Sonoma/Napa Itinerary - Please Comment - R5?
 

OK, here's the closest thing to a final itinerary I think we will get.

We've had to do alot of juggling, and are trying to be flexible....

Guys at the local wine merchant we've gone to tastings at are trying to set up a few tours. Mentioned Chalk Hill, Chapallet, and Contessa (can't find this - perhaps I heard the name wrong. I haven't finalized these yet).

Day 1 - Monday, Oct 4
Travel Day

Get into SFO from BOS at 12:47pm
Drive to house to unload
Grocery shop for week
Quick dinner near house - ?Breakaway Cafe

Day 2 - Tuesday, Oct 5

Drive to Cloverdale to check out town
Head to Geyserville
Ferrari-Carano Winery

Head to Healdsburg
Chalk Hill Winery
Tour town/shops
Lunch in Healdsburg

Head back to Sonoma Plaza for Farmer's Market

Day 3 - Wednesday - Oct 6th
Drive to Windsor/Santa Rosa to check out towns

Head to Kenwood
Chateau St. Jean Winery

Head to Glen Ellen - tour town

Day 4 - Thursday - Oct 7th

Drive North on Hwy 29 to Calistoga
See town/shops
Drive South on Silverado Trail
Beringer Winery - St. Helena

Tour St. Helena town/shops
Lunch in St. Helena
Chappellet Winery

Head South to Rutherford
Niebaum-Coppola Winery

(There are 3 wineries on this day, so we are going to need to cut one. We want to do 1, 2 at the most per day to leave time for other things.)

Day 5 - Friday - Oct 8th

Head South to Carneros region

Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves
Viansa Winery

Head to Petaluma
Tour town/shops/victorian district/riverwalk
Lunch at Dempsey's

Day 6 - Sat - Oct 9th - Friends Arrive

Drive to Napa - see town/shops

Drive to Yountville
See town/shops

Domaine Chandon - Yountville

Drive to Oakville and meet friends at Opus One for 2pm tour

Copia

Lunch in Napa - ?Don Giovanni??

Friends back to house with us

Day 7 - Sun - Oct 10th - Last Full Day

Brunch with friends at Cafe La Haye - Sonoma Plaza

Head to Sebastapol
See town/shops
Iron Horse Winery

Duncans Mills - see shops

Head to Sonoma Coast
Jenner
Bodega Bay
Goat Rock Beach

Day 8 - Oct 11th - Travel Home

Pack
Flight leaves SFO at 1:55pm

Any comments appreciated. Also, suggestions for lunches in towns noted would help.

Would also like suggestion for dinner spot for Sat. night with friends close to our place - Sonoma or Glen Ellen. Moderate price, and not dressy or "fussy" but not burgers and fries either. Upscale casual sort of.

Too much trapsing all over the county for me-here's how I would group you
more geographically

Day 2
AM Santa Rosa
(lunch)
PM Hwy 12/Kenwood(Chateau st. Jean)/Glen Elen(Benzinger or Valley of the Moon)
To Farmers Market in Sonoma

Day 3
Cloverdale/Geyserville/Healdsburg
(lunch)
Windsor/Cotati/Rohnert Park

Day 4
Mostly Napa-that's fine-I would cut Beringer, the grounds are pretty,
no need to drink.

Day 5
Fine-where are you buying me that drink?

Day 6
Coppia
then Napa
lunch (Don Giovanni)then Yountville
then Opus One
or better yet, do Yountville AFTER
Opus One.
Day 7-
Fine

what did I miss?
R5

Wow!

What a tough Taskmistress!!!! :-O

Day 2 - I would have a picnic lunch at Chateau St Jean. I would also visit the nearby St Francis winery. I was very disappointed at Neibaum-Coppola - it is very commercial and feels like a tourist trap. I think it is a great idea to get yourself a limo tour or designated driver. Worrying about driving can put a damper on the tasting.

