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Top 10Practical Information

1Time Zones

California is three hours behind US Eastern Standard Time (EST) and eight hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Daylight Saving Time is observed between the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November.

2Opening Hours

Shops are open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday; some are also open late on Friday and on Sunday, at reduced hours. Banks open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday. Museum hours vary; many are closed on Monday. Most offices open 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

3Admission Charges

Many art galleries, museums, and state parks permit free entry, including wineries that have art collections or specialist museums. Other museums charge between $5 and $10, and some state parks charge $8 per vehicle entry. Most wineries charge a $5–25 tasting fee; some offer free tasting.

4Public Holidays

Most businesses close for public holidays. Nearly all wineries are open daily, as are tourist information bureaus and many restaurants, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years Day, when public transportation operates a restricted service. If you plan on dining out, reserve well in advance.

5Taxes and Tipping

A service charge may be included in your bill at many restaurants. If it is not, a 15 percent tip is customary. There are no set rates for hotel staff, but $1 per bag is considered correct for porters and $1 per day for maids. Taxi drivers are usually tipped 10 percent. All purchases have a sales tax, which ranges from 8.5 to over 10 percent.

6Smoking

Smoking is banned in all public buildings, including offices, restaurants, and bars. Many restaurants have outside patios reserved for smokers. No minor can purchase tobacco products, which are sold in groceries and supermarkets throughout Wine Country.

7Electrical Appliances

The electricity supply works mostly on a 110-volt system. A few outlets are 220 volts – these are usually marked. Plugs have two flat pins, so visitors from Europe will need adaptors. Power outages are rare, but a surge protector is a good investment for laptop computers.

8Traveling with Pets

Most hotels and restaurants ban dogs and other pets, although exceptions are made for guide dogs. You can check online for hotels that welcome dogs. Most domestic airlines will permit you to travel with a dog or cat if stowed in a secure carryon.

9Photography

Most museums allow photography, but flash is usually banned and tripods barred in several places. In Santa Rosa, Shutterbug Cameras and Jeremiah’s Photo Corner stock photography, but dedicated camera shops are otherwise few and far between in Wine Country.

10Money

Almost all retail outlets accept payment by credit or debit card, but it is wise to always carry sufficient US dollar currency for small purchases, and fares for buses and taxis.