Things to do

(also see custom Google map below)

Calistoga

Restaurants 

Calistoga Roastery - Casual coffee shop right on the main street in Calistoga (Logan Avenue). A great place to start your day!

Palisades Deli - Perfect place to pick up sandwiches ahead of -- or during -- a day of wine tasting.

Calistoga Kitchen - Cafe serving locavore American fare, wines & Sunday brunch in snug, patio-equipped digs.

Sam's Social Club - Upscale New American fare in a bright eatery with a fireplace, a bar for local drinks & a patio. Make a reservation and ask for a table on the patio! There's also a first-come first-serve firepit.

Other activities 

Calistoga Bikeshop - The best way to explore Calistoga wineries! The bike shop is located right on the main street and rentals range from $28 - $60 per person for the day. Super friendly staff will provide you with ideal routes and winery stops. They also offer guided tours where lead the bike tour and carry all of your wine purchases for you (starts at $150 per person). 

Safari West - An African adventure in the heart of California wine country. Guests may explore the Sonoma Serengeti on an African wildlife safari alongside romping herds of exotic wildlife. Safaris start at $93 per person and require reservations in advance. We've never been but have heard great things!

Petrified Forest - Step back in time, over 3 million years, and follow the trail of Majestic Petrified Redwood giants arrayed before you in a fascinating grove. Admission is $12 per person. 

Wineries 

Tedeschi Family Winery - A recent find but now our favorite winery in Napa Valley. Very low-key (basically a garage) and down-to-earth. Serves Old-World style wines & appointments are required. Tell them you are here for Kelly and Owen's wedding! And tell us which you like better - Brothers' Blend or Mario's Blend.

Vincent Arroyo Winery - Also very low-key, plus they have cute dogs. Tastings are free but reservations are required.

Brian Arden Wines - Very cool modern winery serving solid wines. The architecture reminds us of the rugby clubhouse at Dartmouth. $20 tasting fee. 

Bennett Lane Winery - Absolutely beautiful winery situated in the vineyards about 2 miles outside of Calistoga. Tastings start at $20. And we suggest you venture outside to enjoy the grounds while tasting.

Lava Vine - Another chill spot. You can also do olive oil,  cheese & chocolate pairings in addition to vino. Tastings start at at $20.

Venge Winery - On the Silverado Trail, they serve seated tastings that are privately hosted and held at their winery ranch house overlooking the Napa Valley. Reservations recommended 3-4 weeks in advance and tasting fee is $25 per person. 

Laura Michael Winery - Small production winery right outside of Calistoga. Tastings by appointment only. 

Skip - There are too many amazing wineries and tasting rooms in the area to waste time at places that are just OK. These weren't our favorites:

• T-Vine - way too pricey for mediocre wines. Sad!
• Castello di Amorosa - tourist trap! Nevertheless the castle is pretty cool... 
• Chateau Montelena Winery - good wines but also very touristy and pricey
• Tank - OK, but not the best in our opinion

 Sonoma

Restaurants

The Girl & The Fig - Best place for brunch, lunch or dinner right on Sonoma Square. Inventive French country fare & fine wines are offered at this rustic bistro with an outdoor patio. It's always packed so reservations are recommended. No corkage fee for Sonoma wines :) 

Fremont Diner - Reimagined down-home comfort dishes draw crowds to this cheerful roadside diner with patio seating. Good for breakfast and lunch. Put your name in and head over to Carneros Brewery for a beer tasting flight while you wait. 

Carneros Brewing Company - This family-run brewery has a Spanish mission-inspired taproom & beer garden with countryside views. 

Vineburg Market - Casual deli right near Gundlach Bundschu Winery.  Ideal spot to pick up some really good (and inexpensive) sandwiches for your wine tasting picnic. 

Other Activities

Wine Country Cyclery - Nice bike shop right off of the main Sonoma Plaza. Rentals start at $10/hr and range up to $30 for the full day. Reservations in advance are recommended. They will give you a map outlining the best wineries within biking distance. 

Sonoma Overlook Trail - Pleasant 3 mile hike offering sweeping views of Sonoma Valley from the summit. The trailhead is located just a few blocks north of Sonoma Plaza. Highly recommended at sunrise or sunset!

