San Francisco & California Winelands Road Trip

Day 1

Fly to San Francisco

Arrive into The City by the Bay and either pick up your hire car or get a cab to your chosen hotel. We suggest that you don’t pick up your hire car until you’re ready to leave the city as there are so many better ways to get around.

Day 2

San Francisco

You have a couple of full days to explore this exciting city and you might want to start with its number one attraction – the prison island of Alcatraz. You will need to book your tickets well in advance as this tour sells out on a daily basis. The trams are a great way to get around the city, and once you’ve worked out where each of the three lines go to, it’s simple to navigate. Each journey will cost $7 or you can buy a day pass for $21. This evening you can explore one of the lively districts such as Union Square or Chinatown.

Day 3

San Francisco

There are several different choices for touring San Francisco, bus, bike, Segway or perhaps you might want to do a Foodie Walking Tour. But the most exhilarating way to explore the city is the GoCar – two-seater mini-cars that you can zip around it with the help of a Sat Nav to show you around. We can book any of these options for you before you start your holiday.

Day 4

San Francisco to Sonoma – 44 miles

Pick up your hire car in the morning, then head over the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s only a short drive to Sonoma so there’s plenty of time to call in to the charming town of Sausilto, just over the bridge, where you find cute boutique shops and swanky mansions. Also worth a visit en route to the Sonoma Valley are the John Muir Woods – here you can marvel at the sheer size of the giant redwood trees. Once you arrive in Sonoma, you’ll want to ditch the car so that you can crack on with tasting the wonderful and varied wines of the area.

Day 5

Sonoma

This is a gorgeous town with a historic heart, and so you can have a wonderful day just exploring on foot. Sonoma Plaza is surrounded by colonial buildings including the Mission San Francisco and the Sonoma Barracks dating back to the city’s Mexican colonial past. There is a lovely walking trail around this district, which also takes in various wineries and shops offering cheese and local produce, so you can break up your stroll to sample the best of the region.

Day 6

Sonoma to Napa – 15 miles

After a relaxed start, take the short drive to Napa. You could spend the afternoon cycling the country lines – either just admiring the scenery or taking a guided tour to small family owned wineries. Or you could hire kayaks to paddle the Napa River. You’ll find myriad restaurants and wine rooms in this charming town – one of our favourite hotels, the Andaz Napa, has twenty wineries within walking distance. You’ll be spoilt for choice.

Day 7

Napa

Today you should take the Napa Valley Wine Train. Board the vintage railcars and travel through 36 miles of beautiful wine country. The train is famed for its cuisine as well as the wine selections, so just sit back and enjoy three hours of indulgence as you travel through the western side of the Napa Valley.

Day 8

Napa to San Francisco International Airport – 58 miles

You will have your flights home from San Francisco this afternoon, but it should only take an hour and a half to the airport, so you’ll have time to buy a few souvenirs of your holiday before heading off.