Judyrem,
There are great trails up at Lake
Sonoma, as LLindaC says,
though it is up near Healdsburg
and a good hour from Sonoma town.
For your early morning treks
I think
Jack London State Park
in nearby Glen Ellen
has all the options
you will need, including some
great hikes on
Sonoma Mtn.
http://www.bestinsonoma.com/best_hikes.htm

There is also a bird sanctuary
along the Petaluma River
which offers a 2.2
mile loop. If you are here
this spring you can catch
all the babies-
swans,Canadian geese, a variety
of ducks and other
shore birds.
Bring your binoculars !
Shollenberger Park is about
a 10 min. drive
from Sonoma town.
http://tinyurl.com/ea422

R5

Judy, here's a link to the trail map. We really enjoyed hiking here.
http://www.russianrivertravel.com/docs/trails.jpg

Well I tried to use tinyurl!
Here's the long version for
Shollenberger-
http://www.petalumawetlandspark.org/...lenberger.html

R5

Thank you razzle and Linda! Shollenberger looks wonderful and I LOVE baby (and adult) birds! I did look up Jack London and it sounds great. I ADORE Calif.(we try to go there every year) and wish we could live there, but DH says tax situation is not good for us(whatever THAT means).

Hi, all! Sorry for not responding earlier. Been busy. Had to get someone off to SFO by 6am yesterday morning - then the rest of the day, well, maybe I should give an SF trip report - LOL!

Betsy: hi, hi! Been long time for you as well! Yes, I'm familiar with Priceline. In fact, the first time I stayed at the Doubletree was via Priceline. The Doubletree was my suggestion for my friends, because it's just off the freeway but far away enough for the golf course setting to give peace and serenity. One friend booked hisself into the Hilton and the other booked herself into the Sheraton. Oh well, soo much for good suggestions, eh? Thanks for the offer to help through PL! See you at the next GTG - whenever that will be, LOL!

razz: You always come through! Thanks for the wonderful suggestions. I'm going to do further research today - if the sunshine doesn't get in the way! What a glorious week in California! The sun is shining so brightly and the hills are so GREEN! razz -we may focus on Santa Rosa as it is a "halfway" meeting point. Do you have any more favorite restaurants in Santa Rosa? Methinks at this point that Healdsburg will be a bit of a drive for the two staying in Petaluma. I've eaten in the downtown Santa Rosa area and it seems to be full of restaurants, especially around the town square and the old railroad station.

galelstorm: Thanks for the recommendation of Flavor. You also brought up another possibility: Syrah. I've heard about this restaurant but never been. Does it really live up to its reputation?

Judyrem: enjoy you hike! Believe it or not, I'm more of a hiker than a winedrinker (hehe) - you're in for a treat! When did you say you are coming?

Thanks, all, for the suggestions! If you have any more recommendations, especially in the Santa Rosa area, please keep them coming!

In Santa Rosa is another Willi's (Willi's Wine Bar - http://www.williswinebar.net/index_willis.html). It's a tapas place - good food, but not cheap. Also in Santa Rosa, at the Fountaingrove hotel (down the hill from the Hilton), is the Equus restaurant (http://www.fountaingroveinn.com/). Our server at Willi's told us that Equus, while expensive, is one of the best restaurants in Santa Rosa.

O, forgot: one more recommendation please -

Is there a funky grocery store like the Oakville Grocery over in Napa? Some grocery/place where we can pick up some picnic stuff and dine in a vineyard somewhere along the way? I actually enjoy sitting on the Oakville porch, eat and drink and watch the world go by on the highway.

Hi ET! Try Oliver's in Cotati (E. Cotati Ave, Petaluma Market in Petaluma (Western Ave.), or Fiesta Market in Sebastopol (a little out of your way). All are locally owned, and while not as funky as Oakville Market, are fun places to shop.

By the way, I'm hoping for a trip report!

ET My favorite funky grocery store is the Jimtown Store in the Alexander Valley. Carrie Brown, one of the owners is quite a foodie and her cookbook is lots of fun.
http://www.jimtownstore.com

R5

peaches: Thanks for the Equus recommendation. I'm going to look into that - next week when it's raining! It was so beautiful today - shirtsleeve weather. I went with a friend to an Ethiopian restaurant, drank some wonderful Ethiopian cinnamon-flavoved tea, and just had to get some. So, the restaurant owner told us how to get to a local Ethiopian grocery store and we meandered over. Spent a lot of time discussing spices with the grocery store owner. Ethiopian food has so many flavors! Came home and am cooking some newfangled pasta, hope it works. Seems like life these days circles around food and drink!

Betsy: hi again! Thanks for the grocery store recommendations! I love Cotati - squashed between all the better known places. No trip report this time! I'm busy planning a trip to either East Europe or Thailand - so much research to do! I've got a better idea! Why don't we go on our own small wine tour of the Monterey and Santa Cruz wineries? I love new discoveries!

razz: That's a terrific suggestion! We've got three days, so will definitely get to Jimtown one of those days! Thanks muchly!

Have a great weekend, all! And drink lots of good drinks!

Great restaurants abound in Santa Rosa: Syrah being a pricy favorite, Flavors much more affordable. About 9 miles west in the town of Graton is a New York style reastaurant, Underwoods. Willy's is great, as is the Seafood Bar in Healdsberg and Manzinita. The Farm House in Forestville is well rated as is Cyrus in Healdsburg. With in 15 minutes of Santa Rosa you have so many choices...I wouldn't drive to Sonoma.