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Pechanga Resort & Spa Family Vacation Review- 2018

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Welcome to our second annual Pechanga Family Vacation Review! Last year we had such a great time at Pechanga in Temecula that we went back again for more fun and to see the upgrades, remodel and expansion! Special thanks to Pechanga for the invite and hosting us for this fun weekend.

Emmy (and uni-kitty) could barely contain their excitement for our weekend getaway to Temecula. Temecula is an easy drive from San Diego, Orange County, and Los Angeles so it makes for a great quick getaway for so many of us in SoCal. 

Since we were able to experience the upgraded rooms last time I’m sharing what is new and what we absolutely loved. This includes all the new areas to just relax and enjoy the view and warm weather.

The Food.

They have really outdone themselves. We really thought it was great before, but they even made that better. Some of our favorites were drinks around the pool. There were alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Be sure to get something with prickly pear because it is going to be the drink of summer. It is so refreshing, just the right sweetness and beautifully colored.

I’ll be telling you all about the new pool area in just a second, but first, you need to know about The Cove, the Pool Bar & Grill. We had lunch there with a pool view one way and the beautiful mountains the other direction. You can order everything from homemade ice cream sandwiches to frozen grapes, as well as salads, sandwiches, potato chip nachos, hummus & pita plates, veggie burgers and much more.

It can be enjoyed at the Grill or served to you poolside. 

The girls made multiple trips to Blends Coffee and Wine Bar. Don’t worry, they only had sweet treats and coffee. No wine for them! Ha! Emmy was a bit bedazzled by the Macaroons and chocolate covered strawberries. Maddie was all about the iced coffee, while Ash had fruit and acai bowls galore!

The big girls bought Emmy a huge lollipop there and she did her best to finish it. I’m happy to say she failed miserably… but she has a good time trying! 

Emmy even took a picture of Maddie on one of her coffee runs. We really appreciated that there were options for the adults, teens and little ones every single place we went to.

You didn’t think we would go to Pechanga and not have the buffet, right? We didn’t! This is one of our local favorites and it was still awesome. When we were there, we were offered the upgrade to include lobster so if that is your thing, everyone looked quite happy with their heaping plates of seafood. Emmy, on the other hand, was very happy with the dessert options. There is a whole area dedicated to all things sweet!

On our last visit, we fell head over heels in love with Journey’s End Restaurant located overlooking the golf course. We were so happy to go back. The food is so fresh and we would visit just to eat here. It is that great! Yes, Emmy had mac n’ cheese for breakfast. It is her favorite! If you love banana bread, be sure to order their fruit platter because it is served with their popular banana bread! Yummy!

The pool area.

When we were last here the pool was good for cooling off, but not for hanging out at all day long. Now that The Cove is completed, this is going to be the place to be this summer!

The Cove is a 4.5-acre tropical oasis that brings comfort, cool and the ultimate tropical chill to Pechanga. The Cove features three pools, including a zero-edge Main Pool that features a swim-up bar, a Family Pool with two waterslides and a splash pad and five spas. The Cove also features an emerald-green grassy area perfect for gatherings, parties or small weddings under the Southern California sun.

Want to take your vacation to a whole new level? Reserve a cabana for the day. They are spacious and perfect as a home base while everyone is having fun at the pool.

The spa.

Oh, my! This spa is AWESOME! I have been looking for a truly indulgent spa that friends and I can meet up at for the day and I found it. Not to say that Pete and I won’t be coming up here together too. 

Spa Pechanga is a brand new 25,000-square foot sanctuary of luxury, wellness, and serenity designed for year-round rejuvenation of the mind, body, and spirit. Offering luxurious treatment rooms and relaxation areas with panoramic views of the surrounding hillside. The numerous amenities include steam rooms, saunas, whirlpools, a fitness facility and outdoor patios specifically created to offer an intimate escape into wellness and tranquility. As of right now, the spa is for adults only, but we were given a little media experience for the girls to get manicures and Pete got a massage. I sadly had to cancel my massage because of a random headache (I almost never get them so I’m thankful and mad all at the same time), but Pete said it was wonderful. 

I hope they eventually add family treatment options because I know like us, many of you like to experience spas together as a family. My girls live for spa visits and they gave this one two thumbs up!


Picture proof I was really there. Emmy wasn’t thrilled that Pete photobombed us!

We had so much fun and it was a great staycation/getaway. We can’t wait to go back!

Be sure to watch our video above to see all the fun and a look inside our connecting rooms!

Heather Reese
the authorHeather Reese
Heather Delaney Reese is the storyteller and photographer behind the lifestyle and family travel blog, It's a Lovely Life®! For the past decade, she has vacationed over 150 days a year with her family. She is a vegan, and loves being by the water, spending time with her children, husband, 2 Shih Tzus and Cat.

31 Comments

  • Fun times Heather! The guac looks awesome too 🙂 Gotta love a nice resort getaway with the fam, especially when spa is involved. Although I love circling the globe and doing activities sometimes I feel a need to take a vacay from my vacay. Feeling this now with all my road trips in New Zealand. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Ryan

    • I hear you on that Ryan. I sometimes come home more tired from my vacation than when I left. That just means we need another vacation ASAP! 😉

  • Well this looks like awesome fun for the entire family! The property looks incredible!

  • This looks like such a fun time, I am ready for water fun like this. I am ready for summer fun. Glad you shared the Pechanga Resort 🙂

  • This place looks amazing! I would totally love to hang out here and relax with my family!!

  • Looks like you and your family had so much fun! I’ve never heard of that Resort and Casino, but would love to visit someday. Thanks for sharing.

  • What a beautiful place to take the family. Your girls sure looked like they enjoyed every single minute of it. the smile on your daughter’s face upon seeing those sweet treats was priceless!

  • My kids would go crazy here. What a beautiful resort and the surroundings and heavenly.

  • Wow what a super cool resort! I am so putting this one on my bucket list!

  • It looks like a nice place to visit and a nice place for a staycation. I would love to be in that place with my family, such an amazing place.

  • Looks like everyone had a great time! I would love to sit by the fire pit with a drink in my hand. I need to visit!

  • The food, the place, the ambiance – it all looks awesome. Love to visit the place too soon!

  • This looks like it would have been quite the experience! All of that food and fun is definitely calling my name.

  • Thanks for sharing your Pechanga Resort & Spa Vacation with us. I live vicariously through you travel bloggers. Everything is so beautiful the pool area, the outdoor fire pit, The restaurant looks roomy and her lollipop looks fun!

  • What a fun and great experience you had. This is such a great place to visit.This is truly a bucket lists material.

  • I’ve heard so many good things about the expansion at Pechanga but I’ve yet to experience it. Silly I suppose because I live in the Temecula Valley. You’ve given me all the inspiration I need to plan a staycation right here in my own little valley to enjoy everything new at Pechanga.

  • Ha! We only ever really go to Pechanga for the casino! This looks great! I could definitely go for some relaxation at the pool right now! And looks like really great fun for the kids too!

  • Looks like a perfect family vacation spot to me. I’ll add this to my list of options for our next get away. We are spur of the moment travelers so always looking for deals last minute.

  • This place really has something to offer. Those places and views are so beautiful and the food really looks so delicious.

  • The pool and the restaurant look incredible. What a fabulous place to enjoy a family getaway. Love that the Coffee and Wine Bar had offerings for everyone. It’s little touches like these that make you want to go back to a place time and again.

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