Hi everyone,

We are traveling with another couple and their 1 yr old to California from mid October to the beginning of December and planning to start off in Napa and then go from there to San Fransisco and then on to Carmel, Big Sur and Los Angeles.

We're planning on staying in Napa for a week and any recommendations on restaurants where we can bring our babies and still enjoy great food and wine would be great. Should we do lunches instead of dinners? Can we visit places like The French Laundry for lunch or will it simply be too much with the babies? We are planning to rent a house for a week, any recommendations on which area to choose?

As for San Fransisco where should we stay? We'd like to stay for a couple of days.

In Big Sur we're thinking about staying at Glen Oaks?

Carmel would be just for a day or two. Ideas on hotels and restaurants?

And then there's LA, we're thinking we'll rent a house and have been looking into Silver Lake. Thoughts? Any other areas we should consider?

Also, is there anything else we simply should not miss? Yosemite?

Thanks so much!

"Can we visit places like The French Laundry for lunch or will it simply be too much with the babies? "

Why don't you email them and ask? Maybe it will be too much for the others in the dining room who don't want to her your baby cooing or crying.

For, the French Laundry, I doubt you'll be able to get reservations that quickly, as they book up quickly.

Plan on about $200 pp plus wine.

I would suggest you also look at Terra in st. Helena, or the Bistro Jeanty.
There is an outdoors seating at Bistro Jeanty, and the weather should still be good.

I love babies, have a sweet granddaughter too. I would be a very unhappy patron if I were having any meal at French Laundry and there were 2 one year old babies anywhere near me.in Sorry, you need to be realistic on this one. I'd imagine that in your humble opinion, both babies are really good and well behaved. But this is not a typical environment for them, they are traveling, etc etc and while they might be fine at home, not so under these circumstances. And what about you - will you be a wreck worrying that the babies might cry etc? That will impact YOUR meal.

Save the high end, Michelin starred restaurants till you can go alone. There are plenty of nice restaurants that are available with nice views and great food where you will be welcomed and where you can have a lovely meal.

We went to a few places in the Sonoma Valley that were totally baby friendly, especially earlier in the dinner service: Diavola in Geyserville; Zazu in Santa Rosa; Lagunitas Brewery (outdoor beer garden) in Petaluma; the outdoor table at Scopa in Healdsburg; Mateo's, also in Healdsburg. Sorry, I don't have any recent experience with dining in the Napa Valley. We saw lots of picnickers at the various wineries in Napa at lunchtime, and there are many places to pick up a picnic lunch, or just buy one at the winery.

I think a week in Napa and only two days in SF seems lopsided, but you must have a reason for that plan--perhaps you're already familiar with the city.

NewbE - none of thosse places are in the Sonoma Valley.

Thanks all! Ok, French Laundry is out unless we get a babysitter

You're right, Rasta, I should have said Sonoma County--I think of them interchangeably when they are not.

In San Francisco, you might consider the Marriott on 4th that is often referred to as the "jukebox." I think they call it the Marriott Marquis. It has a reasonably large pool on the top floor. Pack a swim diaper and baby float vest and it may be your babies' favorite activity of the trip. There is also a hot tub, so you could do what we have been doing for years--one parent is in the pool with the kids, and the other in the hot tub, now switch! The hot tub is nice after walking the hills of San Francisco.

Yosemite is quite a drive from the Bay Area given the age of your young ones. I think you'd be far happier doing something closer to the city, such as Muir Woods or Golden Gate Park.

If you are going to Carmel, I would take the young ones to the Monterey Aquarium. One of my son's first loves was watching our fish tank at home. And Monterey is a particularly impressive aquarium.

Our family of six, plus babysitter just back from a stay in Kenwood, about 20 minutes from Sonoma. We rented a house on a road just inside the entrance to Chateau St. Jean Winery. My grandchildren are 2, 5 and 7 years of age. The house has a pool, basketball court, bocce court and is on five acres of fruit trees, set up like a Tuscan country house (I know, leave it to my daughter!) below are the activities my daughter had lined up for us all focussed around the boys and the places/restaurants we felt comfortable taking them.

