JB1968

We are headed to Cali in a few weeks, arriving in Sacramento on a Saturday and headed to Healdsburg for the first part of the trip. I did get a suggested route from the Fodorites earlier (but would welcome more ideas), but can someone recommend a good stop along the way? We are landing around 10:30 am so a good spot for some lunch or sightseeing would be great. I would really appreciate specifics if you know of a good restaurant or shopping area rather than a general city to stop in.

Thanks so much!

janisj

No reason to stop along the way unless you just want to. No matter which route you take, from SMF to Healdsburg is a bit over 2 hours, so you'd be getting there just about lunch time. But if you want to take 80 to Hwy 12 across, and through Sonoma and over to 101, you could stop in central Sonoma. Several good places around the square. Sonoma is just under 90 mins from SMF

JB1968

We are coming from the East Coast, so we'll probably be ready for some food (and a nap) shortly after landing.

janisj

After leaving Sacramento, there is no place really you'd want to stop before Napa or Sonoma. Even though you'll be 'on east coast time', in Sacramento it will be 10:30 AM so too late for breakfast and too early for lunch service. So unless you dawdle for an hour or so, you'd be stuck in a chain type place that serves all day. It would be better to go into Old Sacramento and walk around for a while and then head out after lunch.

So it is your call-- hang around Old Sac 2 or 3 hours, or drive about 1.5 hours and stop in the Napa/Sonoma area.

janisj

meant to add-- there are also a few places along the Garden Highway/Sacramento River which are about equally convenient as Old Sac from the airport.

tomfuller

If you are going near Davis (or any other Black Bear Diner) you can get breakfast or lunch. http://www.blackbeardiner.com/locati...nia/davis.aspx
I have eaten in about 10 of their 50 diners.

boom_boom

If you stay in Sacramento for lunch, you've got Old Town and the State Railroad Museum you can visit.
For something other than freeway you can take I-80 to Davis and then SR 128 past Lake Berryessa into Rutherford about halfway up Napa Valley then stay on 128 through Calistoga to Geyserville, a little north of Healdsburg. Or you can takethe road from Calistoga over to Fulton on 101 between Santa Rosa and Healdsburg. SR 128 and the road to Fulton are a bit twisty, but much different than the freeway.

Supercilious

There's plenty of places to eat along I-80 in Davis, Vacaville, or Fairfield. They are mostly chains like Outback or fast food but there's quite a variety. If you want something unique, try Sudwerk in Davis. It's right on the frontage road of I-80 and they start serving lunch at 11:30.

http://www.sudwerk.com/

It's a little tricky to get to so follow the directions carefully on their website.

Or, wait for Napa or Sonoma. If it was a weekday, you could stop at Francis Ford Coppola's place at the Napa Airport.

janisj

The Black Bear is just a chain w/ semi-edible food. Definitely not a destination. Sudwerk is good but getting into and out of Davis can be more than a little tricky.

Dixon/Vacaville/Fairfield are full of roadside chains - not destinations or worth a special stop.

That's why I'd either spend the time in Old Sacramento or press on to Sonoma.

Suzie

I can't believe no one has mentioned that you must eat at In & Out. I don't get the draw but everyone else insists that it's a must do for non west coasters. There is one right off the freeway in Vacaville - about an hour form Sacto.

Suzie

After you enjoy your In & Out you can shop around the premium outlets right there.

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=50

elnap29

A very easy stop would be the Boon Fly Cafe on Highway 12 between Napa and Sonoma. Hwy 12 reaches a stoplight intersection near Napa and turns LEFT toward Sonoma. There is a group of buildings on the right that look sort of barn-like (but newer structures). Turn right into the driveway and turn right immediately into the parking area. This place is easy to miss.

If you do miss it, keep heading toward Sonoma on Hwy 12. Veer left on Hwy 12 at the intersection at Napa Rd. As you come down the hill, you will see Fremont Diner on the right. It looks like an old drive-in.

Very good food at both of these and conveniently on your way. I'd skip FF Coppola's restaurant near the Napa Airport. It's not as good as it used to be. These places are about 1 hour 10 min from SMF. If you are hungry before this, someone else will have to advise you.

janisj

elnap's suggestion is really good --I completely forgot about Boon Fly. In-n-Out is fine for a fast food hamburger -yummy. But not the sort of place I'd personally stop after a long flight.

Suzie

I just had In & Out Monday in Long Beach and a few weeks ago in chico. I still don't get it. NOT yummy.

JB1968

Thanks everyone. Great suggestions. Much appreciated. Based on your feedback, we'll get a snack on the plane so we can hold out until we get farther on the road.

janisj

Just south of Sonoma is the Schellville Grill -- which, as I type this, is on a rerun of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives . . .

http://www.schellvillegrill.com/