Catie – Northern California – Sonoma County and Monterey County
Sonoma County is about 1.5 hours from the San Francisco airport. Monterey is 90 minutes from the other direction.
I always stay in the town of Healdsburg when I visit Sonoma. It’s a quaint little town where you can walk around with great food, shopping, and wine tastings. We stayed in Harmon Guest House in Healdsburg. It is the newest addition to the acclaimed Hotel Healdsburg and H2 Hotel family. The rooftop bar is the perfect location to gather with friends and take in the Healdsburg views. This boutique hotel offers an urban sophistication with clean lines, and it is eco-friendly. It’s charming and makes you feel right at home.
The Sonoma Canopy Tour is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will take you ziplining, hiking, and possibly staying overnight, in a treehouse in the Redwood Forest. Get ready for 7 ziplines, 2 sky bridges, a spiral staircase, and a rappel back to the forest floor. One of the ziplines is over 800 feet long! We stayed overnight and made memories that will last a lifetime. Gourmet dinner and breakfast are served in your treehouse if you stay overnight. (Every Yurt has its own bathroom in case you were wondering. There is no shower, but there is a sink and toilet.)
The Fairmont Mission Inn & Spa is located in the heart of wine country with luxurious accommodations and a European vibe. There are numerous pools and indoor baths, as well as a sauna and steam room. The WIllow Stream Spa was a much needed treat for all of us. We secured a private cabana with a jacuzzi to use before and after our spa treatment. The elegant mission style Spa is located on top of an ancient thermal mineral spring, flowing from 1100 feet below the surface. Give yourself enough time here before or after your treatment. It’s worth it.
Bricoleur and MacRostie are both family-run boutique wineries in Sonoma County with rose garden views of the Sonoma Mountains.
We stayed at Bodega Bay Lodge right on the ocean and kayaked in Bodega Bay with Sonomads looking for seal pups.
Hyatt Carmel Highlands in Big Sur is located in Monterey County and the town of Monterey. The Hyatt Regency Monterey and Spa is newly renovated, so check it out!
Colleen – Southern California – Dana Point and Laguna Beach
These two locations are only about 10-15 minutes away from each other.
We stayed in Dana Point at the amazing Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel. We had an Ocean View Suite with 2 king beds. It looks over Salt Creek Beach.
We took a 2-hour Whale & Dolphin Watching Tour with Dana Wharf. We saw a pod of dolphins and even a white dolphin, which is a rare sighting! Two hours was the perfect amount of time. Dana Wharf offers whale and dolphin watching, dinner cruises, sunset cruises, and even school field trips.
Ashley Johnson also tells us that to get to Laguna Beach, you can fly into the John Wayne Airport. Their free trolley system resumes in late June. You can also rent a car or get an Uber. Their arts festivals, including the Pageant of the Masters, start on July 7th and run through Labor Day. July and August are the busiest months at Laguna, and after Labor Day until about October is when many tourists return home. On June 15th, you can visit with no restrictions.
Full Notes & Links on the blog at:
https://www.wlsam.com/2021/05/30/california-dreamin-with-the-trip-sisters-northern-versus-southern-perspectives/