California Wine Country: Is 4 nights enough?
Dec 26th, 2007, 12:17 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
California Wine Country: Is 4 nights enough?
Hi all...and Happy Boxing Day from up here in Canada! My wife and I are in the middle of planning a trip to California this summer, in July...it will be our second visit. Currently, we have organized 4 nights in Healdsburg, 3 nights in Carmel (second visit), and 4 nights in SF. As I was reflecting on our trip last summer to Tuscany, where we spent 8 nights, the thought occurred to me: Is 4 nights in wine country enough time? Or just right based on what California Wine Country is like? For example, in Tuscany, we would drive around to small towns and explore before relaxing back at our place...and we wouldn't dream of spending less than a week doing this...so I just wanted to make sure that 4 nights won't short change us on a visit to Sonoma, Napa, etc....
thanks everyone,
cheers,
CC
thanks everyone,
cheers,
CC
Dec 26th, 2007, 12:47 PM
#2
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,442
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are a lot fewer medieval villages to explore in the Healdsburg area than in Tuscany. Better art museums in Tuscany also. Really - the two can't be compared.
If you also want to visit the Napa Valley area and/or head to the coast, then 4 days would be OK. If you want to spend hours at many wineries, then that could occupy 4 days also. If you want to spend 1 day by the pool - then 4 days is fine.
In Tuscany, if you eliminate Lucca, Florence, Siena, Orvieto (Umbria), and about 30 small villages like Montepulciano, Pienza, etc then I think I would spend about 4 days in Tuscany for every 1 I spent in the Healdsburg area - and I love Healdsburg. There are more small roads to wander around in by car (and walk also) in Tuscany, than in the Wine Country.
Stu Dudley
If you also want to visit the Napa Valley area and/or head to the coast, then 4 days would be OK. If you want to spend hours at many wineries, then that could occupy 4 days also. If you want to spend 1 day by the pool - then 4 days is fine.
In Tuscany, if you eliminate Lucca, Florence, Siena, Orvieto (Umbria), and about 30 small villages like Montepulciano, Pienza, etc then I think I would spend about 4 days in Tuscany for every 1 I spent in the Healdsburg area - and I love Healdsburg. There are more small roads to wander around in by car (and walk also) in Tuscany, than in the Wine Country.
Stu Dudley
Dec 26th, 2007, 01:29 PM
#4
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,857
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi CC...
If possible do try to make your 4 nights here during the week-we are busy year round, but summer weekends can be quite crowded. I think 4 nights would be fine
if all you include is a drive over to Napa county for a day, a visit down south to Sonoma town and surrounding areas and possible a visit out west of Healdsburg via Hwy 116 and a tour of the redwooods at the Armstrong Preserve and a brief visit out to the coast and of course a quick day around the Healdsburg area. You could even add a night or two out at the coast if you want to begin to explore the National Seashore at Pt. Reyes. I could easily fill 8 days around here, yet I am terribly biased because I live in Sonoma county.
R5
If possible do try to make your 4 nights here during the week-we are busy year round, but summer weekends can be quite crowded. I think 4 nights would be fine
if all you include is a drive over to Napa county for a day, a visit down south to Sonoma town and surrounding areas and possible a visit out west of Healdsburg via Hwy 116 and a tour of the redwooods at the Armstrong Preserve and a brief visit out to the coast and of course a quick day around the Healdsburg area. You could even add a night or two out at the coast if you want to begin to explore the National Seashore at Pt. Reyes. I could easily fill 8 days around here, yet I am terribly biased because I live in Sonoma county.
R5
Dec 26th, 2007, 06:59 PM
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you Stu, as always...and everyone else! That clarifies my thinking and reassures me that our plans are on track! And yes, our four nights are during the week so hopefully that will be a good choice for us.
thanks again!
cheers,
CC
thanks again!
cheers,
CC
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
DiAnne_Garza
United States
4
Jul 30th, 2011 09:13 AM
