Best time to visit in 07' (and stay)

I%26#39;m from Minnesota and am planning a 20 year surprise Anniversary trip to California to do ';The Wine Tour';. What is the best time of year to come to California? We would probably come for a 4 day weekend. Our Anniversary is December 19 next year so I am trying to get a head start to the planning assuming that we will have to travel in the fall???? Any help would be great. Also, any suggestions as to places to stay would also be appreciated. Thanks in advance...............can%26#39;t wait......

Best time to visit in 07' (and stay)

My opinion of the best time to visit Napa does not coincide with your anniversary in December.

To me, the best time is in March, based around the Mustard Festival activities in downtown Napa. It is less crowded than in the fall (crush season). The weather can be most pleasant - shirt sleeve in the day time - or it can be raining, which lessens the crowds in the tasting rooms.

It is easier to get reservations, too. A trip in March would certainly be a surprise - six months early!

Mustard in full bloom in the vineyards, a most beautiful sight!

Best time to visit in 07' (and stay)

October is my absolute favorite month here. March and April can be very rainy but will be cheaper. I also happen to love the holidays- usually sunny days and crisp nights, so don%26#39;t be afraid to actually come on your anniversary.

For a 20th anniversary I would splurge on Auberge, Meadowood, or possibly Harvest Inn.

Our favorite trip was in November. First week, flowers were still blooming but the vines and trees were all shades of autumn. Lovely! We%26#39;ve been in April 3x- little foliage in the vineyards and a bit cool at times, but generally nice and not crowded (a big bonus) Last year, it rained daily which is fine for wine tasting but not for walking/hiking/biking.I see you say ';the wine tour';. There are many areas in wine country worth exploring. The popular movie ';Sideways'; was not filmed in Napa, but around Santa Barbara.There are also wonderful wineries and beauty in Mendocino County. The Anderson Valley area is the most diverse, starting in rolling farm lands with wineries popping up along the way, gently becoming orchards and vineyards, the ending in a forest of redwoods before the scenery opens up to the crashing Pacific. Gorgeous! Sonoma County (the next Valley over) offers many excellent wineries in a more rural setting... not as much traffic as Napa and a bit more laid back. Alexander Valley is a great destination- beautiful drive.Our favorites are Dry Creek and Russian river Valleys. There is also an excellent area south of Sacramento around Lodi, where most grapes are grown. Ditto for Gold Country, Sierra Foothills and Amador County. When you plan a trip, be sure to visit at least two regions for a bit of diversity.

bump

If anyone has any information on places to stay I%26#39;m all ears. Thanks

Please be more specific and you%26#39;ll get better advice. There are hundreds of places to stay in the wine country. Are you talking about Napa? Sonoma? Santa Barbara? Give us an idea of your price range, for starters.

The Fall is a great time to come to the Wine Country here in No. Cal. I would say Sept-Oct are best, but it%26#39;s high season, so prices are steep. If there%26#39;s any way you could come during the week you%26#39;ll get better prices (and fewer tourists). Here are just a few suggestions.

If you have 4 days, spend two days in Napa and two in Sonoma (they are near each other, about an hour%26#39;s drive)

In Napa, look at a very pretty B%26amp;B called the Oak Knoll Inn. Very romantic, in the middle of vineyards. Other good choices are the Vintage Inn (more of a traditional hotel), Napa Valley Cottages... there are literally hundreds so you need to narrow down price range.

In Sonoma, Healdsburg is a nice, small town with great wineries in the Dry Creek area. Look up Seghesio, Rafanelli, you will find others. We just spent a night at the Camellia Inn and it was perfectly nice for $179. If you want a TOTAL SPLURGE, you can walk 2 blocks from the Camellia to a restaurant called Cyrus and spend $300-500 for two (wine included)!