My husband are going big and have booked 6 nights at the Auberge as our home base for a week getaway to Northern California's wine country. We were initially planning on a backroads bike trip to the region but decided we would prefer a less regimented vacation with more flexibilty to pick and choose where and when we'd like to eat and bike, and my husband is not one for one night hotel stays, he prefers to choose one base from which to day trip from.

We were looking for a destination where we could be somewhat active, hiking and road biking a bit, in between relaxing at a beautfiul luxury hotel, in an area where we would be guaranteed good food. I was hoping to show him the California coastal redwoods and possibly get to Bodega Bay, but since we chose the Napa Valley to base ourselves I am not sure if that is realistic for just a day trip.

We both enjoy a nice glass of wine, (perfer Pinots or light reds and dry whites, and on occasion a sparkling wine ) with lunch and dinner but we are planning to limit the wine tasting tours and not have that as our focus for this trip. We are definitley foodies and prefer Italian and mediterrian fare to French bistro, fish and veggies over meat, lamb over beef, chicken over duck, and grilled over fried foods.

With all that said after researching this trip on Fodors, and Chowhound forums , I was looking for some feed back to some of the thoughts I had on dinner reservations and pre booking food and wine pairings and olive oil tastings. Also looking for top 5 hiking trails and road bike loops either in the Napa or Sonoma Valleys, in terms of scenic and roads less traveled.

So far I have booked only 3 dinners and will leave 3 nights open to ad lib. Our travel dates are April 10-16 and we will be flying in and out of Sacremento, here goes it;

Arriving Sunday afternoon so first night have a res at Auberge on the patio for dinner

Mon no plans during the day may try for a local hike or bike ride weather dependant and a local wine tasting with a lunch break in Calistoga,7 pm dinner res at Botegga

Tues thinking if weather permits doing self guided bike ride through Napa Valley Bike Co leaning towards their Sonoma shop with the lunch by Girl and the Fig delivered to a local vineyard for us to meet up at for a picnic. No dinner plan that night

Wed If weather permits and the response on the forum is favorable was thinking about a road trip to the Armstrong Redwoods with a picnic lunch in tow and maybe hitting Healdsburg for a pit stop and wine tasting on the square before heading back to the hotel or continuing on to Bodega Bay and having an early seafood dinner there before heading back to Napa Valley. Not sure if this is over ambitious or makes any sense at all. Back up plan was wine tasting in the Russian River Valley wanted to hit Hartford and Martinelli for their Pinots. I have Bouchard res that eve at 7: 15 but after looking at the menu online not sure this is for us and thinking about a change of venue maybe even the bistro at our hotel that eve, or Cook or LMR in St Helena or Scopa in Heladsburg

Thurs is open so far and was thinking maybe bike ride in Napa in the morning and I'm considering a tasting at Schramsberg or Chateau Montelena, maybe a lite bite at lunch spot in St Helena or Calistoga. We have a dinner res at 7pm at Mustards

Fri I am debating about a booking the Sinskey tour with farm to table lunch pairing from 1-2;30 and or the Round Pound Olive Oil and vinegar pairing @ 3:30pm.

All that said I am totally open to critique and other suggestions from those who have more inside info and local knowledge.

Sounds like a great time!

For a lite bite and bike riding in St Helena we usually stop at Gott's Roadside Refresher.

We usually start our bike ride from our base in Yountville and criss-cross "Cross roads" then wind up at Gott's then head back to Y'ville.

Maybe drive to the Anderson or Russian River Valley and bike there. Nice un-Napa wineries, etc.

Will add Gott's to my light bite list.

Was looking at driving thru Calistoga to Healdsburg with bikes in tow and then biking the Russian River Valley region as my wine sales girlfriend suggested Martinelli, Hartford Court , and Macphail for pinots.

As far as the Napa wine tasting options was thinking about the Cave tour and tasting at Schramsberg one afternoon and at some point Sinskey for their Pinots. Trying to decide if I want to go for their Vineyard Kitchen 95$ pp Full circle tour and 3 course pairing as a lunch option on our last Friday thought that might help minimize getting caught in local and weekend traffice our last day, it would also give us time to enjoy what looks like a special place in the world our hotel the Auberge du Soleil for happy hour and sunset, and grabbing a light bite ala carte at their bistro cafe.

The Armstrong Redwoods would work in nicely with a ride on the Westside Road or Eastside Road of the Russian River. Then have dinner in Healdsburg.

http://www.russianrivertravel.com/wi...stsideroad.htm

Thanks Michelle that sounds perfect! Open to dinner recommendations in Heladsburg keep hearing about Scopa but have read some mixed reviews. Cafe Lucia sounded good and different from the rest.

Anyone have a favorite brick oven pizza spot ? Bistro Don Giovani in Napa, and Pizzeria Tra Vigne in St Helena look pretty delish online!

We like both Redd Wood's and Ciccio's pies. Both are in Yountville.

Your trip sounds amazing!! We thought you would also enjoy the link below to help you PLAN YOUR NAPA AND SONOMA VACATION

http://www.fodors.com/world/north-am...apa-and-sonoma

Safe Travels!