We are going on a cruise out of San Francisco in September and would like to spend 7-8 days visiting Napa, maybe Monterey and Carmel.....we've been to San Fran a few times and we love it but a day or so there would be plenty on this trip before getting on the ship. Any suggestions for a decent itinerary....we have time and could stretch another day or so if need be. We have some connections in Napa so we want the trip to highlight a few days there.

For your seven days do Napa, Sonoma and the Sonoma/Marin coast. I would not start north and then go south of San Francisco, or vice versa.

so you wouldn't start ...lets say a couple/3 days in Carmel/Monterey...then Napa finishing up in SanFran?

Johnny- I would spend several days in the Monterey/Carmel/Pacific Grove area, then head to Napa/Sonoma/Healdsburg, for say, 3 days. You will also be able to visit vineyards and wineries in Monterey County and Carmel Valley. Wineries pretty much everywhere in California.

One of the problems with trying to drive from the Napa area to the Monterey area (or vice-versa) is the massive commute traffic encountered in the Bay Area. Mapquest & Google have you driving in the East Bay - which is really ugly and slow. The "normal" 3 hr drive could actually be 4 1/2 hrs or longer if your timing is really bad.

If this trip is on a non workday - there won't be that much of a problem.

Stu Dudley

You can definitely split your week between the Monterey area and the Napa area - the only issue with that is the potential for traffic through the SF bay area, as mentioned. But, if you drive through the Bay Area between the hours of 10 and 2 on a weekday, you won't hit traffic.

There are plenty of wineries here in Monterey County but the drive to Napa isn't bad if you time it right.

You couldn't finish up in San Fran, but you could in San Francisco. Locals call it SF or The City.