| Author |
Message |
    
davidbuckley
Citizen
Username: Davidbuckley
Post Number: 477
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 9:26 pm: |     |
We'd like to be w/in 2 hours of SF and we can consider w/ kids or without but need comfortable and friendly in wine country, coast, redwoods, you tell me but ANY suggestions very much appreciated and, of course, time is of the essence.
I remain your grateful neighbor and wish that you should...
Be well, all.
David Buckley |
zen
Citizen
Username: Zen
Post Number: 37
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 10:20 pm: | |
Although Napa is not as crowded this time of year, try Sonoma. Go to Healdsburg in Northern Sonoma. Great restaraunts, close to vineyards and tasting rooms - great wine (at lower prices than Napa), and under 2 hours from SF. Using that as your base, you can make a day trip through the Redwoods up to Mendicino, or a short ride out to the coast. |
davidbuckley
Citizen
Username: Davidbuckley
Post Number: 478
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 11:11 pm: | |
Thank you, Zen.
Had been considering Healdsburg area--any suggestions for accomodations?
Gracias.
David |
Shawna
Citizen
Username: Lucies_mom
Post Number: 80
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 5:56 am: | |
bodega bay! I think Bodega Bay would be more fun for kids than Healdsburg. My personal opinion. |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2654
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 7:55 am: | |
We loved the Monterey Bay Penninsula (Monterey Bay, Carmel and Pebble Beach). I think it is 2 hours away, might be a bit more. GREAT for kids because of the Monterey Aquarium. |
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 3952
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 9:09 am: | |
We did SF/Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur last week with our six year old. Monterey Aquarium and Dennis the Menace Playground are great in Monterey. We drove top Big Sur (VERY curvey -- give kid Dramamine!!) and hiked a little (just a little it was raining. Went to Carmel and Pacific Grove which was fun. In SF we did Haight Ashbury, wandered around, showed ki where Jerry Garcia lived, went to Golden Gate Park (another great playground), Alcatraz, hiked all over, went to City Lights bookstore and explained (very poorly) what beat literature was. Wandered around Fisherman's Wharf, saw the sea lions, walked up to Coit Tower. In SF we stayed at www.argonauthotel.com and in Monterey at www.montereybaylodge.com -- the place in Monterey was just a motel but was clean and nice and the price was right. |
mim
Citizen
Username: Mim
Post Number: 552
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 9:14 am: | |
Years ago we spent several days with our then three-year-old in Santa Rosa, which is close to many things of interest, including Napa and Sonoma. |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2656
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 9:33 am: | |
Alg, we did almost that exact thing (started in SF) but with an 18 month old (and a newly preggers me). We really want to go back.
We stayed at the Hotel Pacific in Monterey which was nice. Next time we might try the Marina Dunes, which is about 1/2 hour north in a nature preserve and less expensive. http://www.marinadunes.com/ |
Da Lat
Citizen
Username: Sidrn
Post Number: 160
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 9:50 am: | |
David,
All the places recommended above are great. You should also look at Sea Ranch. I had a wonderful time there. You can also go to Mendocino, which is a must IMHO.
http://www.searanchlodge.com/
Enjoy California and drink a glass of Silver Oak Cab for me while you're there.
|
AlleyGater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 1121
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 10:08 am: | |
Big Sur is spectacular (quite a bit more than 2 hours from SF though) but Santa Cruz is along the way and is definitely less than 2 hours. It is a college town with phenomenal walking downtown with amazing food and great useful stores. My dad lives there so I have spent alot of time there. If you are looking for a nice dinner try Pearl Alley it's downtown but sorta hidden and it's sorta French but with a serious NY twist -- and there are a few other rather odd and fun things on the menu such as Asian. The food is phenomenal. Also in walking distance from Downtown is a sushi place called Mobo Sushi which is so imaginative it makes me realize how boring sushi on the East Coast is. And by our standards it's dirt cheap. If you decide to go I could come up with a dozen other fabulous restaurants (don't miss a cheap delicious burrito at Costa Brava). Other things to do in Santa Cruz (according to the season) it might be Monarch breeding season. Their is a mini aquarium sorta sea museum in town. There is a boardwalk with rollercoaster and rides on the water (again it might be off season though so check first). There is a pier with shops, restaurants, views and best of all sea lions. I'll stop now, but I can guarantee that you'll have a great day in S.C. There is a fair amount to do nearby too drive up to the Buddist temple in the redwood forest (10 minutes away), have breakfast at the cash store on the coast in Davenport and hit Lundberg's glass studio (don't miss the seconds in the detached garage) and don't miss renowned the Bonny Doon Winery (no grapes are grown there) but you can have tastings and buy bottles there. |
zen
Citizen
Username: Zen
Post Number: 38
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 12:50 am: | |
David,
When the kids are with us, on our trips to Sonoma, most of the time we have stayed in the Best Western in Healdsburg. It is conveniently located and has a pool. The Hotel Healdsburg is very nice (but fairly expensive), located right on the town square, and has a Charlie Palmer restaraunt. The hotel bar has a great local wine selection, and also has a Spa (sorry - you'll have to ask my wife how it was - I never made it). There are also a number of bed and breakfasts. A friend of mine stayed in the Madrona Manor and liked it; the wife and I have stayed up in cloverdale, (next town north) about 15 minutes on 101, in a place called the vintage towers (http://www.vintagetowers.com). It was very nice, but we felt the town of Cloverdale was too quiet...and we often found ourselves driving back from Healdsburg. There are about 5 v good restaraunts around the Healdsburg square or within walking distance. I recall a great meal at Ravenous, and some fun times at Zin with the vintner for a (semi)-major wine label. There is a cafe/bar next to the hotel, across the main road from the Healdsburg Hotel, and I recall they had a fenced in play area that was great for occupying the kids while we relaxed. There is a high end grocery store (Oakville Grocery) with a decent selection of local wines - great place to stock up for hikes or a picnic. If you travel north on 101 don't miss the wineries in the Anderson valley - it is a cooler growing region, and they produce some notable sparkling wines.
Enjoy |
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page