Colette

Hi...I'm working on my middle of Aug, week-long SF/coast/wine country itinerary. I've gotten tons of info from all of you, but I'm still not sure about a couple of things. We've booked 2 nites @ the Sebastopol Inn..(anybody stayed there recently?)That will be our base for doing the coast, hiking, redwoods, etc. We then are booked for 4 nights at a B&B in Healdsburg. But we also want to do Napa. I'm thinking I'll need more "action/variety" than what 4 nights in Healdsburg has to offer..at least that's my "take" on what I've gathered from the posts on this board. But....we don't want to be doing tons of driving. How bad is the drive btwn Hldsbrg & the Yountville/St. Helena area? I'm wondering if maybe I should cancel 2 of the Healdsburg nights and book 2 nights in Y-ville/StHelena? If someone could tell me that the drive between those areas is fairly quick and easy, I'd keep all 4 nites in Healdsburg. And if there's
a quick and ez route, what is it? We're not huge winery people, so it's not like we have specific wineries in each county that we MUST do.... altho we'd like to do a couple, and we'd like to explore new areas, do some shops, eat and drink, etc. We know we want to eat @ the AubergeduSoleil in R-ford, but do we want to be driving back over mountains at 9/10pm? Any feedback would be appreciated! P.S. Several posts mentioned re-routing in Santa Rosa due to construction in the city.....is that still a reality?

elnap29

I think it is about an hour's drive from Healdsburg to St. Helena. It is a beautiful drive, but the highway is 2-lane and narrow/windy in spots. People drive it all the time, but if you plan on drinking more than a glass of wine with dinner, you probably should have a designated driver OR change your reservations to stay in Napa Valley for those days. Your trip sounds GREAT!
By the way, we live in Napa Valley and have done it both ways. I much prefer to stay nearer the activities/restaurants rather than have the long drive - if possible.

MichelleY

Dear Colette:

Hum, 4 nights in Healdsburg may be too much, but it depends if you like to settle in and do day trips, or move again. Mapquest shows the route to St. Helena going back thru Windsor to Mark Springs Road. Very curvy and this would be very scary at night. Locals advised me to go the Alexander Valley Road over to Hwy. 128 down into the Napa Valley.
Less curvy and you avoid Santa Rosa.

Good luck and please do a trip report when you return.

MY

Otis_B_Driftwood

Healdsburg is not that much further from the coast than Sebastopol. If I were you, I'd keep the Healdsburg reservation and switch Sebastapol to the Napa Valley. In August, it's a crapshoot if you will have decent weather on the coast so I wouldn't depend on spending a lot of time there.

And, if the coast is a priority, you might be better spending two or three nights in thne Mendocino area instead. Mendocino usually has somewhat better weather in August and it has more to offer in my opinion.

Colette

Thank you elnap and Michelle....I think I'll do Healdsburg for 2, Napa for 2, and thx to Otis, I'm cancelling Sebastopol and doing Mendocino instead 'cus the coast is an important part of our trip. (wow, this is changing my whole "plan"....but I'm excited about it!) thank you for your thoughts!

socialworker

You did not mention where in Healdsburg you are staying. We just came back last week from our second (fabulous!) stay at the Madrona Manor. I cannot recommend it highly enough. They also give a 10% AAA discount if your stay is on Sun-Thurs.

BTW, I heartily agree with those who advised not trying to do Healdsburg-Napa at night. Your revised plan sounds good.

Colette

Hi socialworker! thx for your input....we've got a res @ the Camellia Inn for a couple of nites.....I did read a lot of nice stuff about the MMnr.....and am now working on a "budget" place in the Napa area....(can't remember why I bypassed the MM...but think I'll stay with the Camellia). Since you just came back from Hldsbrg.....are there any "can't miss" things to see do or eat? Thanks also for re-confirming the "no night drive" between the 2 counties!

kleroux

We live in Hbg and have driven back home from Napa at night. The road is not that bad coming over Mark West Springs, but one can always go slightly north through the Alexander Valley. But you should do what is comfortable for you. I hope you've scheduled a walk through Armstrong Woods State Park in Guerneville while you are here. Its really beautiful. The drive from Hbg to Bodega Bay is about 45-60 minutes. Then you can swing back in to Sebastapol and Santa Rosa and back north to Hbg. Lots to do around here. Enjoy!!

socialworker

I am not sure of what you like, but we had two fabulous splurge meals and two very good, less expensive but still not cheap (~100/2 w/tax, tip and one glass of wine each).

The splurges--close to $400 each---were tasting menus w/wine pairings. We ate at the Madrona Manor both last year and again this year and the other splurge was Cyrus, last year. They are both superb and, IMO, vary mainly in ambiance.

At MM we ate on the veranda of the victorian mansion surrounded by unbelievably lush gardens. At Cyrus, we were in a super-sophisticated, but still very relaxing and hospitable, very modern, almost minimalist, but still elegant dining room. Sorry for my wordy descriptions but I am trying to capture the feel for you.

Our more modest--but not cheap--meals were both at Willi's (both last year and this year) which a lot of people on this board enjoy. Their food is both delicious and creative. It is a tapas style of ordering, small plates(~$9-$14) that can be ordered a few at a time. I like that b/c it stretches out the meal. We ate outdoors, b/c as New Englanders we crave outdoor dining. However, the interior of the place is lively and attractive.

A lot of people like Charcuterie, but when we looked into it, the entrees ran around 25-28 dollars and would have lacked the wonderful variety that Willi's offered. I have to say that we liked Willi's even more this year than last. However the full name is Willi's Seafood, so it helps if you like fish.

For wineries, we like Everett Ridge very much, just up the road from Madrona Manor. Amazing setting and gorgeous views from their tasting room and the outdoor seating area, where one could bring a picnic if desired. Dry Creek was also a really nice winery and had some very entertaining staff the day we were there.

We tend to spend chunks of time on the wonderful private deck that we had in our room at Madrona Manor and so we use the trip for R&R as well as for going to wineries and to tour.

Colette

Thank you so much.....so I've changed my itin.......2 nights in Mendocino (thank you Otis!)@ the Packard Inn (looks very cool), then 2 nights @ the Camellia Inn in Healdsburg, and then 2 nights @ the RailwayInn in Yountville. Last night in SF, then back home......thank you all.....and thank you socialworker for your detailed dining descriptions. (I love details). Willi's sounds like a MUST.....I don't think our budget can handle $400 meals....more like $150...but we LOVE to eat....so I'm thinking maybe we could hit some of these places for lunch rather than dinner???? and yes kleroux, we are definitely planning on doing Armstrong Woods.....Thanks again!

socialworker

You are very welcome, Colette. Both Madrona Manor and Cyrus can be done for a lot less. We had the full tasting menu w/wine pairings---the whole enchilada, to mix metaphors! I suggest looking at each of their websites to see if you can experience them for something closer to your budget range.