lada

Hi all,
I have been a long time reader on here and always find the best information when planning a trip, what a fabulous resource!
My husband and I and 2kids(8 and 10) will be out in CA in end of July for 10 days. We are meeting another couple there. We arrive on 21 and leave on 31 of July. From July 28 through 31 we will be in SF. My itinerary, so far:
Arrive SF July 21Wedn. rent a car -to Healdsburg 4days?
Best Western Dry Creek Valley hotel? Not sure. Need budget hotel –around $150 per night
Visit Kenwood, Glen Ellen wineries and Jack London Park.
We really want to see the Redwoods and enjoy the scenery, as well as taste some great wine.. Kayaking/canoeing on the Russian River, maybe few wineries to visit.
July 24 drive to Mendocino and back or should we stay overnight? On July 25 drive to Monterrey/Carmel for 3 nights. Go to aquarium. Do you think too many days? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
I can’t schedule day by day itinerary. Please help?

boom_boom

If you are staying Healdsburg, Kenwood, Glen Ellen and the Jack London Park are at least an hour away, more during rush hours. You could consider staying the first two nights in the town of Sonoma, much closer to those areas. There is a Best Western (rates start at about $150) and the El Pueblo Inn that is about the same.
Mendocino is about 75 miles from Healdsburg, on two lane roads, but with an early start it is doable as a day trip.

razzledazzle

Stay in Healdsburg-drive to Kenwood and surrounds-
too much driving (and lots of construction going on on Hwy 101 from central Santa Rosa up to Windsor) as boom_boom says.
Try the El Pueblo in Sonoma and then go stay up ON the Russian River IN the redwoods try-
http://www.ferngrove.com/
OR
http://www.creeksideinn.
and you can visit the Armstrong Woods
near Guerneville for even more redwoods.
Plenty of wineries within a half hour of Guerneville

From Gueneville you could do an easy day trip out to the beaches at Salmon Creek and explore the coast.

Think I might skip a day trip to Mendocino-you'll be in the car for a
minimum of 4 hours. More if you take Hwy 1
to or from Mendocino.

Make your reservations soon !!

R5

november_moon

Three nights is definitely not too many for the Monterey area. That would be the minimum I would recommend. There is a lot to do and see in the area.

lada

Thank you all for your advice.
I just checked Best Western in Sonoma; they have no vacancy on my dates.
Russian River Fern Grove OR Creek Side Inn have no rooms with two queen beds.
I think we skip a trip to Mendocino-I don’t want to be in the car for a 4 hours.
So, I should look for hotel in Sonoma for 2 nights and 2nights in ?? Russian River? Guerneville or Healdsburg?

razzledazzle

This will be difficult because of the late dates you are booking this and the budget. You could try this place in Sebastopol-it
was once a Holiday Inn Express-
http://www.winecountryhi.com/
You'd have pretty easy access to the Russian River and Healdsburg via Hwy 116 (Gravenstein Hwy).
Also, you'd have easy access to Hwy 12 which
goes through Santa Rosa and down into Kenwood-Glen Ellen
and Jack London.

Check it out on mapquest or your fave on-line map-
Sebastopol to Glen Ellen is 30 min.
Sebastopol to Healdsburg is 30 min.
Sebastopol to Guerneville/Russian River area is 30 mins.
Sebastopol to Bodega Bay/Coast is 30 mins.
Sebastopol itself is cute little town, very family friendly and good places to eat.
You might consider 4 nights lodging in Sebastopol.

R5

lada

Thank you so much for helping me razzledazzle.
What about these hotel location? I think my mind were set for Healdsburg,and my budget not helping.Fairfield Inn & Suites looks great but they want $200 per night.However this will be my last reserve.
Doubletree Sonoma Rohnert Park,
Fountaingrove Inn Hotel Santa rosa,
Flamingo Conference Resort & Spa
Hampton Inn & Suites Rohnert Park

lada

Just found 2nights in Best Western Sonoma Valley Inn. Should I look for 3 nights in somewhere close to Russian river? Where? Is 3 nights too many? What to do besides winery’s and Armstrong woods?

razzledazzle

lada-
Here's the rate page for the Fairfield in Sebastopol
July 21-24
https://www.marriott.com/reservation/rateListMenu.mi
I see 2 queens for their regular rate at $139.
did you move into weekend dates ?

The Hilton on Roundbarn (northern Santa Rosa, a bit closer to Healdsburg)has 2 Queens for $179, less if
you pay in advance
http://www.hiltonsonomahotel.com

You mentioned you wanted to kayak on the Russian River, how about a trip out to the beach as well ?
The kids might really enjoy a trip to Safari West-
http://www.safariwest.com/home/
What date are you looking at for Sonoma COunty ?

R5

lada

I guess I'm doing something wrong. Fairfield Inn & Suites Santa Rosa Sebastopol gave me $199 on my dates fro 7/21-7/25.
$139 would just perfect.How did you do it?