The Girl and The Fig in downtown Sonoma. We sat in the bar area at the only long table which gave us privacy and allowed everyone else in the restaurant to enjoy their lunch sans children.

After a tour of Mrs, Grossman's Sticker Factory in Petaluma we had lunch at Ruby Kai - a Chinese restaurant in the strip mall on the corner where as we turned for Mrs, Grossman's. Reasonably priced, family style with delicious food.

Tuesday night is Market Night in the square in downtown Sonoma. Lots of food stalls, wine stalls, entertainment and very family oriented.

Napa Valley Wine Train - I took the 5 and 7 year old for the three hour lunch tour across the valley. Gourmet food with dessert served in a different coach, wine tasting car, outside observation deck, at rear of train. Not cheap, but lots of kids on board and an international group the day we went. Pasta offered to the boys although they ordered the steak and salmon entries (they're no dummies). Hot chocolate served to them with sorbet for my ice cream eater and creme brûlée for the other. I had the bourbon brownie. Mmm.

Rutherford Hill Winery - stopped to pick up picnic supplies at Oakville Grocer after crossing over on Trinity Road (not for sissies, that drive). With a wine tasting (we shared two between myself, daughter and son-in-law) and purchase of a bottle, their picnic ground facility is available. Reservation needed.

El Milagro Central, fabulous, quirky Mexican food on the main Sonoma Highway into town - walk in, place your order, then walk through the kitchen to outdoor picnic tables. Fabulous food, good for families. Yummy fresh watermelon lemonade, strawberry lemonade or cucumber basil lemonade on any given day, as well as Mexican beer choices. We had dinner there twice and it did not disappoint.

Sonoma County Fair - we happened to have our week there when this was on. Typical rides, food stalls, music, lots of fun for the whole family.

Two of the nights we went out to dinner sans children, babysitter happily ensconced with them. Across Trinity Road to Yountville, we enjoyed Ad Hoc one night and Bouchon the next, both Thomas Keller restaurants. French Laundry too hard to reserve and a major budget buster. Ad Hoc has a set three course meal for about $50. Bouchon is a la carte. Both meals were stellar. We saw children in Ad Hoc, Bouchon not at all the place for them.

Castello de Amaroso winery just what it sounds like. Moat/drawbridge entry. The boys were entranced. We did a wine tasting in a room just off the main room, with a long table available for the boys. Coloring supplies were offered (of course, we always bring our own sack of goodies to keep them busy during any waiting time) as well as the winery's muscat non alcoholic grape juice. They were kept occupied while we did our wine tasting. Entry fee for everyone includes the wine tasting.

We had breakfast every day at the house, went out for morning activities with the boys and returned to swim/nap in the afternoon, then out later for dinner. It was a great week of wonderful end of July weather, with a full roster of family fun for all of us.

Hope this gives you some ideas of the many choices available for all ages in the Napa/Sonoma region.

That's an impressive itinerary, travelchat!! I'll be sure to try the El Milagro Central the next time I'm down there!

Why Napa? Sonoma county is so much better. I'd check out www.VRBO.com . vacation rentals by owner and find a place that says its child friendly. If you can't find a sitter, then skip the high end restaurants. It won't be fun for you or for other diners.

Restaurants in Carmel - Aubergine if you can get a sitter, La Balena or Basil if you can't. The latter two have heated patios if you like sitting outside. At La Balena, ask for the back garden patio. Definitely make reservations.

Travelchat, I'm likewise impressed with your itinerary

Kleroux, we ended up renting a house in Sonoma County!

5alive, thank you for advising against Yosemite, I believe you're right. We'll definitely go to the aquarium!

Patty and NewbE thank you, we'll check out those restaurants.

Another question - where do you get a babysitter that's reliable?

Thanks again everyone!

re; babysitter.....ask the person you rented the house from. I occasionally baby sit for our guest's kids, but if I can't I suggest people I know.