by Susan Van Allen

Laundry was spilling out of the hamper and my desk was sagging under a pile of work to be done. I knew it was naughty to pack up a suitcase and run away, but a gal's gotta take a break every once in a while, right? Besides, I was only going an hour's drive south of my home in Los Angeles, to the peaceful Temecula Valley.

The plan was to meet up with other gals who needed a getaway as much as I did. We'd unwind for a couple of days in a country setting, get pampered, enjoy the great outdoors, antique shopping, gourmet food, and wine tastings.

The area got its name from the Luseno tribe of Native Americans who 300 years ago lived in this fertile valley tucked under the San Jacinto mountains and called it Temecula - or "Sun Shining Through the Sea Mist." As I drove through the entrance of the Temecula Creek Inn, the sun was shining but there was no mist in sight. Rose bushes with bright yellow, orange, and pink blooms provided a cheerful welcome to the 350-acre beautifully manicured property. The inn is well known for its award-winning 27-hole golf course, which mattered not to most of my non-golfing traveling pals -- though the sight of handsome pros and muscular men taking impressive swings did enhance the scenery.

My in-room Swedish massage was the perfect way to slip into bliss after the drive. As I got the stress rubbed out, I listened to the waterfall that ran beneath my window on the Player's Plaza - a stone patio at the border of the golf course where western steak fries and other group events take place. On the night I arrived, a margarita welcome party was set up for us there. The backdrop of the sun setting over the mountains, throwing soft shadows across the golf course dotted with California oaks, sycamores, eucalyptus and stone pines, put us all in the mood to relax and enjoy what was to come.

Since we were all multi-tasking working gals, we'd each made plans for how we'd spend our relaxing time. While some chose nature hikes, tennis, swimming or golf lessons at the inn, I headed off with a few others our first morning for an exploration of the nearby town of Rainbow (pop. 1500) by bike. Winding roads took us past small farms and nurseries, and then to Rainbow Oaks Country Square. (CONTINUE...)