Safari looks great, but how far this from Sebastopol?
I thought around 3-4 hours in a car.

We would love to go to the beach as well.Can we swim there or water is cold?

I don't know days for Sonoma probably Thursday 7/22,we arrive at 4p.m.S.F.on 7/21. I do need to start think of day by day itinerary.Can you help?

lada

razzledazzle did you check on Courtyard Novato Marin/Sonoma $139?

sf7307

I'm not sure where you're wanting to go to the beach, but the Pacific is cold, period.

lada

That is what I thought. Trying figure out Where to stay,so don't have to spend a long time in the car.Found these hotels
Best Western Garden Inn Santa Rosa
Holiday Inn Express Santa Rosa
Don't know if good location.
The Hilton on Roundbarn Looks good. Should I book there and some where else too? What about
NEGRI’S OCCIDENTAL HOTEL?
Riverlane Resort (Guerneville )?
Sebastopol Inn, ?

razzledazzle

lada-my link for Fairfield in Sebastopol shows a rate of $139 a night for Wed & Thurs, then $199 for a night Fri, Sat. & Sun-
if you're staying weekend nights, the rates will always be higher-
https://www.marriott.com/reservation/rateListMenu.mi
There's also a Holiday Inn Express in Windsor
which is about 10 minutes south of Healdsburg-
http://www.hiexpress.com/hotels/us/e...ation#roomrate

I wouldn't stay at the Courtyard in Marin-you'll
end up doing alot of driving to get to the
places you have previously mentioned.

Safari West is only 30 mins. from Sebastopol.
How did you come up with 3-4 hours ?

The beaches around Bodega Bay and Jenner are great for play
and walking and tidepools, the water is much, much to cold for swimming as
sf7307 has noted. If it's a warm day, and the fog stays out,
you might be able to wade, but do so with great caution-
and never, never turn your back to the ocean.

The Russian River has beaches where you can swim
and lots of kayak rentals at Johnson's Beach
http://www.johnsonsbeach.com/Johnson...e/welcome.html

I think you have enough info to put together an
itinerary, so give it a go !

R5

CaribbeanChick

We did Columbus Motor Inn in SF last week.... for about $100 with taxes...I think base rate was $85.. FREE parking! Great flat screen tv...walking distance to tons of stuff..
GAIA Hotel in Napa (Young America) around $100 with taxes also! Awesome beds...

CaribbeanChick

Forgot to mention.. we did MUIR woods on our way from Napa to SF... (see the redwoods)

Be advised that a lot of the wineries close at 4pm!

november_moon

Hey CaribbeanChick - I hope your trip was great - did you write a trip report yet?

ronkala

We stayed at the Highland Dell Lodge in Monte Rio on the Russian River Wed. & Thurs nights. Very pleasant with a nice free breakfast. I selected a regular room, $99.00, but was upgraded to one with a deck overlooking the river. Also has a nice dinner menu, but the restaurant is closed on Wed. nights.

We visited Kenwood Winery, $5.00 p/p tasting fee which is refunded if a purchase is made, and bought a case of mixed wines to be shipped to VA. Will be here Wed. The grounds were immaculate and nicely landscaped.

Went to Muir Woods and Armstrong Redwoods and had nice quiet strolls along their trails. Both are wonderful to see.
We drove to Mendocino along the coast after leaving Armstrong and it was a long drive. Almost four hours with some stops. Returned via 101 and it was an hour quicker.

Fill your gas tank before starting out each day. I thought I could get from Monterey to Pisno Beach with no problem, but the van I had sucked the gas up and the only station in between had reg. for $4.76 p/g and between Monte Rio and Mendocino I paid $3.57. Larger towns had it between $2.99 and $3.17 for the most part.

CLynnWeg

In July Healdsburg and the Russian River can be warm, although this year it seems like the rain will never stop. Sebastopol tends to be a little milder, if that matters. The coast is usually windy or foggy in July, it's magnificent and worth a visit, but not a place to swim. From Sebastopol (or Santa Rosa) you can easily tour the Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley, Heldsburg and the Dry Creek Valley. Armstrong Redwoods is about a 30 minute drive away, as well as Guernville and the Russian River. If budget is a concern, I'd stay in Santa Rosa or Guernville. If you want something quaint, you might try Guernville. It's about 35 minutes from Sebastopol to Bodega Bay. Most wineries charge for tasting, its usually credited when you make a purchase. There are fun towns to check out between Sebastopol and the coast: Occidental, Freestone, Valley Ford. Point Reyes National Seashore is a little over and hour away if you like to hike.

lada

Thanks for the suggestions. Highland Dell Lodge in Monte Rio looks Great.
Unfortunately they don’t do booking on Wednesday and they have 1 room for 4 for $215.A little over my budget.
I have been searching and searching and have just about settled on Fairfield Inn & Suites Santa Rosa Sebastopol as
Razzledazzle recommended.Unless someone tells me it is not right choice of hotel.
Now start looking for Monterey/Carmel hotel.Any suggestions?