AboutWilliam Conde Expertise I wish to serve as a sort of guide to the North Bay area, with extensive experience in Sonoma County proper, and abilities to help with more general questions regarding the Marin and Napa County areas. For questions regarding what the area is like, what to bring, where to stay, etc., I'm eager and capable to help bring forth solutions to your regional queries.
Please note that while I can suggest many wineries to visit in the area, there are so many to choose from that I wouldn't be able to answer questions about each and every one. I can also suggest non-winery-related sights to see and locales to visit, depending on whatever sort of vacation, business trip, or other excursion you may have in mind.
Also, I am not a wine expert (I don't drink alcohol), so please don't ask me specific questions about such-and-such labels of wine.
Experience I have lived in the Sonoma County region for 10 years and wish to help others understand and appreciate the unique experience that is being part of this area. I am goal-oriented and love to help "fill in the gaps," so to speak, of the plans and ideas of those who are considering visiting this beautiful region.
Education/Credentials Licensed Pharmacy Technician; B.S. degree in Chemistry (Biochemistry Emphasis).
Expert: William Conde Date: 8/27/2007 Subject: Wine Country Visit Questions
Question Dear Mr Conde,
The benefit of your experience and advice is very much appreciated. With the generous assistance of my industry contacts I have planned what seems to be a terrific itinerary for a small group to wine country in October-we are very lucky. Having never been to the area, however, I would welcome your help with filling in the framework. My request is rather wordy–thanks for your patience! The context is this: 12 days including travel, with 2 tours/tastings set up for most days and vineyard guesthousing for all but 2 overnights, in both Napa and Sonoma. For starters, my questions fall into these general areas:
Travel considerations:
1. There will be minimal, but some, commuting between Napa and Sonoma, for example overnighting in Rutherford and being in Healdsburg by 1030 the next morning. Realistic? How much time to allow, anything else to consider?
2. What is a realistic travel time between Sacramento airport and St Helena? Healdsburg and Sacramento. What about back roads vs Interstate from Healdsburg? Our 22 year-old daughter wants to join us mid-trip, and to make that happen it seems that a run to the airport is unavoidable. Do you know of any other public transport? Horizon into Sonoma Cty Airport won't work.
3. What is a realistic travel time between Alexander Valley and Carneros? Do you prefer Hwy 101 over 12?
Regional must-sees of a non-wine nature:
Do you have recommendations for destinations on the coast, from either $ value or relaxation perspectives?
Is the Russian River a worthwhile destination for canoeing etc in Oct?
What's at The Geysers?
Are there worthwhile redwood forests in the vicinity?
What else? We love the ocean (and seafood) but do not have unlimited funds.
Weekends:
What has been your experience in Napa and Sonoma on Saturdays: is it a zoo? Any advice as to setting appropriate expectations? How do you find restaurants offering the best value?
Climate:
Is the weather warm enough for pool swimming in October? Would you bring sweaters or is a light jacket adequate? Is it a khakis crowd or shorts/jeans?
Any other ideas you may have for filling in the existing framework would be very welcome. Thanks again!
Answer Dear Jim,
I am glad to be of assistance in any and all ways possible, and sincerely hope that my advice will prove fruitful to you on your travels. I shall address your considerations, for simplicity's sake, in the order in which they were posited:
If you overnight in Rutherford, you'll have to get up remarkably early to be in Healdsburg by 10:30! I'm not sure how "early-riser" you and your guests are, but it will probably be at least an hour and a half's drive each way (assuming traffic is compliant; with that in mind, I'd budget two hours or more, myself), and I'd imagine you'll probably want to get breakfast and/or coffee before or during your commute. And, these estimates also are assuming that you don't accidentally take a wrong turn, and that you whisk along at the speed limit, which isn't especially nice for first-time visitors to the area.
Sacramento Airport is probably at least two to three hours away; having not gone there myself in recent years (I generally use Oakland Airport, though San Francisco is one I have also utilized in the past), I'm not sure of exact transit times. However, I presume that it is possible to take public transit from Sacramento to the Wine Country; all the same, I haven't the foggiest as to what route one would take. We do have Greyhound depots in our area--perhaps one of these would be of use? I'd personally recommend Oakland or SFO Airports for your daughter if at all possible, as they are much closer to the Wine Country and offer direct-from-airport shuttle bus services.
Between Alexander Valley and Carneros, I'd also budget at least two hours. The roads are rather windy, and it's easy to get stuck behind slow-moving trucks. (For this reason I'd suggest using Hwy. 101 as much as possible--it has more lanes and a higher speed limit, even if it isn't as direct! 12 is more scenic, and tends to be circuitous--I'd exercise slight caution using it if any members of your group tend towards travel sickness.)
On the coast, we have such a variety of things to see and do that it's very difficult to select just one. However, to really get a feel of a unique Sonoma County experience, I'd recommend the towns along the Russian River (which you've heard of, I see!), such as Forestville, Monte Rio, Jenner, and Bodega. However, bear in mind that our weather in October is somewhat brisk throughout the region, and especially so the closer one gets to the coast. If you're looking for relaxation, I've heard some interesting things about Osmosis, which is a spa that features a cedar enzyme "bath" purportedly the only of its kind in the States. It's in Freestone--you may wish to take a gander at it. Alternatively, you may wish to go boutique-hopping in Mendocino, which, while a considerable drive from the Napa region (perhaps even three hours), is a remarkable and unique town rich in culture and history.
