<p>A group of eight of us (four couples) are taking a short trip to the Napa/Sonoma area the end of October. Most of the people are wine lovers, two of them quite knowledgable, but two of them do not drink. No one wants to spend all day going from vineyard to vineyard. We are trying to plan some “day trips” that might include a vineyard stop, but also includes things that are not.</p>
<p>Has anyone visited any place in the area they would recommend?
Great restaurants you ran across?</p>
<p>Ideas such as a visit to an olive oil factory, tram ride to Sterling Vineyard, go see some “trees” (Muir Woods?), Sausalito, Tiburon, Bodega Bay, etc. have been thrown out. Anyone have any experience with these?</p>
<p>Some wineries offer more than wine tasting. If your non-drinker friends like modern art, they will like the Hess Collection Vineyards that has three stories of art pieces on display:</p>
<p>There are wonderful restaurants to enjoy, mud baths to be had (though mine was too hot and I had red splotchy burn marks on me for a day or two!) cute shops at wineries like Frei brothers (picnic on their lawn). Have a blast!!</p>
<p>Point Reyes is beautiful. How active are these people?</p>
<p>You can ride bikes from SF to the Tiburon Ferry. Most of the ride is flat. The Tiburon bike path borders the SF Bay. Spectacular views of SF and the Golden Gate Bridge…and it isn’t crowded. You can also walk down the Tiburon bike path or walk the Tiburon Ridge. Speaking of views…the views from Marin Headlands…you can see SF, the Pacific Ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge is right in your face…awesome.</p>
<p>I agree with the comments about Muir Woods. Hiking on MT Tam is also nice. If you like expensive neighborhoods…walking or driving through Ross…and hiking around Lake
Lagunitus…can be fun.</p>
<p>As far as Napa and Sonoma goes…Healdsburg, St Helena, Calistoga, and Sonoma are nice towns. In Calistoga…you can have mud baths…Spas are
everywhere in these towns.</p>
<p>Restaurants…I like TraVigne in Napa, the Buckeye in Mill Valley, Poggio in Sausalito. There are plenty of great restaurants…That will not be a problem.</p>
<p>We love the Russian River valley, and recommend the Applewood Inn. Great boutique hotel with a great restaurant. The Russian river area is much quieter than most of wine country. Canoeing on the river is an option.</p>
<p>A Greek restaurant called Topolos used to be our favorite place, but they changed ownership a few years back. It’s now called “Corks at Russian River Vineyards” … we haven’t been back yet, but they get good reviews.</p>
<p>I always recommend the tram ride at Sterling. I think it would be great for a mixed group like yours that isn’t all interesting in the wine. The views are great, and there is a reasonable cafe at the top that the non-wine folks would appreciate.</p>
<p>Just came back from there recently. Great restaurants (aside from the most famous ones) are:
Napa Valley-- Terra, Cindy’s Back Street, 25 Brix, Farmstead and Taylor’s Refresher (burger stand!).
Sonoma Valley-- Girl and the Fig, Cafe la Haye, El Dorado Kitchen.</p>
<p>See the historic sites and the art museum in Sonoma, rent bikes and ride through the back roads to Kenwood and Glen Ellen. Hike in Jack London State Park. Drive up to Healdsburg and get a picninc from the Oakville Grocery there (the original is in Rutherford). Bodega Bay and Muir Woods are also wonderful.
Visit Castello Amoroso north of St Helena. Take a drive over the Oakville grade between the two valleys (daytime only!).</p>
<p>Some winery tours are extra special because of the facilities, the art collection (Hess) or the educational aspect. Two that are off the beaten path that I would recommend are Quixote Winery (Silverado Trail in Napa) and the mountain top tasting at Kunde in Kenwood (Sonoma Valley). Quixote is not available to passers-by, you have to reserve in advance. It is housed in the only (or one of the only) US building by the artist Hundertwasser. But if that means nothing to you, skip it!
The mountaintop tasting at Kunde is available for an upcharge in their regular tasting room, but is worth it even for the non-drinker, since the views (not normally accessible) are stunning, and you will see the boxing ring from “Bottle Shock”, and locations from “Falcon Crest” to boot!</p>
<p>If you’re into trees you could also check out Armstrong Redwoods in Guerneville. We’ve been hiking there twice…and I don’t hike. Ever.</p>
<p>Bodega Bay is a lot of fun, though the “climb” to and from the actual beach is a little scary sometimes.</p>
<p>Guy Fieri has restaurants in Santa Rosa that I’ve only heard good things about. There’s also Powell’s candy store in Petaluma, which makes you feel like the proverbial kid in the candy store. They also sell gelato. =)</p>
<p>“Quixote is not available to passers-by, you have to reserve in advance. It is housed in the only (or one of the only) US building by the artist Hundertwasser. But if that means nothing to you, skip it!”</p>
<p>mominva–I just meant they can skip it if looking at an architectural gem is uninteresting–many people might find that boring (those aren’t people I understand, but they exist!) My family adores those kinds of things, if we hadn’t loved it, I wouldn’t have recommended it! </p>
<p>Xiggi–keeping it in the CMC family with that Woodhouse recommendation? :)</p>
<p>If anyone is interested in Ca history there is the Mission in the town of Sonoma. Also you can visit Vallejo’s house outside of Sonoma. Both are interesting.
For a nice hike really more of a walk I second the recommendation of Armstrong Woods in Guerneville on the Russian River in Sonoma County. It you are ocean people you can continue out from the Russian River to Bodega Bay. It is a wild ocean up in that area. A bit up the coast is Ft Ross which is another bit of Ca History. Also lots of apples that time of year in the area between Santa Rosa and the coast.</p>
<p>Everyone goes to Sonoma, but there are other nice communities in Sonoma County.</p>
<p>Petaluma is a lovely little city in Sonoma…went through it on my way by bus from SF to Santa Rosa, and wish I had been able to actually stop and spend some time there.</p>
<p>Thanks so much! These are all great ideas! </p>
<p>My husband spent yesterday afternoon pouring over books - he’s trying to come up with plans that will be enjoyed by all and these suggestions will really help!</p>
<p>One of the best restaurants in the US is the French Laundry, which is in Yountville, CA. H and I went several years ago and loved it. We went with friends who aren’t foodies and they loved it as well. Great atmosphere and service–the staff is friendly and gracious. It’s a wonderful food experience.</p>
<p>I’d second the recommendation for Muir Woods. Also, the Marin Bolinas Botanic Garden is in that area too–it features succulents. Beautiful spot that borders Point Reyes.</p>