Planning a vacation to California wine country help?

[LI-NYGIRL]

My girlfriends and I are planning a vacation to California in June. We would like to visit some wineries, beaches, spas and great food. Any suggestions and we want to be budget conscious.

[LJRobbie]

If you want Napa Valley in all its splendor, I suggest you stay in San Francisco or a nearby community. Hotels in Napa Valley tend to be expensive. You can make a couple of day-trips, and have a great time. I would suggest a day at Indian Springs in Calistoga for Mud Baths amd Spa Treatments. As for touring the wineries, you can engage in one of the tours that will leave SF and take you to the door of 5 or more wineries in a day. Take a few mins. to look at www.californiawinetours.com for great packages into the Napa Valley area
Napa Valley boasts great food and great atmosphere. Be sure to book ahead at opentable.com

[Pepe e' Plomero]

Check out the Sonoma Mission Inn - kind of upscale but what the heck it's a VACATION !!

[chefgrille]

If you want cheap lodging in Napa, do NOT stay at the Discovery Inn. Go to the Travelodge downtown. Or the Redwood Inn. Both of them are great jumping off places for a drive upvalley. Of course there are the usual wineries like Mondavi, Beringer, Krug, Sterling (do that one, I used to work there, the tram takes you up the hill to the tasting room and they have beautiful Japanese gardens). Be sure to stop by Mumms on Silverado Trail, not only great bubbly and views, but also a collection of Ansel Adams prints. And stop by Oakville Grocery on Hwy 29. Excellent sandwiches for a picnic. If you want some cheap dining, hit Tres Hermanos downtown. More great Mexican food than you can ever expect for super cheap. Just don't go to Uva Trattoria or Sushi Mambo. And you would have to stop by ABC Bakery in Napa, it's my favorite stop for iced tea and a bagel (They serve hot breakfasts too). Oh, and El Guadalajara is great Mexican food, another new favorite spot for us, and cheap.

[Time travler]

I live in the Napa valley and suggest a budget friendly motel in Calistoga is the best Western. It is just minutes from downtown. Favorites budget friendly restaurants are Busters ribs in Calistoga, The flat iron in Calistoga, Rutherford grill in Rutherford(between yountville and St Helena) with grilled artichokes, great corn bread, and fall of the bone ribs. And for the best pastry,coffee, go to Model Bakery in St Helena. Places you must visit is Castella de Amerosa( a real castle),Sattuti winery for a picnic(you can buy your food right there), Mondavi winery, Charles Krug, and Sterling winery. Don't forget great spas and mud baths in Calistoga. I know the list is long, but I gave you some of my favorites.

[Kathy H]

If you want beaches and wine, California Central Coast area might be the area you want to visit. This area has lots of wineries that produce great wines. You will find wineries in Santa Barbara, Solvang, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, and Santa Cruz.

A great spa in this region is Sycamore Mineral Springs just south of San Luis Obispo. It's an expensive place to stay...each room has its own private jacuzzi with hot mineral water. However, you can rent a private outdoor jacuzzi by the hour at their spa. The spa offers massage and other treatments as well.

In Pismo..at Oceano Beach you can drive your car onto the beach and camp if you want. This is where the sand dunes are located. It's a blast to rent a 4x4 and explore the dunes.

Santa Cruz has an amusement park on the beach and a nice sunny beach.

Learn about wineries, restaurants, and accommodations at the site below.

[are you cereal?]

I am from Los Angeles and I have done that trip a couple of times.

Start on State Street in Santa Barbara and party with your friends there. Then drive north. Don't take the 154, take the 101 so you have a view of the coast.

Make sure you stop in Solvang. The Gewrztraminer at the Presidio Winery is outstanding! Also check out Buellton (Camp Alma Rosa Winery) and Los Alamos.

If you make it to Santa Inez (a must), try the Trattoria Grappolo if you like Italian food and the Acacia healing center for a massage.

I don't know what your tastes are but other wineries you should look into in that area are the:

Curtis Winery, Byron Vineyard and Winery, Fess Parker Winery, Cottonwood Canyon Winery, Firestone Vineyard and Winery, Lions Peak Vineyard (don't miss this one) and the Blackjack Ranch Winery.

Have Fun!

[robot2235]

My girlfriends and I are planning a vacation to California in June. We would like to visit some wineries, beaches, spas and great food. Any suggestions and we want to be budget conscious.