Where to stay for a week with family outside San Fran....

Last year, my family stayed on the Russian River for a week and then spent 5 days in San Francisco. It was wonderful and we plan to return this summer for two weeks.

We%26#39;ll stay a few days in SF and want to visit the Wine Country, but wondered where else one might rent a vacation cabin in the area (3 hour radius or so) to spend a week. We want to combine a weeklong relaxation with our area visit.

The Russian River was nice, but I wondered if there is some other place we should consider?%26gt;

We have three kids ages 15, 14 and 11, so other kids nearby is a plus.

Where to stay for a week with family outside San Fran....

You can stay along the Sonoma Coast by the Ocean.

Rentals: http://www.888searanch.com/

Its still very accessible to Russian River area, Wineries,

but allows you to explore the ocean areas as well.

Nice lodging for the week.

Riverpointe in Napa Valley is also a nice condo/resort.

http://www.riverpointenapa.com/

Or if you want to go the Sierras (there are some fine wineries there such as Ironstone Winery, etc. and combine it with a summer mountain vacation).

http://www.ironstonevineyards.com/

Pinecrest Lake Resort

http://www.pinecrestlakeresort.com/

Or if you want to go south to Monterey/Carmel Area,

there are usually weekly rentals in Santa Cruz beach area;

or Pajaro Dunes

http://www.pajarodunes.com/

There are several other places to stay but this will give you an idea of where you can go to find a place.

Where to stay for a week with family outside San Fran....

I would not recommend Pájaro Dunes simply because there%26#39;s nothing there and it%26#39;s near nothing but the ocean and that%26#39;s on the other side of the highway, anyway.

How about Murphys in Gold Country or further North in Nevada City. You are near the Big Trees park. Beautiful hiking and walking around the giant Sequoias. There are 4 different caves to explore within an hours drive. You are close to Jamestown %26amp; Columbia State Park (lots of Gold history). You can go panning for gold in the river - the real thing. Go up a bit north great white water rafting on the American River. Visit a gold mine. Lots of place to relax and unwind and enjoy.

I like the Gold Country idea.

I also think you would enjoy renting a house at Sea Ranch on the northern coast at Gualala....a couple of hours from San Francisco. The houses are in clusters with open space, you can use trails all over the property, golf, rent horses, etc. The Gualala River comes into the Pacific here and you can fish.

The development was begun in the 60%26#39;s and the first houses were built by a famous team of architects, whose names I cannot remember right now...and the idea was to blend into the landscape. Architectural rules are still strict. We have rented there several times. You can get ocean view, ocean bluff, hillside with ocean view, etc. You are renting from individual owners, but usually with the help of a broker.

We usually used Don Berard and Associates, although there are others. I don%26#39;t have a website for them, but a telephone number...707/884-3211...the last number I have. (Because my husband%26#39;s brother and his wife have built there recently, and if we babysit their dog while they travel we have a free place to stay with a great view :=)

The houses we have rented have been very comfortable and fully equipped and a lot of them have hot tubs.

There are several good restaurants in the area, one of them being the funky Gualala Hotel downtown. Another, the upscale St. Orres. Two good grocery stores, art galleries, and a really good Arts Center (where my sister-in-law exhibits and sells her pine needle baskets).

If you are interested...google it. The Sea Ranch Association, or whatever it is, also has a Lodge and a restaurant.