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-   -   California Wine Country with kids, help! (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/california-wine-country-with-kids-help-896681/)

chriskd Jun 27th, 2011 05:51 PM

California Wine Country with kids, help!
 
As part of our road trip,Seattle to San Francisco with our 3 daughters 21,14 and 11, we will be passing through the wine country, wanted to stay 2 nights, having trouble finding family friendly hotels(would love an inn or b&b), possible recommendations and any ideas on activities in the area, any kid friendly wineries, music in the area on August 21-22? Any interesting farms or olive gardens? Suggestions please!!

mztery Jun 27th, 2011 06:23 PM

there are wineries with picnic areas but none are what I owuld call "kid friendly" esp as for some you have to be 21 to even enter the tasting rooms. So your youngest may be very bored.

when you say "wine country" where are you thinking? Sonoma? Napa? Healdsburg?That would help for recommendations. Price point?

MichelleY Jun 27th, 2011 07:35 PM

Best Western Dry Creek Inn is right off 101 in Healdsburg. No atmosphere, but should fit your needs. Inns/B&B may be difficult to find for a group w/ kids. You may also want to look at VRBO for a rental for a few days.

CaptCanuck Jun 28th, 2011 12:51 PM

I think you would be able to find something, but the price point for nicer places in Wine Country is steep in general, so keep that in mind as you are searching. Perhaps look at towns like Healdsburg for accommodation which is in a great location.

There are certainly some family friendly stops. Check out the Access guide for California Wine Country as it is quite well organized for areas of interest, including parks, interesting attractions, etc. It would be a good place to look for accommodation as well.

I know Francis Ford Coppola's new winery includes a pool for family, so that would certainly be family friendly! Sterling Vineyards involves going up a tram to the winery which could be interesting as well..but check out the guide for more ideas.

cheers,
CC

Suzie Jun 28th, 2011 01:01 PM

You may be interested in Safari West. Pretty amazing place:
http://www.safariwest.com/

The wine country also has a geyser:

http://www.oldfaithfulgeyser.com/visiting.html

You might want to take a tour of the castle winery Castello de Amorosa

http://www.castellodiamorosa.com/

Sterling Winery has a tram you can take to the winery.

Go to the petrified forest:

http://www.petrifiedforest.org/

willowjane Jun 28th, 2011 02:55 PM

Milat vineyards has two rooms- right on the vinyard and family run. They are great to work with and the rooms were simple, nice and clean. Go to their website and check them out. Very inexpensive. I am not sure what price range you are looking for. We have also stayed in the Ambrose Bierce bed and breakfast and really enjoyed that experience.
http://www.ambrosebiercehouse.com/

OCdogsmom Jun 29th, 2011 09:36 PM

We just returned from a stay at the Wine Country Hilton. It is in Santa Rosa, but an easy drive to Healdsburg and Napa And Sonoma wineries. The hotel has a nice pool a d large rooms. V Sattui winery had a great area for eating and some crazy good BBQ items. There was a lot of families picnicking there. I agree that tyerecare plenty of non wine activities there. Healdsburg was a great town to walk around. Have fun...


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