Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > United States
Reload this Page >

I am turning 60 and boy do I need help with my trip!

I am turning 60 and boy do I need help with my trip!

Old Oct 29th, 2014, 01:17 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I am turning 60 and boy do I need help with my trip!

You all were such a great help when we were planning a trip to the San Francisco area 2 years ago. Unfortunately we had to cancel that trip. We are now planning on coming to celebrate my monumental birthday (60). As a gift to me my husband made us dinner reservations in Yountville. In planning our last trip we had 8 days to explore but we will be arriving on December 16th and departing on December 21st. AND we need to be in Yountville on December 18th. My questions are, should we plan on staying in Napa for any length of time? Are the winery’s open at this time of year? I have seen mention hired cars for the trip to Napa. Would it be better to stay in San Francisco and hire a driver for the blessed event? We have many plans of things to do in SF and look forward to being there at this time of year. The last trip we planned we were going to go to Big Sur and other areas so one of my questions is, is this a good time of year to go to those areas? My husband suggested 2 nights in Napa and 3 nights in SF. I would rather see different areas and stay 2 nights in other areas if it would be worth it. Of course we will ditch the car in SF since public transportation seems to be the way to go. Any suggestions and itineraries would be appreciated. I do not want to cancel this trip again but I just cannot help being born a week before Christmas!
Thank you.
tapper2 is offline  
Old Oct 29th, 2014, 01:44 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 26,243
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What do you mean you would rather see other areas -- do you mean in addition to Napa and San Francisco? You don't have time for 3 different locations on this trip. I think your husband's plan is a good one.

and Happy Birthday!
sf7307 is offline  
Old Oct 29th, 2014, 01:59 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,548
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
Carmel/Big Sur are wonderful . . . But you simply don't have time for anything else.

You have a set dinner smack dab in the middle of your time so the way I see it you really can't do 3 nights SF and 2 nights Napa area. You arrive on the 16th but dinner isn't til the 18th. so that would mean 2 nights in SF, 2 nights in Napa area, 1 night back in SF. That doesn't make sense to me.

I'd go up to he Yountville/St Helena area immediately after landing at SFO, stay 3 nights, morning of the 19th head down to SF, ditch the car and stay the 19th/20th in SF.

(Unless you can change your dinner booking so it doesn't cut your stay in half. If you could move the reservation up or back one night . . . then you could manage 3 nights in SF)
janisj is online now  
Old Oct 29th, 2014, 08:05 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Is dinner at FL your only reason for going to Yountville? Come to Carmel and eat at Aubergine instead

http://www.chuckeats.com/2012/08/13/...og-of-the-sea/
Patty is offline  
Old Oct 30th, 2014, 07:13 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 13,479
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
What time do you arrive on the 16th and what time do you dpart on the 21st?
clarkgriswold is offline  
Old Oct 30th, 2014, 12:31 PM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
10:00 am on the 16th and not sure about the 21st but probably around noon.
tapper2 is offline  
Old Oct 30th, 2014, 01:10 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
As I see it, you have two options:

--go straight to Sonoma/Napa from the airport in a rental car and stay there until the morning of the 19th, spend the rest of your time in SF.

--stay in SF the whole time, hire a car to take you to some wine tasting on the 18th and dinner and then back to SF. Rent a car for a day to drive up and down the coast from the city.

The timing of that dinner on the 18th is really a drag. Moving it to the beginning of your trip would be ideal. Then you could go straight to wine country, stay two nights, have the dinner and return to SF for the remaining nights.
NewbE is offline  
Old Oct 31st, 2014, 07:07 AM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Great news! It was easier to work with the airline than the restaurant and now we will be arriving on the 15th and departing on the 20th. I am so excited.....will this give us extra time to maybe do some of the coast? Is there enough to do in Napa to keep us busy. We are not big drinkers. I would still love suggestions.
Thanks to all!
tapper2 is offline  
Old Oct 31st, 2014, 08:23 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Contemporary Art? One of the best collections at Donald Hess Winery (think Morris Louis, Frank Stella, Robert Motherwell).

Shopping and Art Galleries? Healdsburg -- great little town; town square; nice to stroll around.

Dining? Just too many options. The B.E.S.T. homemade, made-to-order Mozarella at Tra Vigne in St. Helena. I consider that a MUST. Boon Fly Cafe in Napa for breakfast = homemade mini donuts.

St. Helena -- cute shops and great places to taste olive oils (nice for gifts, especially my favorite -- Blood Orange).

There is also Dean and Deluca for any kind of take out, or gifts (chocolate covered Biscotti); the Oakville grocery store, the Culinary Institute of America -- fun for lunch; student chefs.

Happy Birthday; have fun.
JBass1 is offline  
Old Oct 31st, 2014, 08:49 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 26,243
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Whether there's enough to do in Napa depends on what you want to do and when you go. You could just arrive in time for you dinner on the 18th and then stay up there for the 19th. Depending on what time your flight is on the 20th, you could stay in San Francisco or at the airport on the night of the 19th (theoretically, you could also stay in Napa and drive back to the airport the morning of your flight).

I like the idea of staying in San francisco the whole time and just taking a day trip to Napa (including your birthday dinner). Alternatively (I like Napa well enough, but can't say I'm huge fan of days on end there), I'd stay in San Francisco the nights of the 15th, 16th and 17th, stay in Yountville the night of the 18th, and stay in San Francisco or at the airport the night of the 19th. I wouldn't leave San Francisco except maybe for a close-in trip to Sausalito, or Berkeley for the first 3 days. On my day in Napa, I'd probably go to one winery (I don't know why I say that, I haven't been to one in 30+ years) and then wander around St. Helena (I love Healdsburg, but it sounds like you'll be closer to Yountville?)before heading back to San Francisco.
sf7307 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jhk3rd
United States
8
Jan 23rd, 2015 05:01 AM
eblenwife
United States
18
Jun 10th, 2013 04:36 PM
kphillip9
United States
6
Jun 28th, 2004 12:24 PM
karebear4567
United States
5
Apr 15th, 2003 09:36 AM
Paul
United States
16
Jan 18th, 2003 02:34 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -