Ideas for the Russian River Valley
 

We'll be staying at the Applewood Inn for three days toward the end of the month. Any recommendations for dinner/lunch? Favorite wineries in the area? Scenic hikes? We'll also drive down through Sonoma on our way back to the airport. Thanks!

Visit Armstrong Redwoods State Park, take a picnic, enjoy walking the pleasant trails.

Well, BarbaraJ, you'll be in a great location here, and about 30 mins or less to many places to explore.

Head west out to the coast at Jenner and dine at Rivers End-check for seasonal hours-www.ilovesunsets.com. Head south 10 minutes to Portuguese Beach and take a stroll. Another 5 min will put you in to the town of Bodega Bay-the Seaweed Cafe is the place to eat here.

For another adventure from Applewood, head out on the Bohemina Hwy for a very scenic drive
to Occidental. Have a family style Italian meal at the Union Hotel
or for a taste of Provence head to
Bistro Des Copains.
For a wonderful spa experience, continue a few minutes from Occidental
in to Freestone to the Osmosis Spa
www.osmosis.com
Down the road from the Bistro is the
tiny burg of Graton which boasts 2
very good restaurants-the Underwood Bistro, and across the street, the WillowWood Market.

Of course Healdsburg is to the north
with it's a pleathora of dining, shopping and tasting rooms around the square. Cyrus is excellent for a $$$$
experience. My favorites are Willi's,
Ravenous, Zin & Manzanita. Head up in to the Dry Creek Valley and tour wineries along the Westside Rd. that will bring you back in to the Russian River valley. You might want to plot your trip using www.wineroad.com
and tailor it to your wine preferences.

Further east, plan a few hours in the Alexander Valley-make a special stop for gourmet sandwhiches at the Jimtown Store www.jimtown.com

When you travel back to SFO, I advise you to take Hwy 116 through Forestville
down to Sebastopol and head east on Hwy 12-and down through Kenwood and the Valley of the Moon and in to Sonoma town-this route will have you avoid
the construction on 101 in Santa Rosa-
more scenic as well !

It's beautiful here right now, so I hope it continues for your visit.

R5

razzledazzle - thanks for all the info! We're in San Francisco now and heading up to the Guernville tomorrow. Believe it or not, I'm still trying to get plans together! We just asked for reservations at Rivers End. It looks wonderful! And will also look at the Seaweed Cafe in Bodega Bay. We have dinner at the Applewood Inn as part of our room Tuesday night. We're going to leave here early tomorrow morning (around 8:30 - 9) and take a leisurly drive up Rt 1, stopping along the way. We'll probably have lunch in Bodega Bay.

elnap - thanks for the info as well. Armstrong state park looks like a nice break from wine tasting.

Barbara-Seaweed Cafe won't be open for lunch on Monday-you could try Lucas Wharf and stick with the gigantic crab louis
OR
continue on in to Graton and lunch at the Willowood !
Hope your stay here is fab !

R5

If you want a Wow factor, try Cyrus for dinner. Our meal there last month was amazing, it is in Healdsburg at the Le Mars Hotel. :)

The Farmhouse Inn is also very good in Forestville. Great food, nice ambiance and attentive service. Cheers! ***kim*** ((f))