Hi,

Well I'm not able to change the reservation at the Madrona inn because the rate is 50% higher on Sat night. Therefore, I'm going to have to stay somewhere in Napa Saturday night then do the balloon ride on Sunday morning.

Stu - Can I still do that fabulous ride Sat morning from our hotel by the airport and make our way to Napa in time to visit some wineries? Following your drive north would take how long? It sounds like what we are looking to do but we must do it on our way to Napa because when we leave Healdsburg Tuesday, 5/6/08 it will be early to get into San Francisco by noon.

Please help.

Thanks,
Linda

You had better find a place in Napa valley that will take only a Sat night stay. The places we stay in require 2 night min on weekends.

It would be tough to get all the way to Napa by 4:30 when the wineries start to close down. You could do it, but you might have to cut out some walks along the ocean & a few stops on the way.

Stu Dudley

Thanks Stu. So far I've had no luck at all finding a place that allows one night stay :-(. I'm not giving up though.

I will do the drive you recommend and cut some stops because we really want to hit some Napa Wineries on Saturday.

I'm off to continue searching hotels.

Your help is greatly appreicated.

Linda

Linda - I just re-read all your prior posts. You'll be in Healdsburg from Sunday through Tues, leaving Wed. Is this correct (I've had a glass of wine already).

There is no need to rush anything at all. About 99.999% of the people in Northern Calif will tell you that's it's better to visit the Napa Valley on a weekday instead of Saturday. The easiest thing to re-schedule, it seem to me, will be the balloon ride. Stay somewhere near the coast or in a cute B&B on the Russian River on Sat night.

Sunday enjoy the Dry Creek/Healdsburg area - which I think 70% of the Northern Calif people (including me) prefer over the Napa Valley anyway.

Monday and/or Tues visit the Napa Valley. It is a very scenic 30 to 45 min drive from Healdsburg to Calsitoga. There may be a chance that you won't even want to leave the Healdsburg area.

Stu Dudley

Hi Stu,

We'll be in Healdsburg from Sunday through Tuesday leaving Tuesday morning to San Francisco. My friend will be going home Wednesday and I will be staying solo in the city till Saturday. She won't have much time in the city but that was her choice.

Okay, so stay overnight Saturday along the Russian River (any lodging recommendations?) then maybe do the Balloon Ride Monday morning and visit Napa wineries that day as well. The balloon ride is a must for both of us. I called Bonaventure Company and the lady said the meeting time in May is 6 a.m. and we could just drive over from Healdsburg. That's gonna be one heck of a morning drive but I think well worth it.

I'll reaseach lodging around the Russian River and or the coast.

I called the Madrona Manor and for Saturday night it's $330.00 with no AAA discount :-(.

Thank you very much for the wealth of information.

If you ever come to Florida's Suncoast (area about 1 hour North of Tampa), I'll be happy to provide some input. hehehe :-)

Linda