Wineries

Domaine Carneros - Our favorite spot for sparkling wine in Sonoma and a great place to start your wine tasting day! Beautiful vistas from the patio. The Blanc de Noir is what we celebrated with when Owen moved to SF ($$)

Gundlach Bundschu Winery - Beautiful outdoor patio and delicious Rose. Make a reservation in advance for a tasting on the patio or bring your picnic lunch to pair with a bottle of Rose ($$)

Ravenswood Winery - One of our all-time favorite wineries and the spot where Owen proposed to Kelly! Known for their Zins, their motto is "no wimpy wines" -- try the Icon! ($$)

Kunde Family Winery - One of the first wine clubs we joined. Enjoy the laid-back environment in tasting room (hint: they allow dogs, which is why Owen loves it) or splurge on the private mountain top tasting. No reservation required for tasting room. Gorgeous grounds ($)

Benziger Family Winery - Scenic winery with a great tour of the property & wine-making process. Reservation recommended ($$).

Roche Winery -  Best spot on Sonoma Plaza! Tastings are cheap ($5) and you can't buy their wine anywhere else. Grab a seat by the fire pit out front and be sure to taste their gold-medal Chardonnays and Pinots. They are also open until 7 -- much later than most wineries. This is our go-to spot while we wait for a table at The Girl & the Fig ($)

Sample Itinerary: One (long) Day in Sonoma

1. Start your day with sparkling wine at Domaine Carneros
2. Pick up sandwiches at the Vineburg Deli
3. Head across the street to Gundlach Bundschu Winery for a patio tasting and picnic. 
4. Try some Zins about a mile away at Ravenswood
5. Drive 15 minutes north for a tour and tasting at Kunde or Benziger.
6. Head back to Sonoma Plaza and wind down with cheese, charcuterie and chardonnay on the front patio of Roche.
7. Eat dinner (preferably a burger) at the Girl & The Fig right next door. 

Napa

restaurants  

Gott's Roadside -  Gott's is a family-owned American roadside burger joint. If you are looking for something delicious (albeit unhealthy) you have to check out Gott's. Note that the line generally wraps around the outdoor picnic tables and it can take 30 minutes to order -- but worth it!

Oakville Grocery - A beautiful old grocery store founded in 1881 that serves sandwiches, salads, wine & other picnic-friendly fare. The cheese and wine can be a little bit pricey but if you have never been to Napa it is worth stopping by. The roast beef sandwich is Kelly's favorite.

Something nicer - The two options above are quicker bites vs. a real sitdown meal. But Napa is known for having some of the best restaurants in California, and even the US. So if that's what you are into we suggest exploring: Ad Hoc, Redd, Press, The Restaurant at Meadowood, Bouchon, Solbar or the French Laundry (good luck with reservations). 

Other Activities

Land Trust of Napa - Founded in 1976, the Land Trust protects close to 55,000 acres,  and is an ideal spot for nature lovers + hiking, biking, and kayaking. You can do a 15-mile hike across the magnificent Dunn-Wildlake and Dunn Ranches with excellent birds-eye views of both Calistoga and St. Helena......or an easy 3-mile trip to a waterfall near Conn Creek.

Downtown Napa - Napa isn't just wine. The downtowns of Napa and St. Helena are pretty chic with lots of cute little eateries and sweet shops. You can also do free olive oil tastings at various shops in the downtown area. 

wineries  

Pine Ridge - Very good wines in a beautiful setting. Opt for a tasting outside on the patio if you can. No reservations required for groups up to 6, but note that tastings begin at $45 per person. ($$$)

Stag's Leap - Fantastic wines and a beautiful tasting room. They also do estate tours and library tastings by appointment. While certain bottles can be super expensive, their Napa collection is more reasonable and very delicious. Also, have a taste of the Artemis. ($$)

Silver Oak -  Purveyor of stereotypical big bold Napa cabs (not too unlike Stag's Leap). The wines are overpriced, but that's what you get drinking cabs in Napa. Tastings start at $20 and up - but you do get a nice wine glass with every tasting. If you want a cliche Napa winery experience, this is it. ($$)

Black Stallion - More relaxed than Stag's Leap & Silver Oak. Right there on the beautiful Silverado trail (5 minutes from Silver Oak and 5 minutes from Pine Ridge). Tastings start at $20 and the Rockpile Zin is one of Owen's favorites. Even if you don't want to check out any of the three wineries above, we really do recommend spending some time on the Silverado Trail. It's classic Napa! ($$)

Clif Family Winery - A different type on winery located in St. Helena (5 miles from the Oakville Grocery and basically nextdoor to Gott's). This winery is owned by the Clif family (yes, as in Clif Bar) and offers a nice assortment of drinkable wines. Very biking-friendly, so a good place to stop if you are biking the Silverado Trail, which can be lots of fun. ($)