As this is our first trip into the Sonoma Valley I am not familiar with the distance from town to town. I can get a great rate at the Sheraton Sonoma County in Petaluma but don't know what the distance to wineries in the Russion River Valley, etc. are. Would it be more convenient to stay at Bodega Bay Lodge and Spa? The dates we are looking at would be September 25-27 a Thursday, Friday and Saturday night stay. Thanks in advance for your replys!

wait til razzle dazzle hears this!

I wouldn't stay in Petaluma if I want to experience the wine country. I'd stay at Healdsburg, Sonoma or the Napa towns.

If you want the ocean view experience, you can stay at the coastal towns like Bodega Bay, Mendocino, etc.

Keep in mind that the wine country for the most part is more inland, although there are some wineries near the coast.

If you must stay at the Bodega Bay Lodge for the ocean views, you can visit the wineries near there. But to visit the rest of the wine country, specifically Napa and Sonoma, you'll have to drive some distance.

So you have to decide what's more important to you in terms of lodging--stay at the coast or be in the heart of the wine country.

Watch out for the birds whilst in Bodega Bay!!

I second the recommendation for Healdsburg. I posted earlier but who knows where it ended up! Previous posters have stayed at Bodega and loved the place. It is still a bit of a schlep to the wineries.

I think that Petaluma is actually quite pleasant. For better or worse, chicken ranching has been replaced by yuppie suburbia, and the town is loaded with antique shops, nice places to eat, etc. However, I agree with the others that it's not really a wine country experience.

Laugh if you will, PamSf, this is even a dilemma for me! (LOL). Here we go...
The Sheraton Petaluma is GorgeouS! (You have seen their website? You have seen a sample menu from Jellyfish?)Right on the marina and the river next to a wetland sanctuary with easy access to Sonoma goodies via Hwy 101/116 (to Healdsburg-Russian River/Sebastopol/Alexander & Dry Creek Valleys)OR 116 (in the other direction)
and 29 and the ElDorado Trail for the
Napa thing. So I LIKE (putting it mildly)
Petaluma. And Elsevier cracks me up with her were all about chickens things-it's our heritage (read:the past),but KT's response is much more current EXCEPT for not being a wine country experience-NEWSFLASH***NEWSFLASH***Lordy, Vineyards to the Left of me, vineyards to the Right of me.Plenty-o
vineyards all over 'da place and yes dairy farms with cows, but they are all over the wine country as well.
And restaurants and bistros and umbrellas's on the deck at the Girl and the Fig on the river. We even have places that sell wine! And spas and aromatherapy and specialty deli's.

BUT**BUT***BUT*** HealdsburG is lovely too, you will still have to drive a ways to Napa Valley-but it's all BE-A-U-TI-FUL!
and do look at www.wineroad.com for Healdsburg info. DO NOT FORGET to ask PAMSF about Healdsburg details and dining (Read:Insider Info). AND VERY
IMPORTANT this time of year, if you've got a great rate anywhere here,dear,
(Read:In 2 weeks on the {almost}-weekend ?
during the MOST and BESTEST time of the year-I'd take it-would you like a customized map to go with that?
Bodega Bay Lodge and Spa is lovely-
I agree with PamSF that you will face
lots more driving-if you had more days it would be a neat place to unwind, walk on the beach, after all that wine
tasting the spa would be manifique!
Just my experience, Let us know what you do-you have such a delicious
dilemma!
R5

You must tel me about the "wildcat" handle-is it a school thing?
R5

Pam and razzle dazzle helped me with my Healdsburg itinerary also. Thanks guys!

what happened to the chicken post? R5..my original comment was in reference to the chicken man..Geez, I do hope this is not about censorship!

i used to live in santa rosa and loved the whole area. i think you should stay in both towns. they are not too far apart at all and the drive to bodega bay from petaluma is lovely. oh, i sure do miss sonoma county!! i hope you have a great time.

PamSF, Please repost about the chicken man-I never heard that one. With so many entities running for gov'nr I don't see how anything about CA could get censored! Now, I expect to hear from you!
R5