Dukey

Arriving around 9:30 AM on a Thursday, renting from hertz and immediately driving to Sonoma (have maps, a GPS, and directions).

Departing about 10:00 AM the following Monday morning (JetBlue) after staying overnight at the nearby Marriott Courtyard.

Have never flown in and out of this airport before (as opposed to SFO)..anything "bad" i shouold anticipate like contruction, delays that always happen, etc.?

Thanks.

starrs

It's a great alternative to SFO. Small and easy in and out.

Dukey

Starrs,

Thanks for the reply and yes, that's what I was thinking, too.

We would normally have flown into SFO and in fact had FF tickets originally but after USAirways decided we needed to have two stops in between on both the outbound and inbound I re-deposited and spent the money for JetBlue tickets (a first for us). These days i try to avoid any changes if at all possible.

Again, thanks for the reply.

starrs

If I'm driving out and away I MUCH prefer Oakland. It is so much smaller, easier to navigate and you'll be in wine country in a jiffy.

When the west coast folks wake up you'll have more info. I'd eat dinner elsewhere before driving back to the Courtyard. Enjoy the trip. I brought back olive oil from Sonoma in March and have really enjoyed using it.

I don't know where you plan to go or how long you are in the area but we really enjoyed a morning at the Jack London SP a few years ago -
http://www.parks.sonoma.net/JLPark.html

We also enjoyed a drive up to Lake Sonoma last month. Felt like we were on top of the world for a bit. Took some really pretty pics.

Dukey

We are traveling out to attend my partner's niece's wedding on Saturday, 31 May to be held in one of the local wineries. Other than that and the accompanying gaggle of relatives and so forth we have left things open so I APPRECIATE the suggestions and hadn't thought of olive oil but my neighbor who uses it often would adore a gift of some so will definitely remember that, too.

starrs

Dry Creek Olive Oil Co.
I wish I had bought more.

A friend and I met at the Oakland airport to play for a few days before a SF conference. I booked the Jack London lodge in Glen Ellen to have a low cost hotel option. We fell in love with the little town and the area. The SP is not visited very often, but we love books and we loved learning more about Jack London and seeing the land and home that he loved.

I try to mix wineries with "other stuff" and there is so much to choose from in the area. Have a great trip!

dmlove

If you do decide to go back to Oakland in time for dinner the night before your flight, very close to the airport is an old-fashioned and very popular Italian restaurant named "Francesco's". It's really very good.

Shanghainese

2nd Francesco's, must have been there fo 25 years.

You could drive west to the Sonoma coast and take in the great scenery along Highway 1, Fort Ross is a lovely state park with lots of history.