Post # 1

Member
752 posts
Busy bee
- Wedding: August 2010 - Ocean View Villas/Jasmine Seafood Restaurant
I’m looking for accommodations, activities, and restaurant suggestions in Sonoma. We’re total foodies (but dont’ want to spend an absolute fortune). Would also love to stay at a place that has some activities or restaurants. Not in love with the idea of a B&B but you could change my mind pretty easily.
Thanks hive!
Post # 3

Member
3 posts
Wannabee
You should eat at Auberge du Soleil in Napa — it’s so beautiful there! Or at least just go to have some drinks one evening. Tra Vigne, which I think is in St Helena, has good food!
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn is beautiful but high end.
I think there’s a boutique hotel in sonoma called the El Dorado, which looked nice.
In Carneros, the Carneros Inn looks very luxe and swanky.
There are a lot of really nice vacation rentals in the area that might cost less than a hotel would for an extended length of time. Try vrbo.com
Post # 4

Member
752 posts
Busy bee
- Wedding: August 2010 - Ocean View Villas/Jasmine Seafood Restaurant
Thanks Angelbliss! This is very useful. Do you think we’ll need a car rental?
Post # 5

Member
2066 posts
Buzzing bee
Yes – you need to rent a car!
My two favorite wineries to visit are Schramsburg in Napa and VJB in Sonoma!
And I love Bistro Jeanty in Yountville!
Post # 6

Member
252 posts
Helper bee
I was only in Sonoma for a few hours. As a fellow foodie, I do have recommendations for Napa (Yountville). I actually went there after a few days in SF and did a 3-day bike tour. They do full or half day tours in Napa and Sonoma if that is something you’d be interested in as a one-day activity (Napa Valley Bike Tours – they’re awesome).
I stayed in the Vintage Inn, which would be an awesome honeymoon spot. Their sister property is the Villagio, which also looked romantic and luxurious, and then even have a beautiful spa.
I had some amazing meals while I was there. I didn’t get into French Laundry, but it you can swing it, that would be amazing. Reservations are taken two months out.
I ate at Redd and Ad Hoc and both were excellent.
I can give you more info about any of this if you like. Just let me know.
Post # 7

Member
3 posts
Wannabee
We are getting married in Sonoma in August. It’s abeautiful area with plenty of wineries, parks, etc to see and visit. It is an absolute must to have a car, as you are 45 minutes from San Francisco and the wineries are bunched together in parts, but then a bit of travel to get to the next “bunch”. In Sonoma, you are very close to Carneros as well which has some wonderful wineries to visit. There are many good restaurants in the area, I’ll be honest-I have yet to be disappointed by any and I am a Chef by trade.
Have you considered renting a home? It’s honestly the ONLY way we travel in that area. We’re able to go to the local farmer’s markets and tend to have at least one meal a day at home. It’s also nice for simple things like juices and bagel for the morning and packing light snacks to keep you fresh (read: sober) while wine tasting. It saves money and also allows some freedoms that you wouldn’t normally have. The cost of home rental is generally less than a hotel as well. The Carneros Inn that angelbliss mentioned runs about $500/night. It is fabulous though. If interested, try vrbo.com or homeaway.com
The wineries in Glen Ellen and Kenwood such as Deerfield Ranch Winery, Kunde, and St Francis are very nice. I think you’ll enjoy comparing the size of production and types of wines. Closer to Sonoma, Gundlach Bundschu and Buena Vista are beautiful places to go.
Feel free to message me for more info- I’m overloaded with it since we’re getting married there in August.