Calling Stu Dudley - San Francisco to Healdsburg help
 

Hi Stu Dudley
(and if others have any comments, please chime in. Thanks!)

We will be leaving from 5 Embarcadero Center this coming Sunday morning (May 1) and heading for Healdsburg. I'm hoping to stop at Muir Beach, Muir Woods, Point Reyes Station (Cowgirl Creamery, Palace Market, Bovine Bakery, etc), Petaluma (would like to stop at McEvoy Ranch but don't think they have an event this Sunday, & maybe the Lagunitas Brewery) landing in Healdsburg sometime for our stay there that evening. We really enjoy local food, local markets, cheese shops, and of course wine.

I've read your other posts with great interest and will be taking them with me. Thank you.

I am writing to see if you have any recommendations for a route out of San Francisco given any construction or road closures that may be happening in and around the city and any other suggestions for stops of interest on our way to Healdsburg.

Also, we will be returning to 5 Embarcadero Center on FRIDAY, May 6 likely sometime by mid-afternoon coming from the Sonoma (town) area. Any suggestions for a route back into San Francisco as well as an easy to get to gas station or our way back in so that we will have a full tank when returning the rental.

Any thoughts or comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much!!

Suggestions -

1) skip Petaluma, and go north from Point Reyes Station to Marshall --- have oysters at the Marshall Store, then continue north toward Sebastopol, then Santa Rosa, then Healdsburg.

2) if it's a beautiful day, and you hike at all, go up to the Pantoll Station at Mt. Tamalpais, hike toward the Mountain Theatre (if you're interested, I'll give you the specific route we took). The hike is beautiful and the views on the return are downright spectacular (even to me, and I've lived in the area nearly 40 years). We took a very short hike -- about 3 miles -- it took about 1-1/2 hours.

3) Where are you returning the car? If you're returning it in the Embarcadero Center area, you have a few choices along Lombard Street once you get back into the city (assuming you're coming in via the Golden Gate Bridge).

Hey,sf, I LIKE Petaluma !
:)

So,I'll be bold and tell you to skip the Muir Woods
and come up here and see the Armstrong Woods-
much less crowded and no tour buses.
Head north on 101 to Sir Francis Drake to head out to Pt Reyes
or keep going until you reach the Lakeville Hwy exit
in Petaluma-head west on Lakeville to D street, turn left
and head over the Petaluma River bridge to old downtown
Petaluma with it's charming shops and eateries.

Afterward, continue west out of town on D street and you will
come to McEvoy Ranch. They might let you in for a brief visit.
Continue out D street until you come to Sir Francis Drake Rd.-
(this is a beautiful drive, btw)
turn right and this will take you to Hwy 1 and Olema another right here and you will be in Pt. Reyes Station.

After your visit to Pt. Reyes continue up Hwy 1 to Marshall
for a visit to either the Marshall Store OR Nick's Cove
(my fave)
www.nickscove.com
Continue north on Hwy 1 until it intersects with
the Valley Ford rd.-turn left and head out to Bodega Bay.
A fun place to wine taste in Bodega Bay is
Gourmet Au Bay
http://www.gourmetaubay.com/

Passing through Bodega Bay head up to Jenner,but you may want to consider a walk on one of the Salmon Creek State beaches
just north of Bodega Bay. Just south of Jenner, Hwy 1 intersects with Hwy 116-take this right and you will travel
alongside the Russian River driving through magnificent
stands of old growth Redwoods-another in a series of beautiful drives !

When you reach Guerneville, Hwy 1 will be Main Street
take a left onto Armstrong Woods Rd and head a mile
our so to the redwood grove. Hint: Park outside
the park in the fenced lot by the Park headquarters
and walk in as it's really the best way to experience
the trees.

After your visit to the redwoods, continue east
on Guernevlle Rd. until you reach Mirabel Rd.where you
turn left, at River Rd. turn right and look for the next left which is Wohler Rd. You will cross a small bridge
over Mark west Creek. Continue on Wohler rd.until you come to
a fork with Eastside Rd.-fork left on Wohler and you will come
to the splendid, one-way Wohler Bridge which will carry you over the Russian River. Turn right after you cross the
bridge on to Westside Rd and be prepared for a charming
drive through vineyards, lots of wineries and eventually into Healdsburg. Good maps of the area here-
www.wineroad.com

Happy Travels !

R5

RD, I'm going to take that trip -- next good weather day (actually, we thought about going through Petaluma, but ran out of time).

Oh, sf, you will love it !
Be sure to wave when you pass by !

R5

We just returned from a 2 1/2 week trip through the southwest US.

I think razzle & sf answered many of your questions. However, on the return to the City, don't miss what I consider to be the best views in the bay area - from Conzelman Ave in the GGNRA just before you get onto the Golden Gate Bridge. See my long post for details. However, once you get to the "top" of the hill and get out of the car to wander in the area - continue on the small one-way road down the hill for more fantastic views and explore more of the GGNRA. Get an AAA map of Sausalito to follow this route. Views are best in the afternoon & early evening.

There is a Valero gas station on Lombard. It is located on the south/right had side of the road just as Richardson Ave ends and turns slightly left onto Lombard. There is a stop light there.

Stu Dudley

Alas, Nick's Cove is closed due to financial problems. In February, it was reported in the Point Reyes Light that it had sold to a "chain."

Sorry wm, but you are wrong-Nick's cove is NOT closed
I just called them ! And the "chain" that MAY purchase them
is a group of restaurants & hotels that also own
Solage in Calistoga, REDD in Yountville, and El dorado Kitchen
in Sonoma.

R5

razzledazzle - How far from S.F. is Armstrong Redwoods? And the wine drive you are talking about - (sorry if I am sounding ignorant here but have just started planning our trip) is that in the Sonoma Valley?

yellowrose-
Armstrong Woods is about 1.5-2 hrs from SF via Hwy 101
during non-commute hours. There is on-going road construction
starting just north of Petlauma at the Cotati Grade
that continues until the Santa Rosa Ave exit. The construction
zone speed is 55mph, so traffic always slogs a bit through here.

If you venture north via Hwy 1 or the drive I detailed
above, it could easily be 2.5 hrs + depending on what stops
you make before the Armstrong Woods.

I'm not sure what you mean by "wine drive."
If you are referring to the wineroad.com
website-all of the areas on that website-the Russian River, Alexander, & Dry Creek Valleys,are up near Healdsburg.
A good 45 mins to an hour north of Sonoma Valley.

R5