Yeah, Kal,I think so too...
:S-
Wanderer, you just gotta wander more
:d
It will all work out fine!
R5

R5 -
Owe you a CASE of wine, not just a drink for all your help!!

Can anyone tell me how much time we will need on a Monday early AM to get from Agua Caliente to SFO airport?

Since you're already doing Cafe La Haye for brunch ( we had an excellent dinner there) how about the girl and the fig for dinner?

We have also enjoyed the Swiss Hotel a few times for dinner out on their back patio with the fire going, very nice. ***kim***

We really enjoyed Piatti just off the Square - Relaxed place with great patio and very good food.

Also be sure on one night at your house to walk to the Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa for a night cap or desert - they have big fire pits and even sell smores kits!

Good dinks and deserts at the bar off of the main lobby!

Overall I think you schedule looks pretty good. I think I could fit more into some of the days and have less overlap, but it doesn't look terrible.


I also find that it is nice to have an idea of a few places to go on the way and if something looks better then do that instead!

Good suggestion for the SMI, I love that place! We haven't seen the complete remodel yet, last March they told me it would be compelted in July.

It's always my first choice when in Sonoma area. I love their Apricots N' Cream body lotion they sell there.

How about Carnaros for dinner? At the Lodge at Sonoma? Haven't been there, but hear it's really good! ***kim***

Since it appears you'll be in the St Helena area on a Friday, you might want to visit their Farmers Market in the morning. It's pretty amazing.

Another option for dinner on Sat night is La Poste in Sonoma. It's a small French Bistro and very good.

Montyw - Please give suggestions about filling in and expound on "overlap".

We've read that the roads in Sonoma are difficult to drive at night (I assume not well lit?) and to stay close to home for dinner. Is this accurate??

Can anyone answer the airport question? How much time should we plan to get to SFO airport from Agua Caliente early Mon AM? We will have a rental car to drop off. Have e-tickets, and only carry-ons.

The only thing that gets overlapped in Sonoma/Napa when I'm there is my belt! 8-}

IMHO I think you have some "overlap"
due to the fact that you are researching the majority of Sonoma county as a future place to live-with that knowledge
you may see the some of the same town/road countryside more than once, but not spend an equal amount of time in in it-yes some "overlap", but not unecessary redundancy considering your "mission".
Now as to your airport question
Mr. R5 travels Hwy 101 to Pt.Richmond (crossing the San Rafael bridge) 5 days a week. The traffic in this corridor is
miserable.To arrive at 8AM he leaves Petaluma at 6:30-6:45. It is not unusual for him to be later if an accident screws things up.If you are continuing on to SFO via 19th Ave./280
I would allow no less than an additional hour. 2.5 hours minimum.
Now, because there are 2 of you, you can
travel in the carpool lane from the
Sonoma/Marin County line (just North of Novato) into Corte Madera (I think)and
that will help your time.
You just never know what's going to happen on the Bay area freeways.
I had 2 clients meeting with me up here
at 10 AM this morning traveling 2 different routes from the south and no one got here until 10:45-in a reverse commute flow.
In addition, Hwy 101 is well-lit,Hwy 12
116,121 are not. I don't know that I would stay home, but because of their
curvy nature in places, I wouldn't drink and drive!
R5

R5, thanks for the airport info. I never would have guessed 2.5 hours! And I thought Boston traffic was bad!!

We really like Cafe La Haye, and are thinking dinner there with friends Sat as it is close and menu looks great.

That takes our Sunday brunch pick. Can anyone recommend a good place in Sonoma/Glen Ellen for Sunday brunch? We will be heading to Sebastapol from there, and our friends heading back to Sacramento.

One more week - can't wait!! R5, what do you like to drink??

I just found Meritage - menu looks pretty good for brunch. Anyone eaten there?

We are unsure of Domaine Chandon for Sat. AM, as we are already doing a Champagnery (Gloria Ferrer). Can anyone suggest another winery in Napa/Yountville/Oakville/Rutherford?

