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nice route from Yountville, to Mendocino, to San Francisco???

nice route from Yountville, to Mendocino, to San Francisco???

Old Apr 14th, 2010, 04:06 PM
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nice route from Yountville, to Mendocino, to San Francisco???

Going to a wedding in Napa the end of September. Have added on 3-4 days to see the redwoods, coast, (scenic places, stay in Mendocino, etc. before returning to San Francisco for our return trip to Texas. Any suggestions would be definitely appreciated!!
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Old Apr 14th, 2010, 04:46 PM
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A modification of the route we just took to/from Mendocino:
Take Hwy 29 north from Yountville to Calistoga
and stay on it until it becomes Hwy 128.
Take 128 through the Alexander Valley to Geyserville.
Hop on Hwy 101 for about 6-7 miles and exit at 128 West
through Boonville. 128 will hook into Hwy 1 at the Navarro River bridge just south of Albion. Continue on into Mendocino.

On the way home, take Hwy 1 as far as you like.
Spectacular, jaw dropping vistas, especially
between Fort Ross and Jenner.
You could go as far as Mill Valley and hook into Hwy 101 to cross the GG Bridge into The City.
You could go as far as Pt. Reyes and visit the lighthouse or take a zillion hikes. Then you could take Sir Frances Drake
over to Hwy 101.
You could go as far as Jenner, turn inland on 116 East
and have a lovely drive through stands of coastal redwoods,
and even make a stop at the Armstrong Redwoods Preserve in Guerneville.

Am I convinving you to add more days ?


R5
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Old Apr 14th, 2010, 05:31 PM
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Great route from razzledazzle. Also Muir Woods is a lovely Redwood Spot with some hiking or just stolling (off 101). I wouldn't make it any less than 4 add'l days however as you want to just sit an enjoy the scenery besides driving.....
Enjoy the wedding. Sept. our best time of year....
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Old Apr 27th, 2010, 08:04 AM
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Thank you so much razzledazzle and shar!!!! Since our flight leaves out of SF at 2:10PM on Friday, any suggestions for where to stay Thursday nt and not push it to hard? (Would Salsalitto sp? be a good option???)
And yes, Razzledazzle,I wish we had added MORE days!
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Old Apr 27th, 2010, 01:50 PM
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Sausalito would be OK. There's also a nice place, once a Holiday Inn Express, in Mill Valley - just one quick exit from Sausalito proper. Right on Richardson Bay-
go for a room with a Mt. Tamalpais view.
http://www.larkspurhotelmillvalley.com/

Can you give us an idea of your budget ?

R5
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Old Apr 27th, 2010, 02:04 PM
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Since such a short trip, not too worried about budget (not that we are anywhere rich...) would $300 a nt allow for a great place with a view???? as you can tell, we haven't checked out hotel prices out there at all!!!!!
So excited about the great advice on here (have already highlighted your route on my map!)
Will definitely check out the link you gave me!!!
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Old Apr 27th, 2010, 02:19 PM
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Wow Razzledazzle! Just checked out the Larkspur! Great rates and looks wonderful! Any idea how long it will take us to get from there to the airport, turning in a rental car of course! Thanks so much for your help!!!!
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Old Apr 27th, 2010, 02:28 PM
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Used to take us about an hour to get to SFO when we lived in Mill Valley-
so perhaps add 30 mins for rental car to be safe.
Of course no one can predict Hwy 101 traffic, so if you tend to worry about "things", be safest,
give your self 2 hours and bring a good book.

Are you staying in Mendocino and driving to Sausalito from
there on Thursday ?
We were just up in Mendocino on April 6, 7, & 8.
Would you like the dining scoop ?

R5
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Old Apr 27th, 2010, 04:46 PM
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Yes, that is our plan...to stay in Mendocino and then drive down to Sausalito. Would LOVE dining scoop!!!!
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Old Apr 27th, 2010, 05:54 PM
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OK, then...settle in for a story...
We were dining at MacCallum House on our first night
and struck up a conversation with a Mom & daughter from
Buffalo, NY. When the conversation moved to dining,
they said we had to go to this outstanding little place
in Little River-a 10 minute drive south of Mendocino
proper. It is prix fix with two seatings every night
at 5:30 and 8:00. There are only seven tables and they had made their rezzies months ahead. It is rumored that Robert Redford was at Skywalker Ranch down in Marin County and
wanted to carry out some of their fabled tomato soup.
He was told they didn't do carryout and had no tables for that evening. The story goes that he waited 2 hours in the parking lot to see if anyone cancelled/or was a no show for either seating. Evidently Mr. Redford waited in vain.

This little tidbit made me wonder if this place was really
ultra snobby or just stuck to it's policies no matter who you were. Our conversation with the Buffalo ladies
drifted into the bar and on to other topics.

In the AM, Mr R5 called this fab restaurant and they had had a cancellation ! We were set for the 8:00 PM seating.
Upon arriving at the restaurant, a few diners from the 5:30 seating were still lingering, so we of the 8:00 PM seating were quite cozy waiting in their small alcove.
When the tables had been re-set the host/waitress came over to explain we would be seated in order of our reservation date/time. The best ocean view table seated first and then so on, until Mr R5 & I were seated last. No complaints at all since it was dark, and as I said, there are only 7 tables.

The prix fix menu announced that the soup, salad,
and entree (of which their were 8 choices) cost
$38.50 per person. Appetizers, dessert and wine
all extra. Trust me, you won't need the appy-
save room for a bite of dessert.
While pondering this, a glass of Sharffenberger champagne was served with a lovely amuse bouche.
(No charge for this, BTW)
Then came the outstanding Tomato soup, followed by a
simple letuce salad with a light vinegarette dressing,
then a lemon-champagne sorbet and summed with our entrees.
Rack of Lamb for Mr R5 and Filet Mignon for me.
We shared a bottle of 2006 Rivino Cabernet Franc which we
indulged in a very slow pace as we did not leave until 10:45 PM (and neither did anyone else)
All sumptous !

