We will be driving to Santa Rosa from the city via Sonoma etc this Thursday. On Friday, we have dinner reservations at 7PM at the River's End in Jenner. (A Fodorite favorite from what I read.) My question is this: What route should we take? We have most of the day on Friday. Some say to go via Bodega Bay and drive Hwy1 to Jenner. Others say to drive the Russian River Valley Road to Jenner and then home through Bodega Bay. We plan to visit some wineries on Thursday and wouldn't mind stopping at a few on Friday during our drive but we also want to see wonderful scenery. Please give us some direction here....literally! Any other advice about what to do that day would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Since your dinner reservations are at
7PM I would nix the idea of going home via Bodega Bay-you won't see much in the dark. I'd just relax and enjoy the sunset at River's End.So here's a couple of ideas:

For wineries and spectacular scenery
take Guerneville Road over to Forestville and turn right onto Hwy 116
(All kinds of wineries off Guerneville Road and near Forestville.)
Take 116 up to River Road and continue out to Jenner. At the junction of 116/
1 turn right, go through Jenner and take a drive up to the Sea Ranch-or further-truly spectacular scenery.
Then you just have to re-trace your
route back to Jenner for dinner and go back to SR the way you came or stay on the River Road until it meets Hwy 101.

If you want to go to Jenner via Bodega
Bay:
From SR take Hwy 12 East to Sebastopol
where it becomes Bodega Ave and then it become Bodega Hwy. Follow this through the town of Bodega to the junction with Hwy 1. Turn right and head into the town of Bodega Bay and you can follow this up to Jenner. This is only about an hours trip, so you could stop at loads of beaches along the way. No wineries along this route, though.
then follow 116 as described above back to Santa Rosa.

One large caveat to all this-you do not want to drive any of these roads if you've been drinking. All of them are 2
lane, country roads and being unfamiliar with them at night won't be any easier if you have had a few at dinner. Additionally, the CA Hwy Patrol
is abundantly present in the Wine Country. My neighbors and I thank you
for having a designated driver.

That said, have a great time-the late rains have made for a nice flow along the Rusian River and the wildflowers
are abundant.
R5

Razzledazzle: I am so glad you replied. I have read many of your posts. Your suggestion sounds great. How far north of Jenner to we need to go? We have a designated driver in the person of our 20 year old son. We really don't intend to stop at many wineries. Just a few along the way. Do you know of any that have tours that are somewhat unique or wineries that have beautiful grounds etc.? We will take the Benziger tram tour and see the grounds of Chateau St. Jean on our way to Santa Rosa on Thursday.

As far as you like
Jenner to Sea Ranch is about an hour
another 10 mins. to Gualala. If you get to Jenner and don't want to drive
take a left and stop at Goat Rock state Beach-not more than 10 minutes.
The drive along the Russian River
is quite nice, you'll have some stands of redwoods.
As far as tours, Korbel is nice as the process of making champagne is a bit
different than making still wine. Not my fave champagne, but nice grounds.
They have tours quite often so check the website. From Forestville on 116 you'll have to turn right on Martinelli Road to get over to River Road and Korbel. As long as your up on the River Road, you might as well turn off on
(right) and head up the West Side
road. This is a scenic trip. Hop Kiln is a unique, historic
site, Roshambo is quite modern and fun,
Armida has stunning views and wine.
You can get good maps at wineroad.com
Go to the Russian River Valley map.

Now, lets hope you don't have fog at the coast on Friday!
R5

I second your opinion of Korbel but if the tour is nice, we will stop. I feel the same way about Chateau St. Jean, although the reserve tasting is a good one. The grounds are just beautiful and hard to pass up. This area is new for me. Normally we go north from Sonoma...taste and turn around and head back to the City. It will be nice to actually enjoy the area at a leisurely pace. I am also trying to find places/stops that my son might enjoy since the wine tasting will not be apart of his itinerary.

Any suggestions for dinner in Santa Rosa. I heard that Willie's Wine Bar might be fun. Is there some place close to the Hyatt/RR Square area that we could walk to for dinner that Thursday night...casual and inexpensive to moderate in price? We heard the Omelette Express was good for breakfast....
Keep the advice and suggestions coming!

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