Napa Valley and Wine tasting, Please help! About This Page:

[scdisneyfan]

Okay my DBF dream is to go to San Francisco and to do the wine tasting tours in Napa Valley.....I have a few questions related to this if anyone knows. Would you fly into San Fran if you are going to Napa Valley? Do they usually offer packages for touring Napa Valley and wine tasting? Do you have to drive or can you take a train or bus to do this all? Any advice would be much appreciated!

[Colexis Mom]

You can fly into San Francisco, Oakland, or Sacramento. Going to Sacramento you'll avoid the big traffic hassles. I'm sure there must be packages out there. When we went, we drove ourselves from winery to winery. However, we did see a lot of limos/towncars which were shuttling people back and forth, so I'm sure there must be some sort of service like that

[Maybird07712]

Flying into SFO would be the shortest distance into Napa. There is something called The Wine Train, which in IMHO is overpriced. Try looking at a site called Bay area backroads for suggestions on the best Wineries.

[betsisoff]

I second the advice of Colexis Mom, taking the Sacramento. It's a spectacular drive in. Especially because it's a straight shot over to St. Helena, which is my favorite wine country locale. Just a bit north are the hot springs of Calistoga and the Petrified Forest.

[scottjs]

sc disney fan. I live in San Francisco. And there are several ways that you can do this. I would be delighted to help you with and questions you may have!!!

I would fly into SFO or Oakland International Airport(Depending on which side of the bay you wanted to be on. Oakland has a smaller airport and therefore less traffic. I live in San Francisco and thusly use SFO a lot.

You can rent a car in San Francisco or take a Ferry Boat across the bay to do it.

There are limo tours. There are hot air ballon tours.

The Wine Train is fun but it is expensive! And it does not go to San Francisco.

Let me know how I can help!!

[scdisneyfan]

I'm so excited about the possibility of this!!
Thanks for everyone's advice....I think we many HAVE to fly in to SFO because if the expense ...not sure yet...

So scott my question to you and i we can pm if we need to but i'm curious about the pricing of things.....We are looking to stay around 2500 total for the airfare, hotel and food....and rental car...i'm not sure if that's going to be possible. The airfare looks to be around 250 a person which is great. But we are unsure of how to do the hotels and how to tour wine country...there's a certain region he wants to visit...i will have to ask him again about that....Do you have a suggestion for the best time of year to go???

[janicelovesmickey]

when you planning to go there?
I went once to SFO its soo beautiful

[scottjs]

scdisney.......I would suggest that you rent a car in San Francisco before you head north. Would you want to spend maybe a day or so looking around the city?? I can get more info this weekend about motels and all that. Tell me what you want to spend for a motel!! Do you want downtown San Francisco or out by the beach?

Remember too that there are two major wine regions in California! The region around Napa/Sonoma county is the most famous. And the region made famous in the movie Sideways which is down south!! Which are you interested in??? If you go up North that would be great. I would also suggest if you rent a car you drive out the Russian River area to Highway #1. Just beautiful out that way!! Let me know ok!!!

[Colexis Mom]

We've been twice (or is it 3 times now)?? Always in the fall, and it's beautiful

[scottjs]

I love that area up there. Is is always very pretty!!!

[scdisneyfan]

OKay so i just got on here due to a very busy weekend but......okay so we went to barnes and noble and looked at some books....
I am thinking that we do want to spend a few days in san fran......hotels as long as we stay under 150 a night i think we'd be good to go.....
As far as the region...i'd have to ask eric which one...he wants to see it all so its hard for him to peg all of it...
so i'm thinking that I know we are going to have to rent a car and he's cool with that.....I know he wants to see fishermans warf...i want to see alcatraz ....he wants to see and go over the bridge.....so i think tell me the best place to stay there since you are familiar with that....
i went on the website for napa valley and hotels do not seem that expensive.....
I was thinking that we go to san fran in march april or may next year....fall this year is too early for us to come up with the money...but what about those months that i listed?????
He's got some vineyards he def wants to see...i also saw there were a bunch of quiant hotels in Napa valley...should we look at a chain or a local?? any suggestions???

[scottjs]

Right now we have a city full of tourist!! A lot are from Europe, There are less Asian travelers then I have seen over the years.

The best areas for motels in San Francisco are"

Union Square---not a cheap area and downtown--but a serious shopping area.

Lombard Street--to the north of the city. Close to the Presideo and
George Lucas Studios.

The Zoo area. Close to the beach. But this is not one of my favorite zoos.

Fishermans Wharf. So good motels and a lot of traffic.

To the north is a lot of possibilities.

There are motels everywhere up there around Napa/Sonoma.

Santa Rose is fairly big and close by.

Maybe you could rent a car in Union Square when you are ready!!!

[scottjs]

PS! Whatever time of you you come here bring warm clothing!! This is one cold city sometimes. No snow but lots of fog.

[scdisneyfan]

Thanks for the info..im going to print this to show him! He has already told me i will need my warm clothes...he said "crissy its not going to be warm like you think" hahaha....We are still stuck between this vacation and another..i dunno which one we will decide on but thanks for all the good info!

[scottjs]

Well have fun whatever you decide!!! And let me know if you need info!!!