Santa rosa/Petaluma from sf visit help needed

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by makisupapolice14, Jul 29, 2012.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. makisupapolice14

    makisupapolice14 Pundit (799) Jun 5, 2005 New York

    We are renting a car on wed morning at 10:30am on 8/22 in sf and heading north via 101 to Santa rosa, where we are staying overnight at hotel la rose (for beers at Russian river and dinner at flavor bistro). We are supposed to return our car to sf by 5:30pm the next day.

    I am having a bit or trouble deciding which breweries to hit first. Before we return to sf, We would like to do bear republic, lagunitas, and make happy hour at Russian river on wed at 4 pm. It appears that lagunitas does not open until 2pm on we'd and thurs, which kind of sucks schedule wise. I'm debating heading straight up to bear republic and possibly hitting a winery or two near there and then maybe heading to Armstrong redwoods st park before making it to Santa rosa. Any suggestions for routes to take? Is this do-able in one day? The other option, which may be more practical, is the head to Muir woods from sf, maybe drive a bit up hwy 1 and then cut over to 101 to hit lagunitas at 2pm and then head to Santa Rosa for the night. On thurs we could then get up and head to bear republic (maybe do some redwoods at redwoods st park before heading back to sf)

    Any help or hints for which order makes the most sense (or any solid wineries near bear republic or must do lunch spots between sf and Russian river would be much appreciated)
     
    #1 makisupapolice14, Jul 29, 2012
  2. litheum94

    litheum94 Initiate (0) Dec 29, 2008 California

    I think your second option makes more sense, especially since driving to Healdsburg, then back to Petaluma only to return to SR is a lot of extra driving. Not too mention the fact that traffic between Petaluma and SR is pretty much terrible anytime after 3 pm. That would just be rushing yourselves.

    I would say if you can somehow squeeze Lagunitas in on your way back to SF that would be the most efficient.
     
    #2 litheum94, Jul 30, 2012
  3. rmdownward

    rmdownward Zealot (648) Feb 10, 2007 California

    Hitting Muir woods then up the coast sounds good. Might want to swing by Moylans or Marin on the way back.
     
    #3 rmdownward, Jul 30, 2012
  4. mjl21

    mjl21 Initiate (0) Apr 3, 2008 California

    Russian River is extremely packed on Wednesday from about 3:30 on due to the fact that there is the Wednesday Night Farmer's Market happening along Fourth Street. People tend to get there early for happy hour and it gets more and more packed as the night goes on. If you want to enjoy RR at a more relaxed time I would go there at 11 on Thursday and then hit up Lagunitas on your way back down.
     
    #4 mjl21, Jul 30, 2012
  5. litheum94

    litheum94 Initiate (0) Dec 29, 2008 California

    He's completely right. Forgot about the Wednesday Night market. Don't even bother trying to go to Russian River wednesday afternoon or evening. It's obnoxiously packed and wouldn't be a good experience if it's your first time there.
     
    #5 litheum94, Jul 30, 2012
  6. makisupapolice14

    makisupapolice14 Pundit (799) Jun 5, 2005 New York

    Thanks guys. That is a real bummer about wed nights being crazy there. Our entire reason for going north and staying in Santa rosa at hotel la rose was to do Russian river. Im surprised nobody mentioned this when i through out my plans months back. Oh well....At this point I don't think it is worth trying to alter hotel and rental car reservations in sf. Maybe we will just go to Muir woods and then head straight to Santa rosa so we can spend almost all of the afternoon at Russian river. Maybe the next day we can then do either bear republic or lagunitas. If you had to choose one which would you suggest? Is Armstrong redwoods super far from bear republic? How much time should I budget to get back to sf from bear republic or lagunitas if we were leaving around 330pm? We need to have the rental back in sf by 530pm unfortunately
     
    #6 makisupapolice14, Jul 31, 2012
  7. makisupapolice14

    makisupapolice14 Pundit (799) Jun 5, 2005 New York

    One more question: I may be able to add a second hotel night thurs to stay an additional night in Santa rosa. I just have to figure out adding an extra day for the rental car. At the moment we are staying at a vacation rental in sf (duboce triangle area) sat through wed morning. Our current plan in to come back to sf thurs afternoon and stay our final two nights in sf at the metro hotel in haight area.