Of course, you also may wish to drop by Fort Ross, which was once a settlement from the long-passed days in which the Russians colonized the coast of our state. It is remarkably inexpensive, and demonstrates what living in the fort would have been like.
Still, most of the coastal beaches are free of charge (those that -do- charge are usually just for parking), and there are so many different ones to choose from. For a more "classic" beach experience, Doran State Park is a common choice; for a more "rugged" beach experience, unique to the North Coast, you may decide to select smaller, less-traveled beaches, such as Schoolhouse or Russian Gulch Beaches.
I must regret to inform you that the weather in October generally is not guaranteeably especially suitable for canoeing on the Russian River. Our rainy seasons are very unpredictable, and you may be stuck in pouring rain on its swollen currents if you're unfortunate. However, there is also a chance the weather will be temperate and balmy--so you may have to play things by ear, rather than, say, making advance reservations for a canoe excursion. If the rainy season hasn't begun in full force by the time you arrive, it could well be a splendid activity. All the same, the towns alongside the Russian River offer a wide variety of local flavor, and so coming out to the area will not leave you empty-handed in case the river and weather should prove less than cooperative for canoeing purposes.
The Geysers is the site of a massive geothermal field. At this time, it is primarily a site used for power generation, though there are undoubtedly some natural geysers available for public viewing at the location. If you're wanting to see geysers or hot springs, however, there's no need to drive all the way out to The Geysers! Calistoga has a wide range of hot springs and even a few geysers to tickle your geothermal fancies--including some spas that offer unique mineral water and/or mud baths, which some locals swear by as beauty or health treatments.
There are most certainly redwood forests in our vicinity. Towards the northeast of Santa Rosa are the Armstrong State Redwoods, which are remarkably accessible but still remote in feel, and absolutely wonderful for a gentle autumn hike. As long as the rain lets you be, you will undoubtedly enjoy a trip to that forest (so long as you like forests and hikes and so forth). If, on the other hand, you'd prefer a more open and expansive natural destination, you may decide to visit Annadel and Spring Lake Parks in northeastern Santa Rosa, which are a common destination for fitness- and nature-minded locals. Note: prepare to meet many friendly dogs and their owners if you visit these parks!
Perhaps the most inexpensive things to do in the area are also the most typically Californian. While Santa Rosa offers a wide spectrum of opportunities, you will easily find traditional, affordable restaurants and attractions there should boredom or bad weather strike. Napa County, where I gather you will be spending a considerable amount of time, is considerably more expensive of a region (on the whole) than Sonoma County, though Napa proper will have more reasonable prices for food, entertainment, and lodging than most of the rest of its eponymous county. Even the small towns in Sonoma County tend to be more inexpensive than ones of comparable size and accessibility in Napa County.
Napa and Sonoma are usually only mildly occupied unless there is some kind of event the weekends in question. While they have major traffic arteries that pass through and around them (the highways, primarily, though some "backroads" are also well-used), they themselves are generally not too crammed.
As for restaurants, you must first shop by area, and then by cuisine. Taylor's Refresher, for instance, is a restaurant in St. Helena in the style of 50's drive-in service, and a meal for one person there typically ranges from 6 to 10 dollars, depending on beverages and other accoutrements. Buns and Burgers, on the other hand, is a small independent restaurant in Santa Rosa where a meal is more likely to cost from $3.50 to $8.00 for one.
And, as one might expect, sushi (for instance) in Napa County will generally also be more expensive than hamburgers in either county, but also more expensive than most sushi in Sonoma County. Sometimes it's best to simply select a region where one will be around dinnertime, and then browse the area or even the Yellow Pages to determine a suitable restaurant. We certainly have no shortage of them in our region!
In October, you will need to swim in a heated pool, generally speaking. While it's rare that we get much frost by that time of year, it can still yield brisk air temperatures and occasional gusty winds. Morton's Hot Springs, in the Sonoma region, offers pools heated by natural geothermal springs, and would likely be an excellent choice if swimming is what you seek.
Definitely bring sweaters. As mentioned, our weather is wildly unpredictable (it comes with being sandwiched between so many microclimates), and you may encounter chilly winds just as easily as balmy sunshine or dreary rainshowers.
As for khakis, those will only be generally necessary in the small towns of the Napa region. Sonoma County is a very relaxed area, and aside from some of the wineries and a few high-class regions (such as Fountaingrove in northern Santa Rosa), you will find that the dress is quite practical. However, you are more likely to encounter more formal situations in the Napa region, and as such you may find khakis to be useful when you plan to spend more time in that general locale. This, however, depends very much upon where you choose to eat: if cost is a considerable consideration for where you choose to eat, you likely won't be wanting to select the restaurants in the Napa area that would necessitate khakis--the prices will likely be rather notable.
Again, I hope that these suggestions serve you well as you plan your trip to the area. If you have further inquiries, be they for further details on matters already covered in brief or questions regarding entirely novel considerations, feel free to submit them as a follow-up to this question. We'll be glad to have you visit!
