Day 1: Cycling, Wine Tasting, Wine Get Together and Hosted Welcome Dinner
Escape Travel will pick you up at any San Francisco hotel at 10:30am, or meet you in Healdsburg at noon in the heart of the wine country for a relaxing picnic lunch at a lovely cafe patio before a warm up ride through the Alexander Valley. This will provide you an opportunity to understand why this uncrowded region offers so many fine wines. The cycling would not be complete without visits to Robert Young Winery, Locals (a wine co-op), the quaint town of Geyserville and other wineries in this scenic valley. Cycle to the stunning www.HotelHealdsburg.com to check in for two nights. Tonight will include a scrumptious hosted dinner party with Sonoma County wine (order off the menu) in Healdsburg. 20-26 miles total (moderate).

Day 2: Cycling, Lake Sonoma, Tasting, Botanical Gardens & Private Winery Tour/Tasting
After a scrumptious buffet breakfast, you're off pedaling through the scenic Dry Creek Valley stopping to order lunch at a gourmet deli. A 350-foot hill climb to Lake Sonoma awaits you with its fantastic views from high above the Dry Creek Valley before we head back down to visit a winery with beautiful botanical gardens featuring hundreds of rare species of plants from around the world & plenty of award winning wine tasting with wine that have been featured at the White House for generations.
Our next stop is Quivera Winery where our picnic style lunch is served on their vineyard patio. Michel-Schlumberger is next, offering the best private winery/vineyard tour of this region. This French Estate winery is set beautifully in the bench land hills of the Dry Creek Valley. A walk through the hillside vineyard and facility will leave you craving for what is to come next: an opportunity to relax in the executive kitchen sipping tremendous wines. An easy ride south through the oak dotted hills puts you at Lambert Bridge Winery for an optional stop or continue back to the hotel for a soak in the heated pool and spa. Dinner on your own tonight at one of many fine local restaurants. 31 miles (moderate).
Day 3: Cycling, Hop Kiln, Korbel Tour/Tasting, Redwoods, Sonoma Coast Cycle, Wine & Hosted Dinner
Following breakfast, you'll see why the Russian River Valley is designated the cool growing region due to the fog intruding up the Russian River and its tributaries. This 11,200-acre region produces fine Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet. Cycle to Hop Kiln Winery, in the Sweetwater Springs Historic District, the leading provider of hops in the West Coast back in the early 1900's. Historic Hop Kiln Winery, with its three 90-foot tall wooden towers, is on the State Registry of Historical Places due to the crafty stonework by Italian stonemasons back in 1905. Continue cycling along the "most scenic & popular" cycling road in Sonoma County to Korbel. Korbel is one of the last American Champagne Houses using the Champagne Methodoise method. You'll tour this beautiful 150 year old facility prior to lunch on their redwood deck. Next we'll head down river to marvel in the beauty of the redwoods en route to the Sonoma Coast. Your naturalist/guide will lead you through an old-growth redwood forest where you’ll witness 300ft+ tall trees that are over 1,400 years old.
Continue heading west out to Highway One where the Russian River meets the mighty Pacific Ocean for a brief walk up for a Sonoma Coast vista (short hike) at a state park. Ride 11 miles south along Hwy One to Bodega Bay to check into the www.BodegaBayLodge.com nestled on a hillside surrounded by the natural beauty of the Sonoma Coast with picturesque views of the Pacific Ocean and Bodega Bay. Local wine, cheeses and crackers are served at 5pm get together. Hit the hot tub, heated pool and sauna before our hosted dinner with wine at 7:45pm as we watch the sun set. Enjoy award-winning California Contemporary cuisine at the Duck Club with ocean views and superb service in an elegant setting. Menus change seasonally to highlight fresh local seafood and regional ingredients & fine Sonoma County wines. 25 miles (moderate).
Day 4: Kayaking, Cycling, Bodega Head Hike, Picnic Lunch & Relaxing
Awakening to the serene sounds of the Pacific Ocean lapping against the beach below, After breakfast, we'll kayak through the calm waters of Bodega Bay & Pacific Ocean. You'll learn about the rich history and wildlife this area provides on this 1.5 hr guided excursion. In the afternoon, cycle, hike, then picnic at Bodega Head with whale watching and ocean vistas. We'll cycle back to our lodge & load up the bikes in the van and drive to the Marin Headlands high above San Francisco for a breathtaking ride down 900 feet and across the Golden Gate bridge to the Presidio in SF. Guests, say this is one of the trip's highlights with views of SF, Alcatraz, the Pacific Ocean, Presidio National Park, Angel Island, Marin County, the Bay, and much more! You'll be shuttled back to your hotel from there for a 530pm drop off. 19 miles (easy/moderate).
Congratulations, you just cycled, hiked and kayaked one of the
premiere destinations in all the world. Cheers and Bon Voyage!
"The bicycle is the last machine simple
enough to be understood by its owner." -Spokesong
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