Eat, Drink and Be Mellow in Temecula, California

Temecula Olive Oil Co. in Temecula, California, invites visitors to tour its facilities and taste its many varieties of olive oil. Photo courtesy of Linda Milks.

At this point in its history Temecula (58 miles north of San Diego and 85 miles south of Los Angeles on Interstate 15) is a Southern California town with a decidedly split personality.

The city center, Old Town -- which until recently still had wooden sidewalks --celebrates the days when Temecula was surrounded by vast John Wayne-style cattle ranches. A few miles away you'll find the mega gaming resort -- the Pachanga Casino, Hotel, Golf Courses and Spa.