We will be touring Opus One later that day, so don't want a tour, just a winery with some ambience, architecture, etc. or something unique.

Yep, it's that bad,especially Monday AM. We have no
mass transit in Marin/Sonoma/Napa
counties (like your "T"-I lived in
the Back Bay for a year, BTW) so it's pretty much HWY 101 or 580/80 to the
City.

Meritage is fabulous-we had lunch there
Sept.2nd-I do believe they moved Labor Day weekend, so do call them first.
Probably on their website.

I can give you (3) of my favorite wineries. There will be no mob scene/gift shop/tour buses/mass picninicking at any of these.
A lovely gem of a winery, beautiful architecture and wine,
Robert Sinskey on the Silverado Trail.

Rombauer, also on the silverado Trail
is equally gorgeous-I LOVE their
Chardonnay.

If you want truly unique architecture and grounds then, on your way over to Napa, off Hwy 12 on Dealy Road-then
Artesa is a MUST.

Websites have all the directions.

R5

Strongly agree about Sinsky and Rombauer. Also on Silverado is Joseph Phelps - beautiful setting and there are picnic tables but I think you have to call ahead and reserve one. The tour and tasting is also on a reserved basis.

Consider eating at Celedon which is at the Napa River Inn near Copia.

Skip uninteresting Cloverdale.

I strongly second a tasting at Robert Sinskey.

Thanks everyone.

R5, what time you meeting us at Dempseys?

oh my goodness wanderer if you don't decide to move here I'll eat my organic hat!

I wouldn't worry too much about driving at night - the roads are all pretty easy to navigate.

On my "overlap" comment I see day 1 you want go to from Cloverdale to Geyserville to Healdsburg and then back to Sonoma Square. You will need to
pass through Santa Rosa and just beyond Glen Ellen during this day which you also plan to do the next day.

Getting to Hwy 29 to go north presumably takes you through Carneros if you are coming from Sonoma

I think you have a great plan I just saw a few areas where you would be doing the same trip back to back!

Another friend of mine who lives in San Mateo wants to meet us in Bodega Bay for lunch.

Can anyone recommend a good lunch spot there?

I agree with the 2.5 hour estimate from Agua Calienta to the airport. We often visit Sonoma, and always allot that much time.
Also, returning the rental car and taking the momorail to the terminal takes a good bit of time.

We loved the Bodega Bay Lodge & Spa, they have an excellent restaurant there called the Duck Club. We have had dinner and breakfast there a few times, but I don't know if they serve lunch. ***kim***

Could someone please tell me what the opening and closing time is for the majority of shops during the week, Sat and Sun?

Can't believe - we leave Monday for CA!!!

Thanks everyone for all of your help. You gave me info. I never would have gleaned from my (many) guidebooks.

We've made several adjustments to our itinerary along the way - Cafe La Haye not avail Sat night nor was Girl and the Fig, so we are eating at Deuce, then my friend who is Portugese, wants to try La Salette for dessert. We decided to do Meritage for Sunday Brunch.

We also booked a tour at Jordan - it just looks so beautiful. Friends wanted to do Opus One, but sold out, so we are meeting at Don Giovanni then doing Domaine Carneros on the way back to Sonoma.

Our wine merchant friends set us up with tours at Chalk Hill and Chapellet - Chalk Hill had a write-up in I think Wine Country Living and looks beautiful, Chapellet I know nothing about - can anyone provide info on the winery - grounds, buildings, wine?

Friends told us we HAVE to have lunch on the Auberge du Soleil terrace, and try Mustards. Our wine merchant friends told us we have to do the "Oakville Grade" at least once (good idea??) I know after this trip we will want to return - and that I probably won't want to leave.

I hope the weather holds. I checked weather.com and it seems to be 80's (?shorts weather??) and possibly rain on Sat. Hope not through the weekend, as we plan to see Sonoma Coast Sunday and meet another former East Coast friend in Bodega Bay for lunch. Can anyone tell me if Point Reyes is close enough to Bodega Bay to see while we are there?

