jeepyland

We are a family of 4, taking the kids (ages 4 and 7) to SF and environs for (their) first time. I have finally figured out where I want to go, checked hotel availability, etc. and am almost done. But a few questions remain!

The itinerary:

Spend a few days in SF. Then:

One night at Motel Inverness, explore Pt. Reyes
Two nights at Cottages on the River in Guerneville, explore Armstrong
One night at Safari West in Santa Rosa, perhaps hit Petrified Forest, Old Faithful, and/or the children's museum.

And then I wanted to stay at Indian Springs in Calistoga before returning to SF for a few more days. However, they do not allow check in on a Saturday so I need to find another stop and then go to Calistoga on a Sunday. Where oh where should I go? Add another day to Santa Rosa and stay elsewhere, not in a tent? Stay in Calistoga for 2 days? Or is there another town we ought to overnight in? I have been to Healdsburg before so preferably not there. We are OK with "off the beaten path" suggestions.

Thank you so much!

MichelleY

With a 4 and 7 year old, I would skip Calistoga.

sf7307

Me too. In fact, with a 64 year old (me) I would skip Calistoga.

jeepyland

Well, that certainly makes things easier. I thought the kids would enjoy the enormous heated pools but I don't mind skipping it. In any event, how do you guys feel about 2 nights in Santa Rosa? Sounds like there is a lot of kid-friendly stuff there.

Thanks so much!

sf7307

Pools could be fun I guess. I was referring to the town, which I don't find nearly as appealing as Healdsburg.

newtome

Keep in mind as I responded I don't have young children so take this for what you well if it's helpful.

I'm not sure what you imagine your kids would enjoy about point Reyes. I know sacrilege right? But point Reyes is all about hiking, walking, hanging out on the beach which is not warm enough to swim matter what the season. If your kids would enjoy that, that's great. There are small shops and places to eat etc. but whenever we go up there I don't see a lot of tourist families with kids, mostly locals.

The Calistoga issue is similar. Well most of the hotels have hot pools, they're not really set up for kids, and in fact Indian Springs is not particularly set up well for children of any age . In fact there are some locations in Calistoga where the pools are not open on the weekends for children of any age, because they're meant to relax and rejuvenate for adults.
I think Santa Rosa is a much better option, as would even be Sonoma, as the kids could feed the ducks in a small pond there, picnic in the main square, or get some ice cream.

leslieq

Throwing in an alternative idea: when my kids were that age, I took them to Monterey area (we live 30 minutes from San Francisco) and went by ourselves to hike in Point Reyes. I agree with the others above that there's not much for kids in Calistoga. Safari West does sound like fun; we've never done that.

Monterey (and Santa Cruz, too) would be a much better choice for the ages of your kids (unless the actually like to hike!). Santa Cruz has the Boardwalk, a beach that's warm, kid-friendly restaurants. Monterey has the aquarium and a number of other activities.

If you're not locked in, I would head to Santa Cruz and Monterey rather than to Calistoga and Santa Rosa. Sure, you could stay at a motel with a pool and the kids would enjoy that, but wonder why you'd travel a long distance (assuming you are) to do that when you could do that anywhere.

Just my opinion...but have fun whatever you do! Kids have a way of having fun anywhere at those ages so maybe not to worry.

ieattofu

As someone who spends as much of my time in Pt. Reyes as I can, I think you will find no shortage of fun things for your kids to enjoy there! Even if all you did was go to the Bear Valley Visitors Center and look around, your kids would see plenty of interesting things.

We love going up to Calistoga and St. Helena for the spa treatments and window shopping, but there are certainly other fun things to do there. I'm assuming by your itinerary that your kids enjoy nature and wildlife. You guys could drive the Silverado Trail and stop and take a walk or rent bicycles and ride alongside the vineyards.

St. Helena has this picturesque little public park called Lyman Park. It has a lovely gazebo in the middle. I have fond childhood memories of my family having a picnic in that gazebo. I think there might be a playground in that park, but the park itself is woodsy and so quaint.

There is also Bolinas, which such a darling beach town. There are shops and several beaches. You guys could fly a kite on the beach with the kids or build sand castles!

Have you considered Bodega Bay or Mendocino? Both such beautiful places.

Marin County is a very family-oriented place and has so much to see. There is a lighthouse at the Marin Headlands and a bunch of old military barracks that the kids can climb all over. Sorry, I don't have any kids, but I'm trying to think of things that adventurous, nature-loving kids might enjoy!

Well, I hope you guys have a great trip visiting the Bay Area!

jeepyland

Thanks so much, everyone! We want to stick with the plan of heading north because a) I loved it up there (although that was farther north) and b) they will love the nature, the trees, the openness. I know the Monterey Aquarium is impressive but we've been to aquariums before and I don't know that they will appreciate the difference. Instead, I'd like to show them something new - dramatic beaches, redwood trees, hiking trails, stars at night, a remote landscape, etc. A restaurant here and there that will tolerate kids will do. Of course, a great meal will be appreciated by the adults but I don't have high hopes in that department when we travel with the kids.

Sounds like we ought to skip Calistoga, and that sounds fine to me. Instead (and stop me if this sounds like a bad idea!), we'll spend 2 nights in Santa Rosa, one at Safari West and the other at a more traditional hotel.