Since it's vacation day... (northern California)

[nessness]

DH and I are hoping to leave DD with my mom for a night in July and go somewhere to celebrate my birthday. Within 2 hours of Sacramento (so basically SF to Lake Tahoe), budget of $200-$300.

Where would you go? What would you do?

I was thinking about the Amador valley - it's a short and pretty drive, and I like to go wine tasting there, but I've never stayed overnight. Has anyone stayed there and could recommend a place?

Thanks!

[miamigirl]

I love that area! I used to live in Davis.

- If you like wine tasting, I'd go to Napa
- Sausalito is a fun little town
- And of course, Tahoe

[rootbeerfloat]

I think it may be further than 2 hours, but H and I had a nice long weekend in Mendocino. Plenty of good wineries in Anderson Valley along the way.

[Muddled]

Sonoma!

[rootbeerfloat]

May 16, 2016 13:01:24 GMT -5 @this said:

Do you like champagne? One of my favorites in Napa was Mumm. They have a beautiful, BEAUTIFUL patio and a cool tasting menu. (It's my favorite kind of tasting - pour my shit and then leave me alone so I don't have to evaluate wine in front of you. lol)

I'm on the windycity end of the champagne spectrum lol, but Mumm had one I liked. Beautiful scenery, too.

[nessness]

May 16, 2016 13:01:24 GMT -5 @this said:

I'd do a few days in Napa or Sonoma and then a few days in Sausalito.

Do you like champagne? One of my favorites in Napa was Mumm. They have a beautiful, BEAUTIFUL patio and a cool tasting menu. (It's my favorite kind of tasting - pour my shit and then leave me alone so I don't have to evaluate wine in front of you. lol)

That does sound like a good vacation, but we're only doing one night. Not big champagne fans.

I probably should have included this in the OP, but we do like wine tasting but prefer the more low-key (and less expensive) places like Clarksburg, Amador, SC mountains over Napa/Sonoma.

[turtlegirl]

I live in the Sacramento area, I think for a quick overnight I'd do Tahoe in July just because the weather will be so nice. When it's upper 90's/100 degrees + in July and August in Sacramento we often go to Tahoe for the weekend just to take advantage of it dropping 20 degrees!

I do love the Amador area as well or the El Dorado/Apple Hill area wineries, but have never stayed overnight.

[jewel]

I live in the area, also.

I LOVE Amador area. We've never stayed the night there, but I'd recommend finding a bed and breakfast. I think there's one, or maybe a couple, of hotels in town, but I know there are a few B&Bs on the main winery road. I'd get sandwiches and snacks and take them for a picnic lunch, or get BBQ at Amador Brewing or a foodtruck (many of the wineries have them out on the weekends). I'd go to Taste for dinner. (ETA - check out bedandbreakfast.com There are a lot of good options and you can get gift cards at Costco to save 20%)

A day in Tahoe would be nice too. I don't love the south shore, so I'd probably stay in the Tahoe Vista area. I'd probably rent jet skis and go out on the lake. We did a parasailing trip once, which was really fun, and gave us a beautiful view of the lake. There are a lot of Groupon type hotel deals that are good.

As long as you're local (so this isn't like your first/only trip) I might go to SF for the day. I like planning a day of good food, and I've always wanted to do the speed boat trip. We also like just walking the Embarcadero and shopping, eating, and being leisurely.

Personally, I'm not a big Napa fan so I wouldn't go there. If you want to go to the area, I'd do Sonoma.

[nessness]

May 16, 2016 13:22:17 GMT -5 @this said:

I missed that it was one night! Sorry!

No worries! Now I'm dreaming about where I'd go on a five-day kid-free vacation...

[turtlegirl]

I've heard really good things about Taste as well. I haven't been there yet - but hopefully we'll make it there this summer.

[1confused1]

I would go to Tahoe, but I'm a little biased, it is my favorite place on earth. I stayed at this hotel on South Shore and they are opening one in Tahoe City, basecamptahoecity.com/

Another great area for wine tasting is Murphys, another favorite place of mine. They have a cute main street with wineries and restaurants, visitmurphys.com/

[luv2rn4fun]

Another vote for Tahoe....it's one of my absolute favorite places. Second choice would be Napa.