California wine country with our daughter
Jun 30th, 2009, 02:22 PM
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California wine country with our daughter
We are planning an 8-day trip (our first trip to California) at the end of July - my husband, myself, and our 18-year-old daughter. We would like to see San Francisco, Carmel area and Napa/Sonoma area. My husband and I would love to tour some wineries but I don't know whether that would be a complete waste for our daughter. Does anyone take their kids on these tours? Is there more to do than just taste wine? Are there other things we could do in the Napa region? Our daughter starts at university at the end of August so this may be our last "family" vacation. We want to enjoy an especially good time with her before she leaves home. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Jun 30th, 2009, 02:29 PM
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mefreen, it would be a complete waste for MY children, but not knowing your daughter and her interests, it's hard to say. What does she like to do -- shop (not so great), hike (maybe), eat (absolutely), look at natural scenery (definitely), history (not so much), etc.
Jun 30th, 2009, 03:10 PM
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Hi,
My kids, who were appx 13 and 16 at the time, really enjoyed the visits. The Benzinger Vineyard has a great educational tour of the operations and their biodynamic farming. Chateau St. Jean has a very pretty garden and atmosphere. I think if you just hit a couple, and don't spend hours at each, she'd be fine. Congratulations on her start at the University!
My kids, who were appx 13 and 16 at the time, really enjoyed the visits. The Benzinger Vineyard has a great educational tour of the operations and their biodynamic farming. Chateau St. Jean has a very pretty garden and atmosphere. I think if you just hit a couple, and don't spend hours at each, she'd be fine. Congratulations on her start at the University!
Jun 30th, 2009, 04:13 PM
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Yes, kids of all ages go with their parents on winery tours (tasting though is 21 and over). Winery tours that show you the process of how wines are produced are fascinating to almost anyone of any age. Although I would recommend doing only one unless someone is a serious wine-making aficionado.
There is not much else of interest to an 18 year old in the wine country, so I would concentrate your time in San Francisco and Carmel. She will love both. You might even want to skip the Napa area and just visit one of the many fine wineries in the Carmel area to reduce your road driving time.
There is not much else of interest to an 18 year old in the wine country, so I would concentrate your time in San Francisco and Carmel. She will love both. You might even want to skip the Napa area and just visit one of the many fine wineries in the Carmel area to reduce your road driving time.
Jul 1st, 2009, 05:40 AM
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PS. We did the Sonoma trip as a day trip out of San Francisco. It worked out very well. The scenery there is so pretty.
Also, when in SF, be sure to make an appointment/reservation for Alcatraz, and be sure to rent the headsets. A fun, easy, historical fiction novel (actually for middle readers, but interesting for adults, too!) is "Al Capone Does My Shirts" set on the island in the '30s, about the families of guards who lived on this island.
Have fun!
Also, when in SF, be sure to make an appointment/reservation for Alcatraz, and be sure to rent the headsets. A fun, easy, historical fiction novel (actually for middle readers, but interesting for adults, too!) is "Al Capone Does My Shirts" set on the island in the '30s, about the families of guards who lived on this island.
Have fun!
Jul 1st, 2009, 08:25 AM
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Thanks so much for all the suggestions everyone. I will definitely look up Benzinger and Chateau St Jean vineyards websites - they both look worthwhile. From what you have all said, I'm sure our daughter will enjoy a winery tour. And yes I will make a reservation for Alcatraz. It is not something I thought I would be interested in but so many people say it is worth seeing, so why not? And thanks, PamSF, for the tip about Avedon. All of us would love that (and our daughter is an art/interior design major, so she will especially enjoy it). Thanks again. Can't wait to get there!
