My husband and I are landing in San Fran on a Tuesday morning and driving to Healdsburg for a one-night stay, driving the next day to Mendocino for a one night stay and driving Thursday of that week to Fortuna for a wedding in the Redwoods. I'd like advice on a good wine tour road trip from both San Fran to Healdsburg and Healdsburg to Mendocino as well as any suggested spots to hit for a leisurely drive on Sunday from Fortuna back to San Fran down Highway 1. We have already reserved hotels in both Healdsburg and Mendocino (Camellia Inn and Alegria Inn) as well as the Albion River Inn in Mendocino for a seaside dinner, but if anyone has good ideas for lunch spots at any point of our travel and dinner in Healdsburg area that would be great.

Maggie: You will love the Albion River Inn - one of my all-time favorite places to eat - wonderful food in a beautiful setting.

But you can't drive all the way from Fortuna to S.F. on Highway 1. The road goes inland just north of Fort Bragg and comes out at Leggett where you will be on Highway 101 for some time.

The area that is not covered by Highway 1 is known as "The Lost Coast."

Right, but for the part we can drive down hw 1 we will- just wondering what is worth seeing on the way back since we will have more time to enjoy it.

Maggie: From Healdsburg to Mendocino, go north on Hwy. 101 and take the first Ukiah turnoff which will lead you to the road to Boonville and the Anderson Valley.

Going through the Anderson Valley and out to the coast (there are several ways but not complicated) is a great wine tour road trip. There are many wineries as well as some great gourmet food stops along the way. Check out the Sunset magazine website - they did a fairly recent article on this trip.

Coming back to S.F., if you get back on the coast at Fort Bragg, you will head my way (Gualala) where Oceansong (adjacent to the Breakers Inn) is very nice for lunch and has a great view of the ocean/Gualala River. There is an outdoor deck which is wonderful on days like today (it is hot for Gualala right now!) A little farther south, The Sea Ranch Lodge is also good for lunch. About an hour after The Sea Ranch is Jenner, at the mouth of the Russian River, where the River's End, a European-style restaurant, always gets rave reviews.

Razzledazzle and some others ought to have some good suggestions on Healdsburg for you. I don't get there too often and can only recommend the Oakville Grocery, a gourmet market/deli off the square.

Have fun!

Here's a link to some of the wineries in the area and routes: http://www.wineroad.com/maps/