There was a single fellow sitting at the table across from
us. We struck up a conversation during the sorbet and found out he will be the new chef at a new location
in July a little further south down the road (Hwy 1) at the Inn at Schoolhouse Creek. The current little postage stamp of a restaurant will morph into something else of a restaurant-at least that is the vision for now.
Take a look at La Petite Rive-

http://www.lapetiterive.com/

We can also highly recommend The Moosse Cafe in Mendocino proper. I could write oodles of good things about it, but I'll spare you, LOL !

The bar and appetizers at MacCallum House are fun and very good (in that order). The dining experience not so much.
It's good, but their entrees alone hover at the $35.00 range and are not worth it, IMHO.

Also, if you are driving down Hwy 1 on Thursday, head straight for Elk -about 30 minutes south of Mendocino-
for breakfast, brunch or lunch at Quennie's Roadhouse Cafe.
It's a not miss for us when we are up there.

R5
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Old Apr 28th, 2010, 01:54 PM
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WOW! What a great story and what great Info! You have just planned our trip!!!!!! We are arriving in Yountville Thursday afternoon for the Saturday wedding in Napa. Had planned to stay there until Monday, but with all the enticements I'm reading - I may for hubby to leave out on Sunday afternoon for Mendocino!
Just can't decide if we then might need to head on down to Sausalito on Wednesday so we can have a full day there on Thursday!!! What do you think?
I CAN'T WAIT to try the restaurants (and bars!) you've described!!! (Might even enjoy the scenery too - lol)
Thanks sooo much for your help!
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Old May 2nd, 2010, 11:25 PM
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stay at the little river inn in albion, wonderful setting on the ocean, yummy restaurant and bar and deli across the street. if you can score a cottage (i think there are five of them) across the street privately on the ocean, stay there, jacuzzi oceanfront, beautiful spot. also little river inn is adjacent to a state beach, two steps north from the hotel, literally, hike east thru towers of ferns and oaks. if you hike far enough (maybe an hour) you end up at the pygmy bridge.

not THAT much to do in mendocino county but lots to do in sausalito so yes, take the extra day from mendo and stay in sausalito. ferry to sf for a lovely view and experience, you can go to the embarcadero there or just get back on the ferry and enjoy the beautiful bay. sausalito's spinnaker restaurant is a beautiful spot right on the bay with yummy food. parking is a problem in sausalito but spinnaker has valet.
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Old May 3rd, 2010, 02:39 PM
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Thank you Goldie13! (And definitely Razzledazzle) It's funny, a friend of mine who's nickname is Goldie (she could pass for Goldie Hawn) is the one who mentioned sausalito to me! lol
I think I'm just going to have to change our reservations, pay extra, and fly home two days later than planned! This advice is soooo helpful.
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Old May 3rd, 2010, 02:43 PM
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you can't go wrong, no matter what you do, its all beautiful here end of september. yes, add on two days, great idea
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Old May 3rd, 2010, 07:45 PM
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"not THAT much to do in mendocino county but lots to do in sausalito"

You will find many differing opinions on this board. Of course, a place's appeal depends on what your interests are.

While Sausalito has a stunning location and it's a great place to live, it's kind of a tourist trap with overpriced restaurants and shops. The best thing about the place is the ferry because it gets you out of town.

Mendocino, on the other hand, is one of the gems of California. The town itself has some tacky shops but the spectacular scenery is hard to beat and the superb state parks nearby are full of great views and scenic trails. Add to that the two great drives that lead there and you have a truly wonderful location that would take a week to explore fully.
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Old May 3rd, 2010, 08:10 PM
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I agree with Otis, not much to do in Sausalito unless you want to shop or get out on the water on a ferry. If you are staying in the place I mentioned in Mill Valley, you could take a stroll to the beach via nearby Tennessee Valley.
http://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisi...see_valley.htm
You could hike all-over the headlands. Gosh, you could hike all over Mt Tamalpais.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=471
If you haven't seen enough redwoods you could go visit the Muir Woods grove. On your way, going or back, stop at Mt. Home Inn up on Panoramic Hwy for a bite.
http://www.mtnhomeinn.com/home.html
or continue past Muir Woods and have a bite and a brew at
The Pelican Inn
http://www.pelicaninn.com/

So much to do !

R5
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Old May 6th, 2010, 08:18 AM
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Thanks so much to all!!!! What great advice - can't wait until September!!!! eb
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Old Jul 20th, 2010, 03:45 PM
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OK guys, have HAD to add a couple of days to our trip....after all this great advice!

We now plan to stay 3 nights in Mendocine and leave on Thursday morning (late morning) and drive along the coastline. (We are not early-risers!)
We will be flying out of San Francisco on Saturday around 2:00 (have to turn in our rental car first tho!)

Any suggestions on where to stay enroute to SFO, have a leisurely Friday, etc., good places to eat/drink, views, etc., and yet not have to get up too early to fight traffic to get to the airport???? (Would love to check out around 10:00 or so and get to the airport in time)

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP!!!! LOVE THIS WEBSITE!

Love this website!!!!!
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Old Jul 20th, 2010, 03:53 PM
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Sausalito would be nice. As for getting to the airport, since it's a Saturday morning, there won't be gobs of traffic. For a 2:00 flight, you'll want to get to the airport for check-in around 12:45, so get to car rental return around 12:15 -- leave Sausalito around 11:30. Push that all up if you want to be extra careful (it's easy for me to say because I live less than 5 miles from SFO )
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Old Jul 20th, 2010, 03:54 PM
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Or stay in San Francisco!!
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