My husband are going to stay a week at WorldMark Windsor Resort (Russian River Region) in August. It is a timeshare place. Has anyone ever stayed there?

We'd like suggestions on great restaurants (very important for us) and other ideas on what to do while we are there. Of course we love wines, especially reds. We visited Hanna before which is in this region and loved their wines. Would like to do a kayak day trip, too. Any suggestions on that would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you can share for this trip.

We stayed there last September. The units are quite nice and we were lucky to have one on outside of the complex with a view of the valley looking west over the Windsor Golf Course. The immediate area around the Windsor Worldmark is not spectacular but you are only minutes from Healdsburg and the Russian River Valley.

You will be about a half hour from the Pacific Coast. We spent two days in this area, including one long day where we drove inland up to Mendocino and followed the coast south to Jenner. The scenery was beautiful, after the fog lifted. That wound up being a FULL day trip.

We had never see redwood forests and greatly enjoyed a morning at the Amstrong Redwoods which was only a fifteen or twenty minute drive from the resort.

We did not do too many restaurants on that trip but I understand the restaurant adjoining the resort at the golf course is very good. I recall having the most expensive hamburger I have ever eaten (also the best) in Healdsburg at the Healdsburg Bar and Grill.

I think you will find that a good map of the area is a necessity. There are many small roads going in every direction that can be a bit confusing.

We also did a day trip to SF, not driving all the way there but taking the ferry from Larkspur. By booking ahead we were able to take a return ferry from the Giants Ballpark after watching a basball game.

How much was that burger?

There are lots of wonderful restaurants in Healdsburg. Willie's seafood wine bar is great, we like Charcuiterie (sp?) for lunch, Hotel Healdsburg's Dry Creek Kitchen if you are feeling flush. Don't miss old town Windsor..which is actually a newly built town. Great farmer's market on Sat.in Hbg and Sunday in Windsor. Lots of guide books talk about Bistro Ralph's. Just head into town and walk around the square, and you'll find a lot to occupy your time.

I recall $17.95 and for me as a Canadian that worked out to more than $20.00 CAD
I second the comments about the new old town in Windsor. There is a nice friendly coffee shop we used there for breakfast snacks and checking e-mail etc.

Thank you all for sharing this information with me. We are really looking forward to going. I've booked us on a river rafting trip, too. I'm sure we'll have a great time in Windsor.