Farms, Food and Wine: A culinary adventure in Marin, Napa and Sonoma Counties of California
Explore the heart of wine country and the culinary epicenter of california cuisine for six days and 5 nights. The perfect couple's getaway for eco-friendly foodies for $1,400.
Friday Day 1
You catch an early morning flight to the west Coast arriving in the late morning. You have reserved a Honda Hybrid from FOX Rental Cars. You pick up your bags and call FOX Rental using the courtesy phone located at the transportation board. Then you join the steady stream of travelers heading for the AirTrain which departs on the top floor of the terminal parking structure.
The train takes you directly to the consolidated rental car building where you get off and head for the ground floor where the Fox Rental shuttle meets you at the curb. In 5 minutes you have arrived at the rental office and are loading your gear into your Honda Civic Hybrid.
Leaving the rental office you get on to Highway 101 North heading into San Francisco. The views of the city, Oakland and the bay spread out before you and you can smell the salt air. It's balmy and 75 degrees. A beautiful day for a drive! And you are heading up the coast to Olema with a brief stop for snacks including provisions for a late picnic lunch.
You enter the city and exit towards the Civic Center and on to Franklin St. The Franklin St. Whole Foods provides a convenient stop for prepared deli foods or bread and cheese and of course beverages. Buy local chesses, wine and of course a local loaf of sourdough bread to snack on! You continue on Franklin over the hill and then down toward the Bay turning onto Lombard St. heading towards the Golden Gate Bridge.
What a day! The view from the bridge is dangerously distracting! With no clouds to restrict the view you continue to the Highway 1 North, Stinson beach exit. Following the signs you take the upper split in the road towards Mt Tamalpais State Park. Your may be hungry but hold out for the view. You wind your way up past the split to Mill Valley and Muir Woods continuing up the mountain till you reach Pan Toll Ranger Station. Here you take the right up to the ridge. The view keeps growing! On the ridge you head west (left). This road looks familiar – probably because you have seen it before in someone’s car commercial.
Now, pick a spot that suits you and ENJOY! The view and the good food make all your cares melt away and you can not help but sigh. If you have time explore the ridge or take a short hike. When you are ready continue on the ridge road west dropping down back onto Highway 1 on a narrow winding road. Watch for bikes!
Continue north passing through the incredibly large eucalyptus groves and pastures. Keep an eye out for the Pt Reyes National Seashore White Fallow and Spotted Axis deer! You arrive in Olema and right in front of you is the Olema Inn where you will be staying the next two evenings. Depending on the time, check in now or enjoy a walk in the hills or a drive and walk in Pt. Reyes. Don’t forget your binoculars to spot the variety of birds and other wildlife.
Your dinner reservation is for 7:30 so you have time to relax, freshen up and even enjoy a glass of wine at the beautiful bar. The menu is seasonal using the finest local, organic and sustainably raised ingredients. A meal to savor and enjoy and you don’t have to drive home! Bon appetit!
Saturday Day 2
The day starts with a wonderful breakfast and you are out the door. You are only 10 miles from the Drakes Bay Oyster Co. where you will be meeting up with others to learn more about food, farming and keeping Marin Co. Sustainable. Marin Agriculture Land Trust, based in Pt. Reyes Station just up the road, sponsors popular hikes and visits to Marin Co. food producers. Green Concierge Travel has made a reservation fro you to join the Lunny Beef Ranch and & Drakes Bay Oyster tour from 10 AM – 2 PM.
Today you will meet Kevin Lunny who grew up on the 1,500-acre ranch on the Pt. Reyes peninsula that is now Marin’s largest acreage of organic pasture. To diversify his operation, Kevin decided to plant five acres of artichokes, the very kind that grew in that region before it became a national park. He also grows oysters in Drake’s Estero. Visit all three operations, taste the products in season, and eat your picnic at a scenic spot. (From MALT trip description for 5/5/07, http://www.malt.org/hp/hikestours.html#may)
You spend the rest of the afternoon exploring Point Reyes wandering the roads and trails. You head back to the Olema Inn to change for dinner. Six miles up Highway 1 you find your destination for this evening - the Station House Café. If it’s a beautiful, warm evening, make sure you call ahead to change your reservation to sit in the garden. The Station House cafe is another great eatery presenting wonderful food from around the area in a fun atmosphere. |
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Sunday Day 3
You pack your bags this morning and enjoy your Olema Inn breakfast. Today, you are headed inland through the farms and toward the vines of the rolling coastal hills and valleys. You head inland on Sir Francis Drake from the Inn toward Petaluma.
