purrybonker

Spring refuses to cooperate in Vancouver. Time for a coastal drive down to wine country.

My usual destination is the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, any other upper-end recommendations in the area?

Sun, pool and wine (of course) are the priorities.

Any tips on how to get into French Laundry on less than 30 days reservation notice also would be great!

helispud

We enjoyed the Vintage Inn in Yountville http://vintageinn.com/ . If you get those reservations at The French Laundry it's almost just across the street.

pissedpuppy

French Laundry takes forever to get in....

they usually don't answer the phone, and suggest showing up in person to make the reservation

I'll get there one day - but I don't have patience for that.

Tcc1999

Calistoga Ranch. I've never stayed there or heard good or bad things about it. It's very, very high end. At the top end of Napa but close to many (also high end) wineries (Montelena, Shafer, Phelps, etc., etc.,) BTW, the weather hasn't been that great here either!

acao

2nd this. And when we made our rez, the concierge walked down the street to get our French Laundry rez too. Can't beat that.

Or, if you have a platinum or black Amex, just get the Amex concierge to fetch the French Laundry rez.

jrotsaert

I stayed twice at the Nappa valley lodge and enjoyed both stays. For the French Laundry, get on their waiting list and then call back every 5 days or so until you get close to the day and then you "chat your way" with the person on the phone. I've done it twice... granted I spoke in French and it was a French person on the other end of the phone both times.

BTW, I highly recommend making a stop at Chateau Boswell... My favorite discovery of the area! Incidentally, Josh at Chateau Boswell may very well be able to get you in if you're finding it difficult

Good luck
JM

808997

I recommend Infineon Raceway. This is the 997 forum after all.

zanwar

Our absolute favourite place in Napa
www.thecarnerosinn.com

csorrows

Crap, I didn't know that. I'd given up on ever going to the French Laundry because I'm too lazy to keep calling for reservations, or calling months in advance.

Time to make those Amex concierges earn that ridiculous yearly fee. I've never used them before for anything, but they're getting a call now, LOL.

Macster

Couple of years ago I stayed at the Double Tree Hotel in Sonoma.

Nice facility and nice restaurant.

I do not partake of sun and pool activities, so I can't say anything about what these are like there.

As for the wine... I had some wine with dinner but I can't remember what I had but I don't recall not liking it. No matter. In that area of CA if you don't like one wine there are about a zillion you will like.

Oh, you might want to know that spring seems reluctant to cooperate here in northern CA. We have had some cool, breezy days with rain (mainly in the north bay where you'll be staying).

Still, unless you visit the Lake Tahoe area or the ski areas no snow or ice.

Sincerely,

Macster.

csorrows

I've gotten in a zin mood lately, so when I go up there, I usually visit my favorite winery, Seghesio, and follow it up with some side trips to Mauritson and Ridge.

Also...found a really nice boutique style winery, A. Rafanelli, but their tasting room is reservation only. Very nice zins, though.

For normal old overnight trips, I usually try to stay at the Dry Creek Inn in Healdsburg, but in the new Tuscan style building. For longer stays, I've stayed at the Silverado Country Club, too, and they have some really nice rooms, especially some of the townhomes they rent out.

Enjoy! I love wine country...I need to get up there more often.

IslandS52

I third Vintage Inn.

cello

Re stays the old guard still have the goods... Auberge du Soleil http://www.aubergedusoleil.com/ & Meadowood http://www.meadowood.com/ .. Of the two we prefer AdS as its kids free. Another really nice spot is the Poetry Inn at the Cliff Lede vineyards http://www.poetryinn.com/ - quiet and tranquil. Calistoga Ranch is a very good rec too. Lots of good choices there. Any of these places should be able to get you the FL res if given enough time to do so

Re FL, if doing it yourself the secret is to call one-half hour before the formal opening for taking reservations for the night you request (I think it is 30 days to the day in advance - my wife wld know). But I would rec starting with the first night staying over, put the number on speed dial, and keep trying. Since TKeller now has Per Se, and splits his time, its worth asking if he will be there. Do take the kitchen/garden tour as well.

Plan some runs for the car too - the roads crossing from Sonoma to Napa, and visa versa, are fun!

Mike in CA

Since I live in the Napa/Sonoma area I don't have occasion to stay at any of the resorts/hotels. Still +1 to Macster's comment about the weather; we're having a very cool spring. Memorial Day and it's 60 deg and breezy with rain showers possible for the next couple of days. 70's (maybe) by the weekend. purrybonker, don't know when you're planning on visitiing but be forewarned. Still, it's probably more temperate than Vancouver.

rome

+1