I tell my husband people from CA are so friendly - plus I have many friends out there - that we just HAVE to move!! We'll see.

Thanks again to everyone, and will do a trip report when we return in one short week.

We've always enjoyed our lunches on the terrace at Auberge. Take some time to walk through the property, it's gorgeous. I bought a burgandy BB cap there recently that I get a lot of compliments on!

Save room for dessert, they're always wonderful there! ***kim***

Hi wanderer!
A few notes for you:
Breakaway is located in a nice shopping
center with an Albertson's (not Ralphs,but Safeway/Albertsons and Ralph's are pretty much the same thing-like Safeway they can be open 24hrs. or 7AM to midnight or the like.

Two restaurants that won't blow your budget: Maya on Sonoma Square and the Cellar Cat Cafe in Glen Ellen.

Point Reyes is close enough to Bodega Bay,and much more worthy of your time
IMHO. Either drive out to the Lighthouse
(for some breathtaking ocean/cliff
views)or take Limintour Rd. over to Limintour Beach and stroll.

The Seaweed Cafe in Bodega Bay has a
an excellent Sunday brunch that won't send you to the poorhouse.

From Last sat.evening-Sonoma was quite busy-parking aorund the square is at a premium-so be prepared to park on
side streets and hoof it a little-you won't mind-the area is lovely.
(Here's a little secret: Cafe la Haye
and others I imagine, CAN get cancellations in the 3-4:30 PM area-
we know this from experience :)

You will enjoy both chalk Hill and
Chappellet. That's all I am going to tell you, because something on your vacation must just simply be savored and not planned to the enth degree.

A drive over the Oakville grade would be lovely.

Have a safe journey!
R5

Agree with brunch at Seaweed Cafe. I think you'll enjoy La Salette. We've have dinner there when it was out on Highway 12 but it looks like a much nicer place now that they relocated.

My other post got messed up somehow.

We leave tomorrow, and I need to know where the hospitals are in Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley.

Mr. Wanderer was recently diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation - where his heart kicks into an abnormal heart beat sometimes.

They say alcohol CAN be a trigger, and he's advised to not drink more than one glass of wine a day (boo), and hasn't had ANY since the event. He swears he WILL imbibe out in CA though, and just in case this triggers another episode, I need to know where the nearest hospital will be, as doctors say if it happens again, he must get to the hospital ASAP.

We will be staying in Agua Caliente, but roaming all over the valleys. If anyone can give me the towns and even the streets, of the hospitals, I have brought a map along and will get a sense of them before we leave.

Try here for more help.

Name :-
Sonoma Valley Hospital

Address :-
347 Andrieux Street
Sonoma, CA 95476

Telephone No. :-
707-935-5135

Here is another you might call in advance for more guidance.
Click here: The Heart Center

Hospital Contact Information

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------





Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa
3325 Chanate Rd.
Santa Rosa, CA 95404-1997

For more contact numbers go to our Hospital Directory.

Main Switchboard: (707) 576-4000
TTY-TDD: (707) 575-7911
Family Practice Center: (707) 576-4100
Women's Health Resource Center: (707) 576-4800

Please contact us at [email protected]

Trusting you will always call 911
and ask for help of the good folks in your immediate vicinity in a true emergency,
when there are is no time for reading maps, I will give you a list

Healdsburg:
Healdsburg General
1375 University
707-431-6500

Napa:
Queen of the Valley Hosp.
1000 Trancas
707-252-4411

Petaluma:
Petaluma Valley Hospital
400 North McDowell
707-778-1111

Santa Rosa: (in addition to sutter)
Kaiser Permanente
401 Bicentnnial Way
707-571-4000

Santa Rosa Memorial
1165 Montgomery Drive
707-546-3210

Sebastopol:
Palm Drive
501 Petaluma Ave
707-823-8511

Sonoma (bodi gave you)

St. Helena:
St.Helena Hospital
963-3611

Here's hoping you won't have to use it!
R5