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Take Me To 04.14.2017

Biking Trip California Wine Country - Sonoma + Napa Valley Trip

Intro Stay Highlights itinerary

Every year a handful of our tribe celebrate the art of itinerary building by spending a week together, discovering or in this case, re-discovering a destination. We call this trip SmartFlyer ONE. This year our team spent time on an active Sonoma and Napa Valley trip celebrating the wine country way of life, including but not limited to: wining, dining, biking and plenty of spa-ing.

Contributed By

SmartFlyer

SmartFlyer ONE 2017 Video

Elysium Productions

Duration

5 Nights, 6 Days

We Love it For

Couples, families and small groups

Trip Style

Laid-back, yet active, with plenty of room for adventure

Agent Notes

Experience the best that this wine-country has to offer, which believe it or not, is more than just wine. You'll have a perfect mix of relaxation and outdoor activities, so don't forget your sneakers!

Stay

Our favorite spots for wine country pampering.

Cavallo Point Lodge

Located at a former U.S. Army post at Golden Gate Bridge, award-winning Cavallo Point offers one of the most coveted stays on the West Coast. Many of its 142 Historic and Contemporary accommodations feature sweeping views of San Francisco Bay, the city and the bridge. Northern California cuisine at Murray Circle restaurant makes the lodge a top culinary destination, and an intimate cooking school has an ever-changing class roster. Miles of hiking trails in national parklands and dog-friendly housing make it a great choice for families. Surrounding eucalyptus and pine trees set the mood at the spa. Nature, Nurture, Culture, Adventure.

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Farmhouse Inn

Located in Sonoma-Napa wine country, Farmhouse Inn is one of the world’s most highly rated resorts. The 25-room boutique luxury hotel blends the outdoors and indoors with two-sided gas fireplaces, private patios, open-air hallways and plenty of communal outdoor spaces. In addition to the spacious suites, the Farmhouse Inn boasts a 3,000-square-foot spa and Michelin-star restaurant, offering magical cuisine featuring fresh, seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Dinner is sublime, but don’t forget to enjoy breakfast – the two courses change daily and are often a highlight of guests’ trips.

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Meadowood

A long-standing member of Relais & Châteaux, Meadowood is Napa Valley's ultimate luxury destination resort, nestled in the heart of iconic St. Helena. Set within the 250-acre estate, 85 exquisitely appointed guest Cottages, Suites and Lodges, featuring fireplaces and terraces, afford the utmost privacy and serenity. Indulge your inner epicurean at three-Michelin-star Restaurant at Meadowood. Sporting life at Meadowood features golf, tennis, swimming, hiking and croquet. Meadowood's Guest Services Team will design a custom itinerary for your visit, including access to the valley's exclusive wineries, restaurants and experiences.

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Highlights

  • Cooking class at Cavallo Point in Sausalito. Day 1
  • Spa Afternoon at Farmhouse Inn's Spa Day 2
  • Bike riding from Sonoma Valley to Napa Valley with DuVine Cycling. Day 3
  • 43 miles bike ride from Sonoma to Napa with DuVine Cycling Day 4
  • Private visit to the Promontory winery. Day 5
  • An early morning hot air balloon ride for sweeping views of Napa Valley. Day 6

ItineraryItinerary

1 Sausalito, CA
Arrival to SF + Head to Cavallo Point

Morning: Your trip starts the moment you step off the plane and land in San Francisco. You’ll spot a driver with your name and a Cavallo Point sign at meet and greet.

Afternoon: After you’ve checked in and have had time to settle into your accommodations, enjoy beautiful downtown Sausalito, or, simply enjoy the beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge from the hotel’s front porch.

Evening: If you’re feeling creative and hungry, join the Cavallo Point Cooking School and later, feast on your beautiful spread.

Cavallo Point Lodge, Sausalito, CA

2 Healdsburg, California
Over to Wine Country

Morning: You’ll be picked up from Cavallo Point Lodge and make your way to Healdsburg in Sonoma County.

Afternoon: Time for a pit-stop in Healdsburg! Lunch in town as your luggage is being delivered to Farmhouse Inn. Check-in to your room at Farmhouse Inn at your leisure.

Who says eating and shopping can’t wear you out? After you’ve checked-in, indulge in the Farmhouse Spa services. The first one to ever coin the term Farm-to-Spa, the beautiful Farmhouse Spa utilizes produce harvested on site, like fresh herbs, spring forest honey, and heirloom cider apples from the ranch.

Evening: Farmhouse Inn is synonymous with their Michelin Star restaurant, enjoy a beautiful dinner at the Restaurant this evening. The food served at the restaurant is sourced from Joe and Catherine’s Bortolomei Ranch or local artisan farmers, the wine program carefully curated and a beautiful mix of the best wines from Napa and Sonoma, and perfectly personal and warm service.

