Headed to Sonoma/Napa for the Thanksgiving weekend. Spending a day in Napa Valley and a day in Sonoma (Healdsburg and elsewhere).
Would you recommend a hotel in downtown Windsor or Santa Rosa? Is any one better for restaurants, shopping, breweries/wineries? I've got a place booked in each, but I can't decide which one to cancel.
Thanks
hey hey kylazak
what are your dates, how many people, budget, will you have a car?
it will be crowded, may get slim pickens to choose from & expensive. good luck
aloha
In Sonoma I like to stay here as it is walking distance from the Plaza, which I like (several nice restaurants on or near the Sonoma Plaza).
As far as Santa Rosa is concerned many years ago I used to go there often on business (recently I’ve only gone for the day from home or from Sonoma). I liked to stay near the railroad downtown and I think this is the hotel where I used to stay. Now it’s a Courtyard by Marriott, but I think it used to be another chain (maybe Best Western). I like downtown Santa Rosa also (quaint and plenty of nice restaurants).
I’ve been to Windsor several times (mainly to drink at wineries nearby) but never overnight at a hotel, so can’t help you there.
I agree with Princess Pupule that hotels’ (and restaurants’) prices in Napa and Sonoma counties (actually all of California) have gotten out of hand. The time is ripe for the people to take the street and start a French style revolution. Not only bread, but even brioches (to paraphrase Marie Antoinette) are unaffordable.
I have family in Santa Rosa and know the region very well. A shame you only have such a short time to visit as there is a lot to see in the area!
Windsor is more suburban feeling and will be more convenient to many of the wineries, Armstrong Woods state park (redwoods) and Healdsburg. The downtown is pretty tiny, though there are a couple of good restaurants that would probably cover you for a short visit. The Russian River brewery/pub is also close by and definitely worth a visit. Most of the hotels are along the highway, in a standard suburban CA strip mall landscape, not directly in the downtown. This does mean easier (and probably free) parking though.
Downtown Santa Rosa is much bigger and has more variety of shops/restaurants. More of an 'urban' setting than Windsor (with the good and bad that comes with that). Railroad Square is cute and has some nice restaurants and shops. The highway and a big mall kind of cut it off from the rest of downtown, but you can walk (or drive of course). Otherwise, 4th St is where the main downtown area is centered, although it sprawls out. Lots of restaurants and some nice shops, sometimes in very unassuming places! Depending on where you are booked, also keep in mind the parking situation - that might be a consideration.
Generally Windsor is the more laid-back, car-friendly option. If your main focus is Healdsburg and wineries, it's probably also a little more convenient. Santa Rosa traffic can be crazy, so the less you have to deal with it, the better. I'd only stay in downtown SR if you really prefer to be a bigger city. PM me if you have any specific questions about hotel locations etc.
By the way, if you are coming from Napa, I recommend taking Highway 12 up through Sonoma (the town, which is very nice), Glen Ellen etc. Scenic and some nice spots to stop and explore. Alternative is Highway 29/128 from Napa up via St Helena and Calistoga, then over to Windsor/Santa Rosa.
I’m a local, and i’d recommend staying in Yountville (9 mi north of the town of Napa). Super charming, great restaurants, surrounded by wineries and vineyards. My favorite restaurant is there, Bistro Jeanty.
I wouldn’t stay in Santa Rosa, i am not a fan at all. If you have to choose between SR and Windsor, i’d choose Windsor. Much, much nicer than Santa Rosa with some good restaurants. Windsor is a nice, very small town, not any more suburban than Santa Rosa, but smaller and has some charm, imo. But of all of Napa County/Sonoma County, Yountville is the nicest town to stay in imo.
If you are in Windsor, check out Fleur Sauvage. An amazing artisan chocolate/pastry shop.
https://www.fleursauvagechocolates.com/
If your time is short, i wouldn’t take time to visit Santa Rosa, or the town of Napa. I’d focus on… the town of Sonoma, Yountville, St Helena, Healdsburg and Windsor.
Driving the Silverado Trail is lovely. And yes, Hwy 12 is very nice. Also River Rd from Windsor to Calistoga/St Helena/Yountville
kylazak,
We have made many trips to the Napa/Sonoma/Mendocino wine counties over the decades. Santa Rosa is much too large of a town to have the ambience of wine country. Windsor, Healdsburg, Sonoma...alsmost any other town in the county will be more charming. Don't get me wrong, Santa Rosa is nice, but it is too big to have that feeling of being among the wineries. Also, Sonoma county prices are generally lower than those in Napa Valley (hotels, wine tastings, eateries, etc.) High priced places exist in Sonoma, but Napa has become (IMO) a bit "snooty", and somewhat "full of itself", with higher-prices. The recommendation to follow Hwy 12 between the two areas is a good one. And should you find the opportunity to drive Hwy 128 from Sonoma county to the Pacific Ocean, take it! A beautiful drive, with wineries for tasting along the way, and ending in a lovely section of the coastline. From there, turning north or south will be a nice drive on Hwy 1.
Driving from town to town in either county is easy, so you could stay in a very small town and have dinner in another one without a long drive. We have stayed in the Jack London Lodge in Glen Ellen twice and it was very nice, but drove to restaurants in nearby towns for dinner. The town of Sonoma has lots of lodging and restaurant options.
You will have a wonderful time, whatever you choose. Holiday weekends can be crowded, but there is a chance of rain, so that may ameliorate the crowdedness.
Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy yourselves!
Hi there..I 2nd the best western..I live less than an hour from Napa Sonoma area..and have spent LOTS of money on fine hotels over the years as the prices kept increasing..3 weeks ago my friend and i booked the Best Western..ok..I was a bit snobby in my thought process..guess what?? Loved it..nice folks..fab location..pool..jacuzzi..a very light spare breakfast offering..but ok..we went out for breakfast. But would stay again..that area can be outlandish..yes..very Napaish..but for a safe well located. Comfy room..I 2nd Best Western. Have fun..there is a coffee truck just about 1 minute from the hotel..right as you walk out the door..with no shortage of restaurants..the Girl and The Fig is popular..enjoy!!
