Napa Valley Day Trip from San Francisco
A Visit to Wine Country When Staying in the Bay Area
Oct 19, 2008
Tourists that are staying in San Francisco can easily make a day trip to Napa Valley. Wine Country is about a 90 minute drive North of the city complete with attractive views on the way.
Getting to Napa Valley
The suggested route leaving San Francisco for the Napa Valley is over the Golden Gate Bridge. Rush hour traffic can cause congestion along this route in the morning so an early departure or mid-morning departure is recommended.
When driving over the Golden Gate Bridge the view of the city and Bay Area is best seen from the passenger’s side or the far right lane. The Islands of Alcatraz and Angel can be seen on a clear day from this vantage point. Stopping is not allowed on the bridge but pedestrian traffic is allowed to walk up to and across the bridge.
The next immediate landmark is Richardson Bay where attractive yachts are seen from the road. Mission-style homes pepper the shoreline and the rolling hills.
Continue on Route 101 North towards Santa Rosa and exit at River Road towards Calistoga. This puts the driver on Mark W. Springs Road which becomes Porter Creek Road. At the end of Porter Creek Road take a left onto Petrified Forest Road. A short distance from here is the Petrified Forest entrance where, for a fee, visitors can take a tour of the great redwood trees that have turned to stone. This is a great option for families or couples looking to unwind and enjoy a slow paced visit to Wine Country.
Visiting Calistoga
Petrified Forest Road will continue down into Calistoga where multiple wineries are available to tour. For an alternative to wine tours a visit to the Old Faithful Geyser in Calistoga is an option. Located on Tubbs Lane this geyser erupts every half hour or so and is open to the general public for a fee, seven days a week, including holidays. The Old Faithful Geyser of California also features llamas, goats and sheep that can be fed and petted.
Calistoga has restaurant options as well as world-class spas to entice tourists. From Spring through Fall the weather can be very warm so visitors are encouraged to dress appropriately coming from the chilly city of San Francisco.
Continuing through Wine Country
The beautiful views of wineries, the valley and the nearby mountains are breathtaking along Highway 128/29 South towards Napa. From St. Helena visitors will drive through Rutherford and Oakville through Yountville and finally to the town of Napa. Some fifty wineries are along this route and easy to access from the road.
Returning to San Francisco
The return drive can be taken from Highway 29 to Highway 37 which will put the driver onto Interstate 80 South into San Francisco via the Bay Bridge. This is a nice alternate view and the sunset can be gorgeous if timed right and the fog cooperates.
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