Your next destination, the renowned Rouge et Noir cheese factory and a 10 AM tour can be found Rouge et Noir cheeses are made with lots of local crème in the French style. If you like camembert and brie, the Marin French Cheese Factory is the destination for cheese lovers. Make sure to taste the Breakfast cheese! Buy some goodies for your picnic in the wine country.
Before you leave Rouge et Noir, make sure you have made your reservation for dinner as Yountville and the surrounding communities offer excellent but popular restaurants (If there is a special place you have always dreamed of eating at, Green Concierge Travel can make those arrangements before you leave!). Continue from the Cheese Factory to Petaluma through the rolling hills with rock outcrops and oaks that characterize this area. Round out your picnic supplies with a stop at the Whole Foods Market, 621 E Washington in Petaluma.
Taking Highway 101 North to Santa Rosa, get off on Highway 12 East towards Kendall and Sonoma. The road takes you up the Bennett Valley; depending on the time and your inclination, stop at one of the wineries along the way. The Bennett Valley wineries are known for their Merlot.
As you enter the Valley of the Moon you are on a designated California Scenic Highway. You have a choice of three state parks and multiple wineries to enjoy: Annadel State Park, the first park off of Montgomery Dr., Sugarloaf Ridge State Park or Jack London State Historic Park.
If you decide to picnic at Sugarloaf Ridge, turn right on Adobe Canyon Road as you approach Kenwood. Up this road you will also find one of the smaller, family run organic wineries, Kaz Vineyard and Winery. Kaz is open Friday – Monday 11 to 5 PM. Small batch red wines are the specialty and for $2 tasting is a bargain. When you finish you could try another winery or head up to the Park with your picnic and a bottle of wine from one of your stops.
A few miles further down Highway 12 lies Glen Ellen. Turn off Highway 12 on Arnold Drive and you can sample wines or head to Jack London Historic State Park. Jack London first purchased land in Sonoma in 1905. The one time Jack London ranch is now the Jack London State Historic Park. Here you will find redwoods, oaks, madrone, manzanita and literary pilgrims. The hike up Sonoma Mt provides a great view of the Valley of the Moon. Or you can head into Sonoma and visit the Sonoma State Historic Park. The park offers a self-guided walking tour that includes the Mission San Francisco Solano, the last of the California missions.
Make sure you leave time for at least two more stops before you arrive at the Maison Fleurie, your inn for the next two nights in Yountville. On Highway 12 as you approach Napa, you come across two wineries worth a stop - Domaine Carneros Tattinger and Madonna Estates. Go to Madonna Estates first as the tasting room closes at 5 PM.
Located just across the street from Domaine Carneros, on Old Sonoma Rd. (5400 Sonoma Rd.), Madonna Estates produces whites and reds with a signature Pinot Noir (the Carneros region is know for Pinot Noir), an interesting Chardonnay and very tasty Merlot. Four generations of the Bartolucci family have been making wine here. This winery may single handedly change your opinion of organic wines in the United States!
Then head back to the Domaine Carneros Chateau. Built in 2003, this state-of-the-art facility houses one of the largest photovoltaic systems on any winery in the world. It provides an elegant setting for a Napa Valley sunset. Join others on the terrace where you can sip champagne, sample some on some small treats and take in the warm afternoon light as it fades off the surrounding hills.
Finish up your afternoon “tea” and head on to Napa via the Old Sonoma Rd or Highway 12 to the St. Helena Highway/Highway 29 North. Drive north to Yountville and Maison Fleurie. This lovely inn, reminiscent of a French country inn, provides a wonderful homebase for wine country travelers. Its historic building has been furnished to make you feel welcome and pampered serving both a bountiful breakfast and afternoon wine and hors d'oeuvres.
Unpack and freshen up for your chosen dining destination. Enjoy!
Monday Day 4
There are so many wineries that can be visited so make a list prior to your arrival. Do some research on the wineries finding out their tour times and the tasting rooms’ hours. Four to five wineries should be plenty. Plot them out on a map of Napa Valley. Add to this your desired dinner destination and you have a plan for the day. Consider picking up picnic supplies along the way. Many of the wineries encourage and provide picnic facilities for visitors to further enjoy the winery atmosphere.
The Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, five miles north of St. Helena, offers another view of this area and a place to enjoy a hike and a picnic amidst stands of coastal redwoods, and other west coast species - Douglas-fir, tanoak, and madrone. A Native American Garden next to the visitor center displays some of the plants important to the earliest residents of this area.
