Napa Valley
 

How many days do you suggest to spend in the Napa Valley area? If we can only spend 2 days is this enough to see something? I can rearrange things if I need to. Thanks!

>> If we can only spend 2 days is this enough to see something?<<

What sorts of things do you want to 'see'? It is mostly about the vineyards and wineries and dining - and that can be done as a day trip, or a couple of days or however long you have.

There are some charming towns in the Napa Valley, but with such a short visit I'd choose nearby Sonoma, similar attractions but a smaller area to cover and a very nice intimate town with history, as well as wine.

Two days is fine for Napa.

My last Sonoma experience, looking forward to more in a couple of weeks:

http://www.travelgumbo.com/blog/road...ay-in-sonoma-1

Thank you all ... Nice photos !

Does your two days mean two nights? Because there are so many terrific dining options, I would want two dinners, myself. But the short answer is, sure, two days is fine. Enjoy!

I second the recommendation of Sonoma. We just spent a month in that area and preferred the intimacy of Sonoma.

Beyond wineries and restaurants, we enjoyed visiting Jack London's home which is now a state park. And there are some nice restaurant choices nearby in Glen Ellen.

Thank you! Now can you recommend some of the wonderful restaurants?

Have you narrowed down your itinerary? We found no end to good food.

Hmmm... maybe Napa Valley and Sonoma . Sounds like that's what most recommend.

We enjoyed the Rutherford Grill. It's in Napa actually, up near St. Helena (which is a very pretty town). Near there, we tasted olive oil in addition to wine. I'm not sure how common this is, but at the Rutherford Grill, you can bring in your own bottle of wine. It's a bit of California meets comfort food. I had a wonderful kale salad and my husband loved his roasted chicken. Then they do this corn bread that is ridiculous.

Glen Elen is a very nice small town for restaurants. We ate at the Glen Ellen Inn and had a very good meal in a lovely setting. Friends have said they like a place in town more (but I forget which one...I think their choice was highly rated on TripAdvisor).

The town of Petaluma is nice. It was the backdrop of some number of movies. A bit more old west. A bit larger. We ate at Central Market twice--farm to table sort of restaurant.

I might recommend heading up thru Napa. Spend the night near St. Helena/Glen Ellen (and if you want to walk, stop at the Jack London State Park). Then head back through Geyserville (small town but a few very nice restaurants) , Healdsburg (a bit bigger and very charming town with some nice small vineyards outside), Petaluma, and Sonoma town (which is perhaps the most charming of all).

It is an area you can cover in 2 days or 2 years. We are now living in Guatemala and wearing off our Northern California excesses. The food and drink is outstanding. Enjoy!!

We always make a point of having lunch or dinner at Diavola in Geyserville: everything from pizza to entrees to dessert, to beer and wine selections, is great.

Our top choice in Sonoma is Scopa, in Healdsburg. Tiny, so reservations essential most nights. For something fancier in Healdsburg, we like Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen; no corkage fee if you bring your own Sonoma wine.

We enjoyed Zazu when it was in Santa Rosa, I understand it's moved to the Barlow complex in Sebastopol.

Just to get something out of the way... Sonoma is significantly larger than Napa Valley, so I have no idea why someone would say there is less ground to cover. I mean, Sonoma County is almost three times the size of Napa and roughly three times the population. And the wineries are less concentrated to boot.

That being said, if you wanted to do Sonoma, I find the area north of Santa Rosa to be more rewarding for tasting than the Southern part. Healdsburg is an excellent choice for a place to stay in Sonoma.

If you wanted to stay in Napa (I find tasting in Napa to be more rewarding), I like staying in St Helena. There are some good restaurants in town, including Market which we enjoyed on a recent stay. Yountville is also a good option to stay in. If you wanted to break the bank, the Restaurant at Meadowood is absolutely phenomenal.

In general, two days would be enough time to get a feel for one of the valleys. I'd probably not do both in that amount of time, but it certainly is possible.

>>I mean, Sonoma County is almost three times the size of Napa and roughly three times the population. <<

That is more than a bit deceiving since that includes the areas of Sonoma County along the 101 corridor and across the mountains / along the coast.

The Valley of the Moon/Sonoma Valley is a fraction of the county.

"Sonoma is significantly larger than Napa ..."

I was referring to the town, not the county, why I said "nearby Sonoma" rather than nearby Sonoma County. I find the town of Sonoma and the area around it more satisfying for a short visit than Napa, city or county. I might, however, choose a town in Napa Valley, Calistoga, for example. I think it does help the conversation to be specific when a name without specifics can mean so many things to some here.

<i>That is more than a bit deceiving since that includes the areas of Sonoma County along the 101 corridor and across the mountains / along the coast. </i>

The fact remains that it is around 55 miles from the southern Sonoma wineries to the northern Sonoma wineries, while Downtown Napa to the northern Napa wineries is around 30 miles. And Napa has a lot of land that doesn't have any wineries either. Touring Napa wineries basically involves two roads of only 30 miles long, which is why I don't think the statement that there is a lot of ground to cover in Napa is at all accurate.

