First trip SF ,Carmel,Sonoma 6nights
 

This will be a first trip to CA.Trying to decide on a hotel.Three nights in SF.The views from the Argent sound great but expensive. The Orchard and Archbishop Mansion also sound good. Not sure about views.Any comments? In the wine country,we plan on staying two nights. Not sure which town to choose as a base,St.Helena,Napa,orYountville.The Harvest Inn, Vintage Inn,Or Milliken Inn(expensive)any ideas?

This will be our 2nd trip to CA (first was to San Fran in '91). We are going for 6 nights in mid July: the first 2 in Guerneville (Ridenhour Ranch House) to see the wine country. Then we spend the next 2 nights in downtown SF - got a great rate on Priceline of $56 for the SF Downtown Marriott. Then the last 2 nights at the Monterey Hilton also through Priceline for $50 per night. It sounds like our trips are almost identical. We chose our wine country town because we liked the idea of being right by the Russian River and a little off the beaten path. From other posts, it sounds like it's best to see the wine country in the middle of the week. I am really looking forward to some fog and cooler temps. We live in sunny FL.

i think your initial plan leaves too little time from monterey/carmel/big sur--i woud give that area at least 2 of your 6 days. It's only a 2-2 1/2 hour drive back to the sf airport, non-rush hour. I think both the hilton adn the Hyatt in Monterey offer great rates on the internet a lot.

Sunny Florida: We live in the Monterey Peninsula area. Be prepared for some cool weather. Summer is not the sunny time for this area. We love it, butr many people are surprised at the cool when they arrive in July.

I am craving the cool temps.