Where to Stay in Wine Country

I am nearing the end of California recaps; I still have the Barrel Tasting event that we traveled all that way for and a few random tasting room recaps to write, but other than that, I guess it’s time to start planning another trip to Sonoma, right?

We’ve stayed at many places in Napa and Sonoma over the years, and since several of you mentioned in the comments that you are planning trips out to wine country, I thought a post on places to stay would be helpful. Of the seven or so places we have stayed, I would recommend all of them, for different reasons and different budgets.

Best Western Dry Creek Inn – On our last trip to Sonoma, we were definitely keeping budget in mind. We also knew that we had a lot of plans to be out and about and would likely not be spending much time in our room. We opted for the Best Western because of its great prices and the fact that it is located within about 15 minutes walking distance of Healdsburg plaza (and places like Barndiva!)

Well, we loved the Best Western. We were in the newer Tuscan wing, and our room had a Jacuzzi, super comfy big bed, wifi, and a fireplace. It also included a pretty good breakfast.

We also stayed in a Best Western in Sonoma and were more than pleased with those accommodations. With a TravelZoo deal, our room, with a fireplace and balcony, included breakfast and two massage vouchers for the local Massage Envy, which turned out to be fantastic. Again, a really great deal and a comfy, clean room.

In addition to Sonoma and Healdsburg, we also ventured to the Sonoma Coast and stayed at the Timber Cove Inn, our second time at this magical property.

This year we took advantage of an amazing deal Timber Cove had and scored an ocean facing room with a Jacuzzi that looked out over the Pacific, a balcony, and a fire place. We slept with the screen door slightly open so that the chilly air, pouring rain, and crashing waves lulled us off to slumber. Timber Cove is remote, but it has a fantastic restaurant, cozy with great food and wine.

Timber Cove also has a great room with a huge fire place, perfect for relaxing by before dinner. This inn is a true getaway, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to unplug. (They do have wifi, which did come in handy!)

If you’re looking for something a little more expensive and centrally located to the Russian River Valley, Vintner’s Inn is a great choice.  We stayed there for my 30th birthday, and we especially loved the vineyard views from our room and the extremely comfortable bed. Service was fantastic as well.

And finally, I can’t post about wine country without posting about one of our favorite places ever, Bella Villa Messina. Just look at this house!

The inn is gorgeous, happy hour includes great local wine and snacks, and the breakfast is legendary. Bella Villa Messina is also a splurge, but it would be my pick for a special occasion vacation.

Over in Napa, we absolutely love, love, love The Avia. It is comfortable, luxurious, and centrally located within walking distances of places like Bistro Sabor and Zuzu, among others. It’s definitely my first choice if you are venturing over to Napa Valley for the night.

And now I not only want to book a plane ticket to San Francisco, I would now like a giant plate of bacon and a frittata.

What’s the most important part of a vacation for you?