. We rented a house in the area which served as our home base and then did some traveling, lots of relaxing, and spending time together from there.

The house we were staying in was in the middle of several vineyards and farms, which was such a treat for my San Francisco eyes and ears. The beautiful, natural surroundings were everywhere you looked at it was so quiet and dark at night. We even spotted a few constellations – something you don’t get very much of in the city. The place was pretty big with a large kitchen, game room, and pool and hot tub. So, just being at the house was an awesome exercise in relaxation.

But, the town was very beautiful and we definitely got to experience what it had to offer. It’s about two hours south of Los Angeles in what’s considered Southern California’s wine country and we took advantage of everything we could. We spent days riding bikes through vineyards, wine tasting, playing in the pool, watching hot air balloons float effortlessly by from the back porch, picking up food from the local farmers market and then the chilly evenings in the hot tub, grilling dinner, and playing board games. We also spent time wine tasting, exploring Old Town Temecula, and with friends in town for the wedding. Along with a couple day-trips sprinkled in (more on that later!) it was really the perfect combination of relaxation and adventuring.

Here are a few photos from the Temecula part of the trip! 

The view from the back deck was beautiful. And those clouds! They were incredible the whole time. I don't know why they looked so different from the ones here. Maybe it was just my happy vacation eyes. 

There was a hot air balloon festival going on while we were there. It was so cool to wake up in the morning and watch them floating all around!

Lunch on the deck. Outdoor eating is one of my favorite things!

How cool are these floral arrangements that the bride's mom made for the welcome party? That rug makes the perfect back drop. 

The wedding venue was GORGEOUS. It was on a vineyard right in the middle of the vines. There were string lights, beautiful flowers, and a huge outdoor fireplace. It was pretty magical. 

We explored the antique shops and other stores of Old Town Temecula and stopped off at a couple vineyards on the way home.