Itinerary

Day One: San Francisco – Bodega Bay
After being picked up from the Argonaut Hotel in San Francisco, we will head north across the Golden Gate Bridge for the 90 minute transfer to Bodega Bay on the Pacific Coast.  Our first ride along the headlands of the rugged Sonoma Coast will stun you. Protected under the California State Park System, it is a completely undeveloped stretch popular among surfers, seals and whales. Nestled on a hillside surrounded by the dunes of Doran Beach, tonight’s resort is a perfect place to take in the area’s natural beauty. From your balcony, enjoy views of Bodega Bay and the Pacific Ocean beyond. The award-winning restaurant and full-service spa are only steps away, as is the beach.

Meal: Dinner
Destinations visited: Bodega Bay & Sonoma Coast
Distance cycled: 24 km / 15 miles
   
Day Two: Bodega Bay – Healdsburg
As the morning sun burns off the nightly blanket of fog, you may choose to take a stroll along the tranquil bay before indulging in a hearty breakfast. Today we’ll head into the coastal range for a cruise into the heart of the redwoods. At the Armstrong Redwoods State Park, we’ll picnic among 1,400-year-old trees that tower over 300 feet high and create a unique microclimate. Shafts of light filtering through the canopy make for an enchanting experience. The optional cycle after lunch is along the Russian River. On our approach to Healdsburg, we will stop for a tasting at Hop Kiln winery. Tucked away atop a hill, this vineyard boasts a historic California landmark - one of America's best still standing kilns - which now serves as the impressive tasting room. Back on the road, and a mere couple of yards down the street, we encounter the neighboring Rochioli vineyard where we will sample some of their new selections. Tonight will be spent in Healdsburg, a relaxed and prosperous town built around a plaza with a bandstand and several restaurants, bookstores, and antique shops. Tonight you are free to arrange your own dining plans, though we'll be happy to recommend one of the many great dining destinations.

Meals: Breakfast/ Gourmet Picnic
Destinations visited: Armstrong Redwoods State Park, Russian River Valley, Healdsburg, Hop Kiln winery, Rochioli vineyards
Distance cycled: 39 km / 24 miles

Day Three: The Dry Creek Valley
Today you may choose to spend time exploring Healdsburg. For those who would like to cycle, we’ll ride into the Dry Creek Valley and look out across acres of vines with the Mayacamas Mountains in the distance. This will be  some truly classic wine country riding on quiet back roads dotted with welcoming vineyards.  As we pass these endless rows of vineyards along traffic-free country roads, we reach our first stop at Ferrari-Carano winery where you will be enchanted by both the property and the wines.

Where you enjoy lunch today is your choice. You can sample one of Healdsburg's many restaurants, but we heartily recommend stopping at Dry Creek General Store, a country store along the route known for amazing gourmet sandwiches and fresh salads. Today's itinerary includes a visit to Quivira Vineyard - a bio-dynamic (organic) winery. After a tour of the bountiful grounds (both a vineyard and an organic farm), we will sample some of these unique wines. If you buy a bottle or two while touring the vineyards, let us know and we'll gladly collect them for you.  Tonight we’ll dine at one of our local favorites, the Michelin-starred Dry Creek Kitchen. The town will be bustling as locals and visitors crowd into the main plaza for the weekly summertime "Tuesdays in The Plaza: Market, Music and Town Picnic."

Meals: Breakfast / Dinner
Destinations visited: Dry Creek Valley, Quivira winery, Ferrari-Carano vineyard
Distance cycled: 37 km / 23 miles

Day Four: Healdsburg – St. Helena
We’ll start the day riding out along the back roads of Healdsburg to explore the wine growing regions of Alexander Valley, Knights Valley and Northern Napa. Along the way, we’ll stop to taste at Trentadue winery where we’ll focus on their delicious ports as well as the red wines for which the Alexander Valley is famous. Lunch today is again at your discretion. You can wait to try one of Calistoga's eateries, but we recommend stopping at another gourmet country store,  the Jimtown Store, known for their delicious fig-olive tapenade and amazing pickles. Our second wine tasting today is at the Hanna Winery where we will enjoy its wines and sweeping views across the wide Alexander Valley. Continue to Calistoga by van or choose to cycle the remaining 19 miles over the hill and into Napa. We stay overnight in the spa town of Calistoga, a small Napa town that is laid-back and well preserved, with quaint shops and excellent restaurants. Tonight, we will shuttle to nearby St. Helena for dinner at Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen. Cited by many guests as one of the favorite dining experiences of the tour, famed chef and founder Cindy Pawlcyn's delightful menu expands upon many traditional comfort foods.

Meals: Breakfast / Dinner
Destinations visited: Alexander Valley, Knights Valley, Northern Napa, Calistoga, Trentadue winery, Hanna winery
Distance cycled: 37 km / 23 miles

Day Five: The Silverado Trail
For early risers we suggest enjoying an optional hot air balloon excursion over the Napa Valley. Today's cycling is along the Silverado Trail, a road on the east side of the Napa Valley. The stunning views across the valley are very familiar to some of the best wineries in the area. We will stop for a tasting at the wonderful setting of Rutherford Hill winery. Rutherford Hill, with its amazing view of the Napa valley, is the ideal spot for our picnic lunch. For a more extensive day's riding, we will guide you into the Pope Valley: a world of small, family farms and flower-filled meadows. After your ride, we'll visit the beautiful Chateau Montelena winery, recently featured in the movie Bottle Shock, which retells the story of their chardonnay winning the 1976 Judgment of Paris blind tasting which brought Napa accolades from wine connoisseurs worldwide. If you don’t feel too spoiled already, the hotel has a full service spa on site - recently rated #1 Spa in the Americas by Conde Nast Traveller. You can choose from massage, hydrotherapy, facials or one of the famous mud baths for which Calistoga is renowned. Tonight we'll dine in elegance at Solbar, the hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast/Gourmet Picnic / Dinner
Destinations visited: Silverado Trail & Napa Valley, Rutherford Hill winery, Chateau Montelena winery
Distance cycled: 40 km / 25 miles

Day Six: St. Helena – San Francisco
Today's ride is a pre-breakfast loop around Crystal Springs.  If you would rather relax, Calistoga is also a great place to wander around the quaint shops and shaded boardwalks along the main street. There are coffee shops and restaurants, many of which have pleasant outdoor spaces. After breakfast, we’ll transfer you back across the Golden Gate Bridge to the Argonaut Hotel in San Francisco.

Meals: Breakfast
Destinations visited: Northern Napa
Distance cycled: 29 km / 18 miles

TRIP TOTAL: 206 KM/ 128 MILES, averaging 34 km/ 21 miles per day. Optional longer rides, many with challenging climbs are available each day.

More information from DuVine Adventures:

• View trip on provider's website
  www.duvine.com/napa-sonoma-bike-tours/…
• Company profile, experience, and history
• View all of their trips