Wine Country Activities

Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley, & West Marin Wine Region Information:

From the Marin Vacation Home: 

3 popular Wine Regions of the San Francisco Bay Area:

(click on region interested in for detailed info or scroll down page):

Napa Valley

• Just 20 minutes to beginning of Napa Wineries. 20 minutes to start of the Napa Valley wine tasting vineyards.

Sonoma Valley

• Visit Sonoma Valley - great wineries -and other sights! (30 mins from the Marin Vacation Home)

West Marin

• Visit Marin Wines & Farms. Your "In" Marin - just 20 minutes to wineries - Try the Organic Pinot Noirs!

Napa Valley:

•  It takes just 25 minutes from the Marin Vacation Home to Napa.
  

The Napa Valley is one the most known and popular Wine Regions in the world.  Home to top vintners, Napa offers much to the local and tourist traveler that is looking for good wine and fine food.   However, there is so much more!  Go Olive Oil tasting, see world class races, or visit natural hot springs.  Napa even has a beautiful recreational lake where you can rent a houseboat or watercraft! 

Wine Tasting:  World known for it’s great wines and majestic vineyard scenery.  Big labels are rooted here such as Mondavi, Beringer, Sterling, Fetzer, Clos du Val, Sutter Homes, the list goes on!  The list of wineries and picnic possibilities are endless.  Visit this website for details and info:  http://www.napavintners.com/wineries/

Olive Oil Tasting:  California doesn't stop with just great wines.  Olive Oil is california's other "Golden Elixir".  Experience a different type of day then swirling wine, or ad it to your day, and taste the elixir from the fruit of the Olive.

• Long Meadow Ranch, 1796 Hwy29, Rutherford.  #877-627-2645  Website:  www.longmeadowranch.com
• Round Pond, 886 Rutherford Rd, Rutherford.  #877-963-9364   Website: www.roundpond.com.

Nascar racing:
http://www.nascar.com/

Lake Berryessa:  Great Lake in the Napa Valley Mountains.  When the rest of San Francisco Bay Area sits in fog you can bet on the sun here in the summer!  Rent a water craft and have a blast.  The water is warm!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Berryessa

Hot Springs: sooo soothing!
http://www.napavalley.com/thingstodo/spas/featured.html

Calistoga- Natural Geysers: When in the wine country, take a break, picnic and watch the geyser explode!

http://www.oldfaithfulgeyser.com/

Old Faithful Geyser, Calistoga, Ca.

Sonoma County:

Sonoma offers great wines and culinary delights, and is definitely up to par with Napa Valley, just not as known.  Besides the wines, there is plenty to do of interest.   Take the family to "Train Town" or drive along Sonoma's magnificent Pacific Coastline on Hwy1.  

Wine Tasting:  Not as well known as Napa Valley, but certainly just as good!  Numerous wineries and Napa vineyards grow grapes here.
http://www.sonoma.com/wineries/alphalistings.html

Olive Oil Tasting:  California doesn't stop with just great wines.  Olive Oil is california's other "Golden Elixir".  Experience a different type of day then swirling wine, or ad it to your day, and taste the elixir from the fruit of the Olive.

• McEnvoy Ranch:  5935 Red Hill Rd,  Petaluma.  #707-778-2307  Website:  www.mcevoyranch.com
• The Olive Press:  24724 Arnold Drive, Sonoma. (Shared w/Jacuzzi Winery)  #800-965-4839  website: www.TheOlivePress.com

Petrified Forests: A short trail of petrified redwood trees from a volcanic eruption of Mt. St. Helena three million years ago. Most of the trees were over 2,000 years old when covered by the ash, and are now petrified.  Worth a stopping by if on a road trip.  California Landmark #915.

Address:  4100 Petrified Forest Road, Calistoga, CA   -Website: http://www.petrifiedforest.org/directions.html

Coastline:  Beautiful Northern California scenery.  -Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=451

Train Town: Fantastic for young kids and train enthusiasts.  Nice scenery as well. 

See Train town youtube video "Here".  or Visit Website:  http://www.traintown.com/

Lake Sonoma:
Located in the beautiful coastal foothills of Northern California is Lake Sonoma     which is surrounded by Sonoma County vineyards and land rich in history.   Provides a wealth of recreation activities. Camping boating, hiking, horseback riding, & mountain biking.
See website(s):
http://www.parks.sonoma.net/laktrls.html , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warm_Springs_Dam

Fish Hatchery:  Call (707) 433-9483
Lake Sonoma Winery:  http://www.lakesonomawinery.com