melis_d

My husband and I are headed to Sonoma for 3-4 days before going to Napa for a July 5th wedding. We'd love suggestions on:

a) Where to stay: we were thinking somewhere in Healdsburg to get away from the crowds. Any ideas toward the lower end of the Sonoma price range (recognizing that this is $150-$200 / night in the summer)?
b) Where to eat
c) Do-not-miss vineyards or other things to see and do in Sonoma

Thanks in advance for the advice!

fly61

Don't miss Benzinger vineyards in Sonoma, or Carneros. Great tastings rooms in both. While in Sonoma you should visit the Hess Collection, the painting collection owned by the Hess Vineyards. If you're into painting and modern art, you'll like this. Look it u[ on a search engine. They have a web site. Also, you might want to take a trip to Bodega Bay, though it is very quiet and there's not much to do except eat at the famous Tides Restaurant and watch the seagulls dive-bomb the seals in the harbor. I happen to love it. The Point Reyes lighthouse is also nice.

PamSF

My recommendation for a place in Healdsburg is always the Camellia Inn. This is a b&b about three blocks from the town square. It is a charming place with a pool. We stayed there around the same time you are talking about(as well as many others) and the room charge was about $185. The owner is a wine maker himself so can give you lots of tips about the various wineries. Our favorite place to eat is "Ravenous" in downtown Healdsburg. It's in a small house, has really good food and is loved by locals. We also like Santi in Geyserville. Make reservations however for any place you decide to eat at that time of year. Tips for touring include a drive through the Alexander Valley. You will find many wineries along the way. I'm a big fan of zin and the russian river pinots so my recommednations areeghesio, Sapphire Hill and Merry Edwards. Check out the websites for Sapphire Hill and Merry Edwards as I think they only have tasting rooms now. There are also many wineries to visit out Dry Creek Rd. You can also check out the Travel Lodge or Best Western which are outside of Healdsburg and will run perhaps slightly less than $150 but I would say you will miss out on the charm that is Healdsburg. We have also stayed in the Geyserville Inn which will also run less than $150 and has a pool. This is a small rather charming "motel" like place in downtown Geyserville. Remember Geyserville is small and you will have to drive everywhere. If you stay in Healdsburg you will also have to drive to the wineries but can walk around town. Do check out the Camellia Inn's website. It will be great weather when you are here.

PamSF

One other suggestion which is more for the Napa side of your trip if you are staying in Healdsburg. The De Rosa Preserve is amazing collection of modern art(from the Bay Area) housed in three of four galleries on a beautiful piece of land in Sonoma. You need to make reservations, it's docent led and the tour takes about 2 hours. The "fee" is around $10/person. You can also drive there from Healdsburg however I think it will take you an hour or so. They should have a website. We have been several times and then have lunch at Don Giovanni on Hwy 29 in Napa. It makes for a great day.

SFImporter

I'd second the Hess Collection. Great art!

I'd also reccomend Jack London State Park (http://www.parks.sonoma.net/JLPark.html). You can visit the Jack London Museum in the House of Happy Walls, hike up (a short moderate hike) to Jack London's gravesite, and check out the Wolf House (Jack London's dream home that took years to build and burned down just days before the London's were set to move in.

There are also some great historic sites that deal with General Vallejo and California's Mexican and Spanish history.

Suzie

Healdsburg is about an hours drive from the town of Sonoma. As suggested above, Benzinger is a great winery. Beautiful grounds. Also between Healdsburg and Sonoma are Kunde, Kenwood, Cheateau St. Jean, B R Cohn which also has olive oil tasting. Near Healdsburg: F. Teldeschi Winery
Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery, Foppiano Vineyards.

In Sonoma we had a great experience at Ravenswood. They have some really great Zins which I thought I didn't like but now I do!!!

In Healdsburg near the square is a brew pub (so don't try to order a Budweiser like I did!) called California Beer. Very fun place.

Craig

We stayed at a place called Sonoma Chalet (www.sonomachalet.com) in July 2000. It is a small, charming b&b on 3-1/2 acres almost right in the town of Sonoma. We stayed in "Sara's Cottage" which is $195/nt on weekdays and the most expensive choice. The other cottages and the rooms in the main house are less expensive.

raven76

Healdsburg is a wonderful place! We stayed at the Grape Leaf Inn (www.grapeleafinn.com) The B&B was the best place we've ever stayed - friendly innkeepers, beautiful and comfortable B&B, great breakfasts... and they also have nightly wine tastings in their own cellar.
If that wasn't enough, I found the whole area where we went wine tasting (Dry Creek Valley - with the innkeepers recommendations) extremely friendly - as well as wonderful wines! While in the area, stop by the Dry Creek General Store to pick up a sandwich so you may have a picnic in one of the surrounding vineyards.
Favorite Dry Creek Wineries; Petrocelli, Pezzi King, Dry Creek Vineyard; Ravenswood in Sonoma has been my favorite Zinfindel Winery until I visted this area! We only had one day to go one tasting and I fell in love with his area!
I've heard good things about Ravenous but we made reservations at the Madrona Manor - which was wonderful. Pricey - but we went with a 5 & 7 course tasting menu.
In Sonoma Valley:
Benzinger is a don't miss (as already mentioned above). Definitely visit a champagne winery - tours are very different from regular wine tours. The Cellar Door, a place that host tastings for smaller wineries was a great visit.

LLindaC

My eyes are watering thinking about it! We also stayed at Camellia Inn last April and loved it. Healdsburg is my favorite small town. You can walk to everything! They have a couple nice tasting rooms in town as well as some excellent restaurants. We liked heading north up to Geyserville area. Do NOT miss talking to Cynthia at Meeker. A quirky winery that makes the best "big reds" you've ever tasted. Pack a lunch and head up to gorgeous Lake Sonoma- don't miss the overlook. Lake Sonoma Winery has a big deck overlooking the valley that's also great for a picnic.A second to Foppiano and Ferrari-Carano's spectacular gardens.