Farmhouse Inn, Sonoma, California

3
Settling into the Sonoma Life

Morning: Get out of bed before the sun and tour the Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve to start your morning right in a custom Mercedes Sprinter convertible van with a panoramic glass roof.

After your leisurely ride, meet your DuVine guides and get fitted for your bike for the week before breakfast. This morning, we’ll take you riding through the Russian River & Dry Creek Loop (34 mile – lollipop loop for full ride / 1400 feet climb.) Join DuVine and cycle through two of Sonoma’s most magical valleys. Follow your guides through the Pinot and Chardonnay vineyards of Westside Road. Quiet back roads open up to dreamy views of the Mayacamas Mountains and you’ll stop for a coffee among acres of vines. After a quick rest, you’ll pedal through the cycling haven of Healdsburg before continuing to one of the best vineyards to enjoy lunch at the beautiful Arista Winery.

Lunch at Arista Winery. Arista’s 36-acre estate is located in the Middle Reach of the Russian River Valley on famed Westside Road just outside the idyllic wine country town of Healdsburg, California. They are ideally suited to grow Pinot Noir and Chardonnay because of the unique and complex soils that blanket the estate and their close proximity to the cooling fog and maritime influence of the Pacific Ocean.

Evening: After a long day of biking, settle into your room for a relaxing bath or fireside wine. We won’t judge if you decide to pop into the spa either, in fact, we highly recommend it!

Sonoma County, California, DuVine Cycling

4 Napa Valley, California
Sonoma to Napa Ride with DuVine Cycling

Morning: Breakfast at leisure at Farmhouse Inn followed by another beautiful day hitting the road with DuVine Cycling from Sonoma to Napa. Get ready for this 43 miles bike ride with 1900 feet of climbing. You’ll feel like you’re pedaling back in time as wine country turns to bucolic fields of cattle accompanied by gorgeous views of Mount Saint Helena. Once in Napa, you’ll make your way past world-renowned wineries along the historic Silverado Trail before reaching Meadowood, your final destination.

Note: at anytime guests may choose to take the DuVine transportation rather than bike if they are not able to complete the trip.

Afternoon: Lunch at Davis Estates, Calistoga.  In 2011, the Davis family purchased the century-old estate winery and began their ambitious restoration project to create a distinguished winery. Mike Davis has a long and fond association with the Napa Valley. Growing up in San Mateo County just south of San Francisco, his family spent summer vacations at the Napa Valley Ranch Club. Davis Estates is the culmination of a life long dream. Here the vision is carved from this historic site as an estate winery focused on wines of the highest pedigree.

Evening: Spend the evening at relaxing at your luxurious accommodation at Meadowood or head to Meadowood’s world-class spa to work away those knots from a full morning of biking through the valleys.

Meadowood Spa, Napa Valley
Meadowood Spa, Napa Valley
5 Napa Valley, California
Meadowood

Morning: Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, don’t forget to order the delicious english muffins from Model Bakery!

Afternoon: Food Truck Lunch at Clif Family Winery. Their story begins with Gary and Kit’s cycling adventures through Italy where long days of cycling would end in leisurely evenings of good wine, food and hospitality. As great lovers of food, wine and adventure, Gary and Kit sought to bring these memorable experiences to their Napa Valley home with their Clif Family tasting room and Bruschetteria food truck. The organic farm and vineyards located high atop Howell Mountain provide a bounty of grapes, olives, fruit and vegetables to fuel your journey.

After lunch, we head over to the enjoy one of Napa’s most exclusive winery at PromontoryThe legacy of Bill Harlan’s Napa Valley cult-Cabernet continues with his newest release, Promontory. A visionary, Bill Harlan set out to create a legacy within the Napa Valley and within that, produce the region’s version of a first-growth Bordeaux, one that would be come as prestigious and rare as those that wear the name Lafitte or Margaux on their label. And in the 1990s with Harlan Estate, and later BOND, he succeeded. Now, as he passes the torch to the next generation, his son Will is at the helm of Promontory Estate.

Evening: For your last night’s dinner, and to celebrate a beautiful week in Napa and Sonoma, we are spending the evening at The Restaurant at Meadowood.  A modern American restaurant with the mission the cause positive impact in Napa Valley by working exclusively with the area’s artisans, growers, and foragers.

Promontory Winery
Processed with VSCO with g6 preset
6 San Francisco, California
Homeward Bound

Morning: Before you go, one last thing to check off the list.  Wake up before the sun and experience a hot-air balloon ride over Napa Valley. What better way to close off the trip than an epic ride over this gorgeous California haven.

After, it’s one last breakfast and finally time to say goodbye and head home.

Book Now

Contact your SmartFlyer advisor to learn more about planning your trip to California wine country.

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