Stay in Sonoma or Yountville?
 

We are planning a trip in September and plan to spend four days in the wine country. We're debating between Yountville and Sonoma. We plan to travel around to Russian River, Sonoma Valley, etc., during the day, but aren't sure where the best location is to stay. We'd like to be semi-close to shops, restaurants, wineries, etc. Healdsburg sounded great but sounded a little too far from Sonoma.
We're looking at the Inn at Sonoma, Trojan Horse Inn, or Lavender Inn or Maison Fleurie.

Thanks!

We'd like to avoid a ton of crowds if that helps. Thanks!

Not sure why you are considering a stay in Yountville (Napa County), yet planning to tour mostly Sonoma County -
Hmmmm... For the RR area and avoiding crowds
and traffic stay in Healdsburg. Do these
4 days include a weekend ? and then, of course, it is harvest, (or crush) time
and that always adds to the crowds. Combine all of the above with the good weather we typicaly tend to enjoy in Sept and Oct and you may get crowds anywho. Make your reservations ASAP,
BTW.
R5

Thanks. I thought that since the counties were so close that we could stay in one or the other. We would be there partly over a weekend as well.

Thanks again.

Oh zialot, please stay in Sonoma. We have traveled to the Napa/Sonoma area every year for 3 years now, and everytime we have been delighted with being in Sonoma. I have yet to see if crowded, the park in the center of town is so pretty & a nice walk from a few nice hotels, and you don't get the attitude of the Napa B&Bs.

If you want to splurge a bit, the best place I have ever stayed was MacArthur Place in Sonoma. Great breakfasts, excellent service, spa in the hotel. Your room is stand-alone & you walk through a beautiful garden to access it. Ours had a spa bath for 2, open-air shower (have to try it!)... look at their site, it is perfect luxury. We spent our honeymoon there & enjoyed every second.

A good second choice, and the one we've chosen the last 2 trips (when we were more concerned with wine-tasting/buying & wanted to save some money on our room) was the Inn at Sonoma. The Four Sisters Inn group really knows what they're doing, and I would stay at any of their properties in a heartbeat. They have a different hot & cold breakfast every day, an outdoor jacuzzi upstairs, the most comfortable beds I have ever slept on, and nice little touches everywhere that make it homey yet professional (bikes to borrow, a chess board in the lobby, cookies, coffee, & tea all day...). In the off-season (I think September applies), they have a buy one-get one night free deal that basically makes it one of the most affordable options in the area.

Both hotels are a short walk from several nice restaurants, both include breakfast, both are highly recommended.

No matter where you stay, have a wonderful time!