Hi, I have done a lot of searching on the message boards, but still need help with the order of what i should do. Will be flying to/from either San Fran or Oakland airport. I want to go to San Fran, Monterey area, and Sonoma. What order should I travel to these places in?
thank you!

What time of the year are you traveling, and for how many days?

I would probably do Monterey first since it is the fartherest, then SF & Sonoma. Depending upon how much time you wanted to spend in Sonoma, you could do it in a day trip, or you could do 2-3 days and really suck up the ambiance. I am planning a day trip in May, and I may end up regretting not staying for a couple of days.

Agree with Budman..go to Monterey area first then head back up to the SF bay area perhaps to Sonoma then back into SF for closer proximity to either airport. Hopefully you have several days or more in which to do this trip.

i have 6 nights in the beginning of june. if you have any advice on how many nights in each place i would appreciate that too. thanks!

I'd be inclined to recommend 2 nights in each place. It will take you about 2 1/2 hours to get to Monterey from SF/Oakland. There is much to see and do..and the coastline is really quite beautiful. My tips for Monterey include Point Lobos State Park(on Hwy 1 near Carmel). This is an easily accessed state park with many walkable trails of shorter/longer distances depending on your inclination. All will provide you with some knock out vistas. There are also tide pools here which are quite easily accessed. You can see sea lions and harbor seals in their natural habitat.I'd recommend the Aquarium as well. Check out places to stay in Pacific Grove. This is a small,charming town in walking distance(along the shorepath) to the aquarium. My all time favorite place to eat is the Monterey Fish House. A local place,filled with people(not quiet) serving generous portions of fresh fish cooked any way you can imagine and then some. Reservations are needed. It will take you somewhere in the neighborhood of 4 hours to get to SOnoma from Monterey. Sonoma is a beautiful a varied place. Depending on your desires I'd recommend spending at least two days there. Wine tasting is a big favoirte among folks to do in the area. My personal favorite spot in the wine country(Sonoma) is in the Healdsburg area. We often stay at the Camellia Inn in Healdsburg and go wine tasting throughout that area(Zinfandels and Pinot NOirs excel). Folks of late have been writing really great things about the Farmhouse Inn in Forestville(in Sonoma more in the Russian RIver area). It will also provide you with access to the wineries. This has cottages and supposedly a great restaurant. It was just included in the top 100 restaurants of the Bay area in this weekend's SF CHronicle. It will take you about 1 1/2 hours to get back to SF from Sonoma. Two nights in SF will allow you to see some of the highlights and be in close proximity to the airports(about 30 minutes to SFO from downtown SF and about the same or a bit more if you travel at commute times to Oakland).The only change I might consider is to go to Sonoma for one night and add another to your stay in SF but Sonoma,as others have said, is EDEN.

You can save yourself some valuable time if you fly into San Jose Airport to start your trip and then head from there to the Monterey Peninsula. It is much closer to the area than SFO or Oakland.

Do Monterey first then head to SF for a few days and then on to Sonoma. Fly out of SFO or Oakland to go home.