<i>I was referring to the town, not the county, why I said "nearby Sonoma" rather than nearby Sonoma County.</i>

<snip>

<i>I think it does help the conversation to be specific when a name without specifics can mean so many things to some here.</i>

I agree, and I think saying "nearby Sonoma" is not specific enough when the conversation is wine tasting and the entire region is routinely called "Sonoma".

Oh, my.

"...the entire region is routinely called "Sonoma"."

As a 4th generation Bay Area Californian, I think not. But maybe among outsiders. Carry on.

Oy vey.

To the OP.... You have 2 days with one valley which is 55 miles and another which is 30.

I believe if you don't rent a Hugo, you should be fine.

I'm convinced you will love either. So enjoy!

"...you will love either."

I absolutely agree.

Yes. It is like picking your favorite child.

I agree -- either is fine. <i>Most</i>, but by no means all, locals (meaning Northern Californians) prefer Sonoma. But Napa is perfectly fine. (Generally more crowded because it is more 'famous')

And there is a big (huge) difference between Sonoma <i>County</i> and 'Sonoma'. Gualala and Sea Ranch are 100 miles/2.5 hours from Sonoma.

Napa is "perfectly fine", eh? Good to know that a valley that produces some of the world's most acclaimed wines, year after year, gets janisj's tepid approval!

<i>I agree -- either is fine. </I>

Agreed.

<i>Most, but by no means all, locals (meaning Northern Californians) prefer Sonoma. </I>

I suspect you are extrapolating from your own opinion and assigning it to others without basis. And even if true, that statement conflicts a fair bit with the rest of your post.

<i>Generally more crowded because it is more 'famous'</I>

Aside from a handful of ultra-popular wineries (of which there are some in Sonoma, as well), crowds are simply not a huge issue in Napa. I'be certainly been in some crowded tasting rooms in Napa, but I've also been to some in Sonoma as well. In general, though, I simply don't find crowds to be much of a problem. I would also note that even at some of the more popular wineries, staffing levels are often pretty high, such that you still get pretty much a one-to-one experience.

As for Napa being more 'famous'... Well, nobody that is remotely familiar with wine would have that opinion. Saying that Napa is more 'famous' than Sonoma, while probably technically true, is really picking flies out of horse manure.

Moreover, Sonoma receives roughly twice as many visitors each year as Napa, Sonoma generates roughly double the tourism revenue of Napa, and Sonoma even has higher occupancy rates than Napa. Less 'famous' or not, Sonoma is simply not the undiscovered idyll that it is routinely misrepresented to be on this board. And Napa is not the overly crowded, overly commercial counterpoint it is misrepresented to be on this board either.

>>crowds are simply not a huge issue in Napa. <<

I'm not talking about crowded tasting rooms actually (especially since many of the best require reservations) . I'm talking about the <u>serious</u> traffic along Hwy 29 which is a bear especially on weekends.

OK travelgormet, but most inquiries here are for just for an enjoyable, fun time winetasting and probably don't give a rat's a&$ about the minute details of which area is better. I am sleepy and going to take a nap.

<i>OK travelgormet, but most inquiries here are for just for an enjoyable, fun time winetasting and probably don't give a rat's a&$ about the minute details of which area is better. I am sleepy and going to take a nap.</I>

Yes, most inquiries are for an enjoyable, fun time wine tasting. That is why I don't understand why every question about Napa is met with "Sonoma is better than Napa". Heck, in this case, the OP asked specifically about Napa and the second "answer" was to tell the OP to go to Sonoma instead.

But, hey, I recognize I'm the bad guy because I pointed out that Sonoma isn't quite as it is portrayed here and is not necessarily better than Napa. Both areas have their strong points - Sonoma is stronger for Pinot and Zinfandel, for example - but the advice given should be factual, not lazy cliches about Sonoma being some insider secret.

<i>I'm talking about the serious traffic along Hwy 29 which is a bear especially on weekends.</I>

If traffic is bad on Hwy 29 (I don't think it that bad normally), just cut over to the Silverado Trail.

To me, Travelgourmet, you aren't the bad guy because you defended Napa over Sonoma. You just came off a bit hoity toity and rude when you did it. That's all.

You are obviously well versed in the area. You just don't sound that nice here.

Why don't we do this. While Christina takes a nap, you go uncork something special. When we are all in a better mood, lets reconvene.

<i>Why don't we do this. While Christina takes a nap, you go uncork something special. When we are all in a better mood, lets reconvene</I>

I think we will be drinking a 2009 Williams Selyem Westside Road Neighbors from Sonoma County tonight. Hoping it goes well with the lobster & uni pot pie.

We shall see what it does for my mood.

It sounds like a perfect choice, Travelgourmet! I hope you enjoy it....

Is blowhard one or 2 words?

It can be either, Mme Perdu, but the meaning changes.

Let's be nice....

<I>Is blowhard one or 2 words?</I>

And I'm the bad guy...

Basque lamb stew and a Twisted Rivers Clarksburg Petite Sirah tonight.

Oops, sorry Michelle! I knew you were napping (not Christina). Now this could be a fun post for all the California wine experts. What's for dinner and what are you pairing with it....

JulieEC lol! I am much more fun than Christina!