Tubulus

Hello Fodorites..
It seems like sonoma is the consensus most convenient place to stay for access to a lot of wine area. We have 3 days in wine country - our plan is to eat a lot, go to Di Rosa, ride in a hot air balloon, maybe rent bikes, and go to a couple wineries each day. The cottage inn looks great and the off-season prices are within the budget. However 2 of our 3 dinner reservations are in Yountville (Ad Hoc and Bouchon) so wondering how long the drive is from Sonoma to Yountville. I know driving times in this area can be much longer than google maps claims... How much would a cab run to bring us to and from Yountville if we want to have a heavier wine night?

In Mendocino, we are staying 3 nights at the Andiron - has anyone stayed here? It seems rustic but still "nice." Want to be sure that it is MANY steps up from camping.
We would like to do some kayaking on the coast in Mendocino - have seen 2 different companies - Liquid Fusion and Kayak Mendocino - any recommendation between the two? Also, where is the best place to spend an afternoon doing some easy hiking in the redwoods?

Lastly - does this itinerary look doable/ideal?
Thursday- late flight into SFO, sleep at airport hotel
Friday- Drive up the coast (route 1?) Stop at pt reyes on the way to eat some cheese and walk around, light hiking, etc. Arrive Mendocino
Saturday and Sunday - full days around Mendocino - kayak, redwoods, breweries, relaxation (any spa recommendation?)
Monday - Drive down 101, stop in 1 or 2 tasting rooms in Healdsburg area. Arrive hotel in Sonoma or Yountville
Tuesday, Wednesday - wine, food, art, etc
thursday - Drive back to SFO and go home.

Thanks very much

razzledazzle

Well, where to begin...
You mention "off-season rates"-what time of year
will you be here ? I ask because our
rainy season begins around Halloween
and goes on into late April, sometimes May.

Not so fun for driving at times.

It will take you 4 1/2-5 hours to drive up Hwy 1
to Mendocino without stopping. We never do that
from Sonoma County even, so many places to stop.
Fabulous place to dine up in Elk -Quennie's Roadhouse Cafe,
but they only do breakfast and lunch-
so perhaps on your way back.

Consider making rezzies NOW for dining at La Petite Rive
in Little River at the Inn at Schoolhouse Creek, about
3 miles south of Mendocino.
http://www.lapetiterive.com/

On Monday you will need to take Hwy 1 South to Hwy 138
to get to Hwy 101 and into Healdsburg thsi will take you about 2 hours. There are many terrific wineries
along Hwy 138-do a google for the Anderson Valley.
For Healdsburg look at www.wineroad.com

I prefer Sonoma to Napa,obviously because I live here,
but I truly have to advise you not to do the 30-45
minute drive between Sonoma town and Yountville
after drinking and in the rain. Never, ever.
It is a 2 lane, winding country road and the CHP
is out in force. Call CA Taxicab at 707-645-1000
as they service the town of Sonoma and Yountville,
St. Helena, and some other Napa CO towns -
or stay in Yountville.

I guess only you can decide if your itinerary is doable.
It's a lot of driving, and again there's the rain.
Don't let that stop you from visiting. Just plan for it.

R5

Kailani

Looks fun to me. There is an interesting (and weird) town on the way back from Mendocino to 101 called Boonville. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boonville,_California

It is one of the few places in the US with its own language, Boontling. There are good breweries in the Anderson Valley. http://www.avbc.com/

sf7307

I'm so glad you posted razzle. I was going to say that about driving from Yountville to Sonoma, but having done it only once myself (I was driving because the people I was with had had a few too many), it is NO FUN. I wonder how much a taxi costs between the two.

janisj

I third that -- I would definitely avoid the drive from Sonoma to Yountville and back (and especially back after a great dinner/wine).

If you are planning two evenings in Yountville - you should stay near there.

Also your drive from SFO to Mendocino w/ all those stops will be loooong.

How late do you land? I ask because if it is before maybe 9-9:30 PM -- I'd collect a car and drive to somewhere in Marin County. Otherwise you'll have to fight hellacious Bay area traffic all the way from SFO then next morning. If you can get SF and the bridge behind you that evening you'll be at least an 90 minutes ahead of things the next day.

Tubulus

Thanks for all the quick replies. We're landing at around 10 or 11 (ie 1-2am east coast time) so there's no way we'll be awake enough to drive anyway. We will be there first week of November - I was under the impression the rainy season won't really have begun yet - is that wrong? I hadn't thought about the fact we'll be driving right through SFO in the morning - is there any way to get around the traffic, maybe some sort of commuter rail to get us across the city and we could pick up a car further north?
Last - any idea

razzledazzle

...is there any way to get around the traffic, maybe some sort of commuter rail to get us across the city and we could pick up a car further north?

From your lips to God's ears ! Our infrastructure in the North Bay is pretty wanting..

Anywho...
You could consider a cab from your airport hotel into Sausalito in the AM-there's a Hertz rental car on Bridgeway.
but you will probably pay a hefty fee for picking up at one location and dropping off at another.

You could also catch a cab when you land and take it over the GG Bridge and stay at the Larkspur Hotel Mill Valley
http://www.larkspurhotels.com/larksp...modations.html
This was a very nice Holiday Inn Express and has been newly minted as part of the Larkspur chain.
The location is not to be beat ! You are right on Richardson Bay and on Hwy 1 near the exit you would be taking if driving yourself over the bridge. You could have the Sausalito Hertz even pick you up at the hotel.
Again you would have to weigh the costs of the cab and possible different drop off locations.

Stay tuned and we'll keep you posted about the rain.

R5

janisj

If it fits in your budget razzledazzle's suggestion would be great. Take a cab from SFO to the Larkspur hotel for the night and only drive from there the next morning.

OR - I know it will be late, but it is only about 25 miles and late at night driving from SFO to Mill Valley would only take maybe 30 minutes.

sf7307

I drive into San Francisco from a town just south of SFO every day during commute hours. Would it be better to avoid it? Sure. But it is not a big deal- we're not talking anything like the Beltway or the Long Island Expressway.

hazel1

We don't usually have too much rain early in November, and sometimes none at all. But I still think you should reconsiser either your dinner reservations or your accomodations to avoid the Sonoma-Yountville drive. It's dark and windy and not fun, even if it's not raining. As for your drive through the City on Friday morning, if you left at 10:00 AM, the commute slog will be done, altho there's always traffic, and you'd get to Point Reyes by 12:30 or 1:00 for lunch.

yestravel

Was in Mendocino earlier this month and had a not so great massage at Sweetwater Gardens. However, it obviously would depend upon who you get as your masseuse. U can do a soak in a tub b4 which is nice.

Ate at the restaurant recommended by razzledazzle, Le Petit Rive. It was a good meal. They have 2 seatings, one at 5:30 and the other at 8. They clear all of the 1st seating patrons before beginning to seat the 2nd seating. We didn't get seated until maybe 8:45 and served our first course close to 9:30. They did offer champagne to all of the customers while we waited to be seated. The food was good and the owner was genuinely trying to make a great dining experience. We ate another night at Cafe Beaujolais which has been in Mendocino forever and had a meal far superior to Le Petit Rive. They have a bakery where u can pick up some really delicious bread.

As already mentioned the drive up Rte 1 to Mendocino while beautiful does take a long time easily 5 hours esp if u get trapped behind a very slow moving car.

Have a great trip -- it's a beautiful area.