Hi Everyone,
My husband and I are planning on taking a week in Wine Country this June for our 20th anniversary. Here's the dilemma. Shall we drive (up from Burbank, CA) or fly? I'm thinking that if we want to buy any wine, it would need to be shipped if we fly since you're not allowed any liquids in carry-on luggage. Unless anyone knows of a way around that. My husband wants to fly to somewhere near the area and rent a car & drive from there. San Jose, or San Francisco. He says that the drive up will go quickly but the drive home will seem very looooong. Thoughts?

Starting soon you can fly into Santa Rosa. You should check that option out.

If you are going to fly into OAK, SJC, or SFO then you are not going to save a lot of time (maybe 2 hours) by flying when you account for getting to airport early, baggage, etc. But it may be more relaxing than driving...I guess it just depends on you.

There are several ways to pack wine in your checked luggage if you don't plan on buying a bunch of bottles.

Awhile back there was a story in the SJ Mercury News about whether it was quicker to drive or fly from SJ to the LA area. Of course the flight is only 45 minutes or something, but by the time you figure in the amount of time you have to be at the airport before your flight and the amount of time to deplane and leave the airport, it turns out to be pretty much a wash. The drive there and back will be long and boring, but it wont really take any more time than flying - which is not much fun anyway - LOL.

If I wanted to bring back wine, I'd definitely drive and avoid the whole liquids-on-planes issue.

Yes, that will be Alaska Airlines (Horizon) into Santa Rosa nonstop from LAX. Don't remember the starting date.

If you fly, consider using Sacramento, whose airport, out of the city, means no built up areas or congestion between it and Napa.

We just drove from San Diego to Napa and back last week and it was fine--about 8 to 8.5 hours each way. You will want a car in Wine Country either way, so the car rental cost and time it takes to get the car should also factor into your decision. We like being able to drive our own car, buy lots of wine and just heave it in the trunk. The main traffic area we encounter is in LA, so by only having to drive to Burbank, you'll miss the heavy stuff. Have fun!

Fly. Starting March 11 you can fly from LAX directly in to Santa Rosa (STS) on Alaska/Horizon Air. Rent a car at the airport up here and your good to go.

R5

It takes me 6 hours (or 6 1/2 with rest stops) from Napa to Santa Monica driving on I-5.
If you fly, I recommend flying into Sacramento. It is an easy airport; drive to Napa is 1 hour 10 minutes.
Wine can easily be shipped, but also the wineries are used to packaging it for the plane.

Thanks, everyone. I think to avoid the whole liquids on a plane issue, we'll drive. I'm thinking of stopping at the Tickle Pink Inn on the way up. Has anyone stayed there before? Is it nice?

After all these years, it's arguably still one of the best hotels in Carmel. Stayed there for our 25th aniversary. Great service & magnificent views of the coastline from your room.