Hi. I am planning my 1st trip to wine country - Napa or Sonoma - on what happens to be Easter weekend this year. Will a lot of restaurants and wineries be closed on Good Friday and Easter? Or will it be crowded? Would you suggest changing the dates? I just figured this out so if you have advice about the timing it's much appreciated.

While I think the time is good from a weather perspective, I think alot of the wineries will be closed Easter (Mondavi definitely is) - and I don't know about Good Friday, maybe that's okay.... I think both places are good, you really can't go wrong - but I do like Napa. I really enjoyed the Napa Wine Train - relaxed meal, beautiful view, very relaxing.... There is, of course, Old Faithful, which is kind of cool. Either way, it'll be great. I'd check with your hotel and ask them about restaurants, etc on Easter Day (and maybe Good Friday)....

In Healdsburg you will probably find stores closed on Easter Sunday. Restaurants open. Good Friday doesn't really affect retail business' very much. But if you are in Sonoma COUNTY you can drive to the coast and see Bodega Bay and the Pacific Ocean on Easter Sunday. Its a good idea to also see the Redwoods in Armstrong Woods State Park in Guerneville since the Governor is about to close it due to budget cuts.

Many wineries will be open Easter Sunday in the Napa Valley and nothing closes on Good Friday. Most restaurants are open, but some will have a special Easter Brunch menu. Don't worry about getting food - you'll be fine. If you have any specific restaurants in mind, I would definitely make a reservation, particularly for any weekend evening.

Easter week can be crowded - not like summer or fall but busier than other weeks in March or April.

Some wineries do close on Easter but there should be plenty to do and the weather in late March can be very nice.

In some areas, the mustard should still be in bloom and the wildflowers will have started to appear. Rain is always possible but the wine valleys are beautiful then too and the wine will still taste good.