Planning Your Trip

When to Go

Wine Country is busiest in summer months. In spring, the mustard fields are ablaze with yellow blossoms. Fall is the best time for winery tours, when the wineries are busy with the harvest. Winter months are less crowded, and prices are lower.

Passports and Visas

Visitors from abroad must have a valid passport to enter the USA. Many nationalities also require a non-immigrant visa. Australian, British, and Canadian citizens plus people from other Visa Waiver Program countries do not need visas for stays of up to 90 days.

US State Department
www.travel.state.gov/visa

Insurance

It is wise to get insurance for loss or theft of valuables as well as for trip cancellation and full medical coverage, including repatriation by air. Visitors intending to participate in adventure sports should be sure that their policy covers these activities.

Climate

Wine Country has several microclimates, and conditions can vary greatly within a short distance. Temperatures rise with distance from the coast and San Francisco Bay: Calistoga, for example, is several degrees warmer than Napa. The fog-bound Anderson and Navarro Valleys of Mendocino, and the lower Russian River Valley are cooled by moist ocean air. Most rain falls between November and April.

What to Pack

If you’re visiting during the summer months, take light clothing to beat the midday heat. A sweater is needed for evenings, even in summer, and a warm rainproof jacket is a must in winter. Dressy clothes are required in fancy restaurants. Do not forget sunscreen and a shade hat.

Choosing an Area

Napa Valley attracts the bulk of visitors and has the most variety, from mud-bath spas to ballooning and bicycling. Sonoma Valley and Santa Rosa are rich in museums and cultural draws. Choose the Russian River and Mendocino regions for rugged adventures, with their redwood forest and boutique wineries.

How Long to Stay

It is best to combine two or three areas of the Wine Country to gain a full sense of the region, and to appreciate the distinctions of its wines. Allow at least two days for Napa Valley and one day for Sonoma Valley. The far northern regions, such as Mendocino, span greater distances than the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, so allow adequate time.

Disabled Travelers

By law, hotels, restaurants, and public buildings must provide wheelchair access, and many have special bathroom facilities. Public buses are also equipped to handle wheelchairs, and sidewalks in most towns have wheelchair ramps. ATMs have braille touch buttons.

Traveling with Children

Children are not welcome at wineries, and anyone under 21 may not consume alcohol. Still, Wine Country has plenty of family-friendly places, such as Safari West, the Charles M. Schulz Museum, and the Francis Ford Coppola Winery. Some hotels may charge an extra bed rate for children under 16.