Sonoma vs Healdsburg
 

I appreciate input as this will be our first-time in Wine Country. Staying May 12 - 15. Married couple. Deciding between Hotel Healdsburg and MacArthur Place in Sonoma.
Prefer no noisy kids running around. Hotel Healdsburg seems like there is not much property outside, nor access from King rooms except for a Juliette terrace; MacArthur has lovely grounds and we'd have a patio. What say ye?

These towns are geographically quite separate so I'd ask what you want to do, what wine areas to explore.

Thanks. Either Sonoma or Healdsburg-area wineries would be fine. We want to see some wineries, maybe hike a bit, relax; have some good meals.
How would you qualify the differences?

Downtown Healdsburg is lovely, with nice shops and restaurants surrounding a town park square area. See how far the lodging is from downtown. Don't know Sonoma, we stayed with our friends who live in Healdsburg.

MacArthur Place is about a mile walk to the Plaza/center of Sonoma

Hotel Healdsburg is right downtown and just steps from everything.

Both have their pluses. Me personally would want to be walking distance to all the shops, restaurants, galleries. But MacArthur Place does have nice grounds.

We just returned from a weekend in Healdsburg. We've lived in the region since 1975, and prefer Healdsburg over Sonoma. The towns are comparable, but the winery & vineyard areas around Healdsburg are much more scenic & interesting, IMO. Healdsburg is closer to the coast - if you want to make a trip there. We spent about 4 hrs this weekend just driving around the Healdsburg region - mainly north - and the countryside is spectacular. The Russian River area getting to Healdsburg from SF is also fabulous. Can't say the same about the Sonoma area. There is some grunge just north of Sonoma around Boyes Hot Springs, but the Valley of the Moon and Glen Ellen are nice.



I think Healdsburg has more & better restaurants. Dry Creek Valley & Alexander Valley around Healdsburg are our favorite winegrowing areas. We stay with friends when visiting both areas - so I don't know anything about the hotels (except their locations).


Stu Dudley

<<. There is some grunge just north of Sonoma around Boyes Hot Springs, but the Valley of the Moon and Glen Ellen are nice.>>

This so called “grunge” area is where the people who work very hard in the vineyards, wineries, restaurants live so the tourists can enjoy themselves.

:tu: :wine:

Guess working class neighborhoods are now 'grunge' . . .

Agree with Stu Dudley
 

Healdsberg area by far represents flavor of
Sonoma Valley,
Occasional that time of year can have a warm spell but
is mynfavorite time of year...

StuDudley, thanks very, very much. Very helpful. However, in the interim, we booked an ocean view room at Bodega Bay Lodge in Sonoma and are really happy to be be able to enjoy Pacific views, hike, tour a few coastal wineries, take a trip to Healdsburg, and generally chill. Appreciate the info you shared!

Best,

Denise

Many Thanks!

There is an excellent Mexican restaurant in Boyes Hot Springs called El Molino.