Day 12: Napa Valley & Sonoma
Off to wine county at the fabled Napa Valley and Sonoma, which you really should include in your itinerary. You’d think a California vacation with kids need not include wine country. But you’d be surprised how much your children will enjoy it (the country, not the wine). It’s a whole new world from San Francisco. This is when you can take a road trip, slow down, and enjoy the finer things in life.
Highlights
- Explore Sonoma County, the more laidback, less commercialized, and more affordable destination.
- Visit Sonoma Plaza, the county’s historic and charming central plaza with its quaint shops, cafes, restaurants, boutique hotels, and Sebastiani Theatre.
- Visit the Sonoma’s Tuesday Night Market, also at the plaza, where local farmers sell their fresh produce, residents have wine-and-cheese picnics, kids enjoy the playground, and the folks dance to big-band music being played at the outdoor concert.
- Shop at Marshall’s just because it’s right behind our hotel.
- Eat at Big Bear Diner for American comfort food like pancakes, burgers, and (according to our daughter) the best macaroni and cheese.
- Eat at Sweet Scoops for their homemade ice cream.
- Stay at Hawthorne Suites by Wyndham, a decently priced, no-frills, mid-range inn.
Day 13: Napa Valley & Sonoma
Time to hit the wineries. With so many to choose from, pick one or two of the more popular ones to explore. And just enjoy all the wine tasting.
Highlights
- Explore Castello di Amoroso, a beautiful Tuscan castle and winery. Take the tour, taste the wines, take a million photos, pet the farm animals, and buy at their shop.
- Visit the Old Faithful Geyser of California with its hot geyser, stacks of hay, old tractors, animal farm (fainting goats, four-horn sheep, and llamas!), and expansive view of the Palisades, Napa’s mountain range.
- Eat at V. Sattui Winery where you can buy lunch at their artisan deli, eat at their picnic grounds, and drink some wine. What a way to experience Napa Valley!
- Eat at Gott’s Roadside at the Oxbow Public Market for their delicious burgers.