If you drive north as far as St Helena consider these options: Dean & Deluca’s upscale gourmet food market offers fresh produce and deli items. Much of what they offer in produce and cheeses comes from local farmers and cheeses not to mention the local wine – 1400 of them!
Other options include the historic Oakville Grocery providing food and sundries since 1881 to the Napa residents. Purchased in March 2007 by the Rudd Group, the Group will refurbish the building and continue to provide great service and hospitality. Two Italian establishments offer deli fare and sandwiches that you can take with you, Genova Delicatessen and Giugni’s Sandwiches. So find your favorite fare or try something new and load up your knapsack or picnic bag.
Enjoy your day! Don’t forget about the wine and appetizers at Maison Fleurie if your dinner plans take you back to the southern end of the valley.
Tuesday Day 5
You rise early enjoying the breakfast spread offered by the friendly Maison Fleurie staff. Today’s agenda - drive back to San Francisco to visit the San Francisco Farmer’s market housed in the historic Ferry Building on the Embarcadero at the foot of Market St. (10 AM to 2 PM on Tuesdays). Plan to arrive around 10:30 AM so that you avoid the worst of the morning commute traffic over the Golden Gate Bridge but get to the market before noon.
Here you will find many of the farmers, produce and food products that you have seen along the way and many more. This market needs time to enjoy. From flowers to fungi, herbs and cheeses, oils, vinegars, meats and produce, you will find colorful and attractive items to take home with you and delicious items to consume on site. The market brings together all that you have experienced over the last few days.
Parking can be found at Pier1/2 or the Embarcadero and Washington St. lots. Get your parking ticket validated in the market after you make a $10 or more purchase to get reduced parking rates.
Your afternoon can easily be filled. Choose from downtown shopping, visiting Chinatown or a visit to one of San Francisco’s great museums. If you are not going to explore Golden Gate Park and the new De Young museum or you are just tired of driving, check in at your hotel for the evening – the very fun and hip Triton Hotel located two blocks from Union Square.
This boutique hotel is a pioneer in environmentally friendly service. The hotel is cleaned with "green" products and they offer eco-friendly rooms and eco-celebrity suites. The Triton has partnered up with The Trust for Public Land, donating a percentage of room revenue to this organization.
In 1991, nine San Francisco artists put their heads and hearts together to create this unique hotel. Inspired by the original creators' imagination, this San Francisco boutique hotel continues to evolve adding and changing the décor along the way
Parking runs about $42 a 24-hour period so consider when your flight departs tomorrow. Check in starts at 3 PM so if your room is not ready, park your bags with the hotel staff and head out for a great afternoon. Don’t miss the nightly wine hour complete with Tarot card readings and chair massage.
Don’t leave for the afternoon without making a reservation for dinner. Ask the concierge for recommendations. Dining in San Francisco can be overwhelming and if you provide enough guidelines, you should get a great short list. Ask for restaurants that specialize in local produce and cheeses. This will provide the perfect cap to your trip.
Wednesday Day 6
Your trip is almost complete. Green Concierge Travel recommends arriving 2 hours and 15 minutes before your flight time so you have time to return your hybrid. The rental company will return you to the rental car facility where you take the AirTrain back to the terminals to check in.
You have your flight meal packed in your carryon – fresh sourdough bread, cheeses and local olives from the Farmer’s market. Enjoy the Farms, Food and Wines!
Trip Summary
DAYS/NIGHTS: 6 Days/5 Nights
ESTIMATED COST: $1400 for two
The cost below is for two people and includes the car rental, 5 nights accommodation
- 2 nights at the Olema Inn, Olema
- 2 nights at the Maison Fleurie, Yountville
- 1 night at the Triton Hotel, San Francisco,
And 4 breakfasts.
The package price does not include the following meals: 5 picnic lunches and 5 dinners. It does not include gas, wine tastings, park fees or tours and does not include air flights or train tickets to and from San Francisco.
TRAVEL PHILANTHROPY:
Green Concierge Travel encourages its clients to participate in Travel Philanthropy. Travel Philanthropy is the practice of giving back to the destination. This can be through volunteer work and, or donations to an organization working to protect the local culture and environment.
For the itinerary above, Green Concierge Travel recommends Marin Agricultural Land Trust for a donation. MALT is a 501(c)(3). They can be reached: Marin Agricultural Land Trust, Post Office Box 809, Point Reyes Station CA 94956, 415-663-1158, farmland@malt.org or visit their web site at www.malt.org.
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