We're planning a trip the first week of September to Northern California, starting in San Francisco with a day trip to the Redwoods. From San Francisco we planned to go to the Napa/Sonoma area and then drive down to see Big Sur/Monterey/Carmel. We will have 5 nights total (Monday - Friday)for the wine region and the coast. I'm not sure how I want to break it up and was hoping some of you could provide some advice.

I have a feeling we will like Sonoma better than Napa, but I would like to see both. I had originally intended 3 nights to be split between Napa and Sonoma (I don't mind sleeping one night in Napa and then two in Sonoma) and then 2 nights for Carmel/Big Sur/Monterey. My boyfriend has been to Carmel/Monterey and said 1 night was enough and we would be better off having an additional night in the wine region.

Any thoughts - do people think two nights are better for Carmel/Monterey? My impression is there is a fair amount to do in Big Sur - I would like a day to explore that and hike, and then a day to see Carmel/Monterey. Or would it be reasonable to do Big Sur and Carmel/Monterry in one day? I also wonder if weather factors or any other things I'm not thinking of might make it so it would be better to be in the wine region than at the coast?

Frankly, I'm overwhelmed by the amount of things to do in this small area - everything sounds so wonderful - I don't want to miss anything but I'd still like to relax and I guess leave some things for the next time.

Any tips and experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

You can do a pretty good winery tour with only 2 nites there. IMO Napa Valley is more attractive physically than Sonoma. Carmel, Monterey, Big Sur are worth more time. You cannot do them in a day. September is usually the warmest and least foggy time of the year on the coast.

Carmel, Monterey, and Big Sur is way to much to do in just 1 day. It will take you a good portion of the day just to drive from Napa to Monterey (plan on 4 1/2 hrs on a weekend & 6 hrs on a work day). If you skip the wine country, plan on 2 1/4 hrs from SF to Monterey on a weekend, & 3 1/2 on a work day.

Personally, I think there is much more variety of things to do & see in the Carmel/Big Sur area than in the wine contry. However, your boyfriend seems to think 1 day is enough in Big Sur/carmel - which may indicate where his interests are. If I can put my first-timer hat on (I've lived in the area all my life - I'm almost 60) I would allocate at least 2 full days (3 nights) to the Carmel/Big Sur region. If you want to hike, go to Julia Pheiffer Burns State Park and hike a bit, then Pfeiffer beach & do the same. Walk in the redwoods at Pfeiffer State Park (lots of Pfeiffers in the area), and plan to spend lunch or dinner at Nepenthe.

In Carmel shop and walk & drive along the coast & dip your feet in the water. Visit the Aquarim in Monterey & drive along the coast in Pacific Grove, Spanish Bay, etc. I would not bother with Cannery Row. This & Big Sur will consume 2 full days. You can stay overnight in Carmel & hit Big Sur from there.

I recently posted a driving itinerary for the coast north of SF and the wine country. Click on my name to find it.

PS - no need to do a day-trip to the redwoods from SF. Hit those on the way to the wine country.

Re-adjusting my first timer hat, I would not try to see SF, Wine country, and Big Sur/Carmel in just 5 nights on a work week (heavy commute traffic). SF deserves 3 full days, as does Carmel/Big Sur (if you plan to do some coastal access & hiking in Big Sur). That's 1 more than you have.

Stu Dudley

mark

I would also recommend 2 nights in Big Sur/Monterey/Carmel.

There's not that many tourist sites, per se, but so much to explore (the coast, hiking, the beach, the boardwalk, shopping) and much more variety than in wine country (either napa or sonoma).

hope you have a great time

Thanks very much for the advice. I had a feeling I was right about being able to use more days in Big Sur/Carmel! I think I might start feeling a bit bored by day 3 of the wine region.

Our San Francisco time begins on Friday, so SF and the Redwoods is not included in the 5 days. I had considered going to the Redwoods on the way to the wine region, but we got a really great price on the Ritz Carlton in SF and I wanted to milk that for the extra night!

What kind of weather can we expect along the coast in early September? Is it worth bringing a bathing suit?

Thanks again!

Early Sept can still be a bit "iffy". Bring a suit, but I would not plan a schedule around a "beach day".

I forgot to mention Pt Lobos as a place to explore the coast for several hours. Spectacular !!!

Stu Dudley

September can be some of the best weather - growing up we thought it was Mother Nature's cruel joke to pull out all the stops as soon as school started - LOL.

I'd bring the bathing suits, definitely. The weather might not cooperate, but if it does, you will be glad to have them.

I'm getting confused, as usual.

By "Redwoods", it sounds like you are thinking of Muir Woods in the North Bay Area?

Otherwise, there are plenty of redwoods south of Carmel/Monterey. If you are planning to hike these redwoods (Pfeiffer Big Sur is good for that, or Julie Pfeiffer Burns, the Ewoldsen Trail. Otherwise, Julie is good for the waterfall that tumbles into the ocean).

I agree with pretty much everything that has been said here. One night in wine country, two nights in SF, and one/two nights in Carmel/Monterey.

Yes, that young man Stu has the right idea: don't miss Pt Lobos for the wonderful hiking there. Few if any redwoods, but great beautiful trails.

The water around here is pretty cold, coming from Japan by way of the Arctic, so it's not like swimming in the warm Atlantic. You could probably use your swimsuit better in the Ritz Carlton.

If you want to walk along a beach, Carmel Beach is great for relaxing, good views. Then you could dine somewhere in Carmel. Lots of wonderful restaurants there.

Have a fine trip and welcome to California!