Courier January Courier | Page 37

Solvang Temecula Valley Responses pro- vided by Greg Corso of the Solvang CVB Responses provided by Annette Brown of Visit Temecula Valley What makes Temecula such a great place? Solvang, which was recently named by USA Today read- ers as one of America’s 10 Best Historic Small Towns, is a walkable village that welcomes groups with unique Danish culture and experiences, all in the heart of Santa Ynez Valley Wine Country. What are the must-dos around Solvang? Temecula Valley is an ideal destination for groups look- ing for experiential activi- ties, ranging from cooking classes, behind-the-scenes winery and microbrewery tours, and grape stomping to hot air balloon flights, bicycling and horseback riding through wine country. Why is Solvang such a great place? What are some of your area’s can’t-miss attractions? Visiting Cachuma Lake Recreation Area for kayaking, canoeing, fishing and guided nature cruises. Also the Museum of History & Art, horse-drawn trolley tours, our five authentic Danish bakeries and the self-guided Solvang Heritage Walk Audio Tour. Our historical Old Town features specialty shops, museums, art galleries, a theater, tasting rooms, nightclubs and great dining options. Other options include Pechanga Resort & Casino, the largest casino on the West Coast; olive oil tastings with Temecula Olive Oil; and hiking and bird-watching at Santa Rosa Plateau. What advice would you give a tour operator regarding packaging your area? What advice would you give a tour operator regarding packaging your area? We are close to Santa Barbara, but we give groups access to lower midweek rates. You can combine a two-night stay in Solvang with team-building options, wine-blending workshops, painting in a vineyard or learning how to bake like the pros. Everything there is to do and see in Southern California is just about an hour away, which makes the Temecula Valley a great hub for day trips to San Diego, Orange County, Palm Springs and Los Angeles. To learn more contact Corso at [email protected] or go to solvangusa.com. To learn more contact Brown at [email protected] or go to visittemeculavalley.com. NTAonline.com 35