    Having never been to sf or Sonoma before, what in your opinion, would be the better way to spend our time? The breweries, bars, restaurants, and sights in sf and Oakland area all look pretty great and we don't want to feel too overwhelmed. Not having to worry about driving is a plus as well. I'm just not sure if 5 1/2 days is too much for sf. Obviously I'd like more time in Sonoma as well to be able to comfortably do bear republic, russian river, redwoods park, lagunitas, highway 1 and a few wineries. In the end, our must-dos while in Sonoma are Russian river, see some redwoods, and see a bit of Sonoma or heralds burg wine trail area. Can these be done realistically in 24 hrs with traffic, etc?
     
    #7 makisupapolice14, Jul 31, 2012
  8. litheum94

    litheum94 Initiate (0) Dec 29, 2008 California

    I really think you need an extra day to do all that you want. Plus, that way you won't be rushed and will be able to enjoy yourselves more. SF and Oakland have great places, but I think you should hit both Lagunitas and Bear Republic.
     
    #8 litheum94, Jul 31, 2012
  9. mjl21

    mjl21 Initiate (0) Apr 3, 2008 California

    Here is what I would do with 2 nights:

    Wednesday-Pick up rental car and take a leisurely drive through Sausalito. Have an early lunch at the Buckeye Roadhouse in Mill Valley. Then head out to Muir Woods. From there head north on Hwy One and drive out to Drake's Beach and the Pt. Reyes Lighthouse. From there cut into Petaluma and hit up Lagunitas. Then head north to Santa Rosa. Check in to your hotel and go to Flavor for dinner. If you want the crowds have a nightcap at Russian River.

    Thursday-Hit up RR at 11. Sit at the bar and enjoy yourselves. After that head north to Healdsburg. Go to www.wineroad.com to pick out a few wineries. I like going down West Dry Creek Road and hitting up A. Rafanelli (appointment needed), Preston, and Quivira. After tasting some wine hit up Scopa in downtown Healdsburg for dinner. Then have a sampler at Bear Republic for dessert.

    Friday-Take River Road east to Hwy One in Jenner. Catch Hwy One south and stop in at Hog Island, The Marshall Store, or Tomales Bay Oyster Company for oysters. Then continue south and catch Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Stop off at Iron Springs and/or Marin Brewing for a sampler. Then take 101 back across the Golden Gate Bridge ($6.00 toll) to SF.
     
    #9 mjl21, Jul 31, 2012
    flexabull, rmdownward and litheum94 like this.
  10. makisupapolice14

    makisupapolice14 Pundit (799) Jun 5, 2005 New York

    Sounds like a very solid plan..thank you I have some things to decide very soon it looks like. Only thing I worry about with the proposed itinerary is drinking top much at rr thurs prior to heading north to bear republic and wineries.
     
    #10 makisupapolice14, Jul 31, 2012
  11. rikatine

    rikatine Crusader (450) Apr 13, 2010 New York

    We did a similar trip to yours in May. Be aware that the drive out to the lighthouse at Pt Reyes is long. The McClures Beach trail was a great hike, and we also enjoyed the Kehoe Beach hike. A lot less driving for those. Stayed in Santa Rosa two nights at Hotel La Rose and RR was crowded both nights, but there was a good enough turnover that we did not have to wait long for seats at the bar. We hit Lagunitas on our way up from SFO and really enjoyed it. Bear Republic was just okay for us. Loved the Armstrong Redwoods hike and drove up the coast road from there for some really scenic views.
     
    #11 rikatine, Aug 3, 2012
  12. makisupapolice14

    makisupapolice14 Pundit (799) Jun 5, 2005 New York

    Great to hear. Did you head straight to lagunitas from sf or stop off somewhere else prior? What time did you leave sf to head north?
     
    #12 makisupapolice14, Aug 4, 2012
  13. rikatine

    rikatine Crusader (450) Apr 13, 2010 New York

    We went straight from the airport around 11 am. There was a lot of traffic until after the GG Bridge. We didn't stop anywhere else. After Lagunitas we went straight to the Hotel La Rose, checked in and walked over to Russian River.
     
    #13 rikatine, Aug 5, 2012
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.