Brian_in_Charlotte

Flying into SFO late afternoon (after long flight day) for a week-long wine country trip. Would like to stop for the night somewhere convenient to Muir Woods so we can see them in the morning prior to continuing on to wine country. Looking for a place where we can have a nice dinner and place to sleep. Not interested in staying in the city. What town/location would you suggest? Thanks in advance.

mycatmiko

I just hiked in Muir Woods on Sunday. I live in Sacramento and it's one of my favorite daytrips.

Try Mountain Home Inn for an upscale place with a restaurant
http://www.mtnhomeinn.com/home.html

or for cheaper motels/B&B's nearby, try Stinson Beach. Small beach community that's not far from Muir Woods
http://www.stinsonbeachonline.com/

Honoria_Glossop

Mountain Home is perfect. Honoria

bluestar

There's a Holiday Inn Express in Mill Valley which would position you well for an early outing to Muir Woods.

If you stay in Mill Valley, El Paseo on Throckmorton Ave. is a very good/romantic place to have dinner...it's French (but has a Spanish name).

CaliNurse

Just down the road (a few minutes tops)from Muir Woods ... Pelican Inn. I've had dinner, but not stayed there. It's an English style pub (I think the owner's parents ran a pub in UK?) Bedrooms upstairs. There's a web site for it .

sequoia370

Mountain Home Inn is perfect, it is just above Muir Woods, in fact, there is trail down to Muir Woods just across the street from Mountain Home. It's 1000 feet down, over a mile, steep but the trail is good, with wooden steps, also there is a paved road down to a group campsite. You could hike down after dark if you're a bit adventurous.

The Pelican Inn is another good choice, also a trail, flat this time, but farther from Muir Woods. About 2 or 3 miles, and you need to know where to go or you'll end up climbing the ridge between Muir Woods and the ocean.

The Holiday Inn Express is not as close to Muir, but close to the 101 freeway and right on the way to Muir, if you're getting there after dark you would not have to drive the winding roads beyond.

All of these are within a few miles, but once you get off the freeway, the road becomes quite winding, passing through residential areas, not at all a wilderness, but fairly steep and winding with some 15 mph curves here and there.

I would choose Mtn. Home Inn, you'd have views of Muir Woods canyon, you're right above it, and you could even hike down to Muir in the morning without having to drive there if you can deal with the steepness--I've done it many times, not staying at Mtn. Home, but driving to the small parking areas just across the road. It's really not much of a hike but as I've said, it is steep. You will also have views of the top of Mt. Tamalpais, Muir Woods is at the bottom of the mountain, in a deep canyon on the south flank. Mtn. Home is on a ridge 1000 feet above the canyon. On the other side of the canyon is the Ocean ridge, which you might end up on hiking from the Pelican Inn. Stinson Beach is on the north-western side of the mountain at the ocean, there are trails up over the ocean ridge and down into Muir from there as well.

There are no big redwoods at any of these locations, not as if you're back in the forest among the trees.

Brian_in_Charlotte

Thanks for all the responses. Unfortunately, we're arriving on a Sat and I'm finding most of the suggested hotels require a 2-night stay.

The HI Express does not, but it's $190/night. As we're arriving around dinner time and will get up early in the morning to head out, would rather not spend that much.

Any opinions on the Travelodge or the America's Best Value Inn? Don't need fancy, but don't want to stay anywhere sketchy either. Thanks.

starrsville

What about the Courtyard by Marriott in Larkspur or the Days Inn in San Rafael?

janisj

Most Marin area hotels (if they are any good) will require 2 nights on weekends.

You know what I'd do (and only because you are going north on a Sunday) -- I'd priceline a hotel at SFO. You can get 4 star places for $35-$45. Then you can drive up to Muir Woods on Sunday morning w/ essentially no traffic. Sat night stays at SFO go even cheaper than other nights.

If you are not too tired, you can take BART into San Francisco for Sat afternoon/evening.

starrsville

You can get the highly reviewed Courtyard in Larkspur (5 miles from Muir Woods according to Google) for $113 on the Saturday night I checked.

Brian_in_Charlotte

The Courtyard does look like a good option (thanks), but I'm starting to warm to janisj's suggestion.

We haven't been to San Francisco since BART came all the way out to the airport. How easy/fast is it to get into the city for dinner? Thanks again.

razzledazzle

Brian-
If you are going to spend the week up in the wine country, I'd skip the Muir Woods. Head on up here Saturday night and plan a very special visit to the Armstrong Woods State Reserve near the Russian River appellation.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=450

All respect to janis, it just sounds nicer than spending the night at SFO.

R5

Brian_in_Charlotte

Part of the sales job I did on my wife to book this trip was the promise that she'd get to see some really big trees. She's a big fan of trees, and while we have a lot around here, we don't have anything like you have out there.

So if Armstrong Woods will give us as much wow factor (in regards to huge trees) as Muir Woods, I'm happy to switch. Not sure why I got hung up on Muir Woods. Thanks.

razzledazzle

Brian-
I think you'll get your WOW and without the crowds. Portions of the drive on Hwy 116 West are lined with Coastal Redwoods as well.

If you want some more WOW ! continue along Hwy 116 out to Jenner & the Pacific. A right turn on to Hwy 1 will take you through the tiny hamlet of Jenner,
then observe on your left a restaurant
called River's End. A spectacular view here of the confluence of the Russian River & Pacific. Great dining if you are hungry.
http://www.ilovesunsets.com

I live here and I still say "WOW !"lol !
What time of year will you be here ?

R5

Brian_in_Charlotte

Sounds like a plan. Mid May of next year. Tenatively planning on 4 nights in Sonoma (use as base for Sonama Valley and Napa) and 3 nights Healdsburg, unless you'd recommend otherwise. Thanks.

kleroux

Armstrong woods is for sure more of a WOW than Muir woods...less touristy too. I'd check out www.HealdsburgRentals.com since they list/book places that do not require several night's stay. Healdsburg is about 2 hrs from SFO...unless its Friday rush hour. If you are 2 you can use the diamond lane where it exists to go a little faster.

razzledazzle

Brian-
For your consideration:
If you have 4 nights in Sonoma town, you'll prob spend about 2 days exploring around town and in the Valley of the Moon (Kenwood-Glen Ellen) and 2 days over in Napa Valley-of which the drive over to Napa will be 30-45 minutes each way depending how far "Up Valley" you chooses to go.
I have a special fondness for Calistoga
and do try to do your driving on the Silverado Trail as making a left turn off of Hwy 29 can, at time, be a real pain.

You could also use Yountville or Napa town as a base for Napa Valley, just a thought-yet, you would still be driving to-from Sonoma.

Then, I think it's wise to transfer up to Healdsburg to explore the RR area, Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys.

If you want to have a woods-beach-explore day you might want to toy with the plan of 3 days Sonoma town (or Yountville) and 4 days Healdsburg.
I am unapologetic about my love and preference for Sonoma County


R5