California: Wine Country & the Pacific Coast

VBT provides a shuttle from San Francisco International Airport to the Napa River Inn in Napa, departing at 1:10 p.m. If you arrive later or if your flight is delayed, please make your own arrangements to the Napa River Inn.

Meet the shuttle at San Francisco International Airport outside Terminal #3, Level 1, Courtyard 4. There are signs in the baggage claim area that read “CHARTER BUSES.” Follow them and look for the “Pure Luxury” shuttle. The driver will be holding a VBT sign. The driver and vehicle arrive in the courtyard at 1:00 p.m.

2nd Option: Join a shuttle from The Omni San Francisco hotel at 1:40 p.m. Wait for the shuttle outside the hotel entrance as the shuttle driver may not leave the vehicle. Please allow for traffic delays. The shuttle bus reads “Pure Luxury.” If you miss this shuttle, please make your own arrangements to the Napa River Inn.

If you are driving to the tour, parking is available at the Napa River Inn during your stay for free. Your trip leaders can assist you with finding parking for the remainder of the tour duration.

Meet at the Napa River Inn in Napa, California, located on the river in beautiful downtown Napa. Ask the reception desk for your welcome package at check-in. Meet your trip leaders at 3:30 p.m. for a safety talk and bike-fitting. Your California wine country bike tour officially begins with a short warm-up ride along the river. Tonight, you’ll dine at a neighboring restaurant for a taste of some of the regions farm-fresh cuisine.

Hotel: The Napa River Inn
Meals: Dinner

Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 6 miles

Afternoon
Warm-Up: 6 miles

What to Expect: Ride directly from the inn on the Napa Valley Vine Trail, a dedicated bike path. Views of the Napa River are a constant companion on this easy familiarization ride.

After breakfast, ride north along the Vine Trail to Yountville. Reel through the heart of the Napa wine region. In Yountville, pause for a picnic lunch and a private wine tasting at Stewart Cellars before returning to Napa by bike or shuttle. This afternoon, you’ll have free time to browse downtown Napa’s shops and galleries, explore some more wineries, or relax in the day spa at the Napa River Inn.

Dinner is on your own at one of Napa’s many restaurants.

Hotel: The Napa River Inn
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 10 – 38 miles

Morning
Napa to Yountville: 21 miles

Afternoon
Yountville to Napa: 10 or 17 miles

What to Expect: You can expect an easy ride, primarily on a dedicated bike path. No significant climbing. Taking a slightly different route with several mileage options, we’ll return to explore more of Napa.

The morning ride leads to the Carneros region, a viticultural district known for cooler climate varietals and sparkling wines. The grapes benefit from ocean breezes, allowing for cool-climate grapes and slower ripening. Before they were laced with vineyards, these Carneros (sheep) hills were once pasture for grazing.

Arriving by bike to the picturesque town of Sonoma, enjoy an included tasting of family-produced olive oils and vinegars with our friend Frank Figone. There is time for lunch on your own at one of the eateries on the historical Plaza. Afterwards, board a shuttle for the 60-minute transfer to Bodega Bay.

The Inn at the Tides is your comfortable home for the night, offering stunning Bodega Bay views. There is time to swim in the inn’s pool or relax in the hot tub before dinner at the inn.

Hotel: Inn at the Tides
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 24 miles

Morning
Napa to Sonoma: 24 miles

What to Expect: Leaving Napa this morning, you ride west to Sonoma. Today’s ride is mostly on back roads. The VBT support vehicle is available to flatten the few rolling hills. After lunch on your own in Sonoma, the group boards a shuttle to Bodega Bay.

This morning, you’ll have breakfast on the wharf at The Tides Restaurant, made famous by Alfred Hitchcock’s film The Birds. The Tides Wharf Restaurant and parking area were used for the movie’s gas station, café, and boat dock scenes.

This morning’s ride offers beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean, following the coastline for ten miles before turning inland to Guerneville and Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve. Here, gather for a picnic lunch under the magnificent canopy of the Sequoia sempervirens or coastal redwood. The world’s tallest trees live 500-2,000 years, reaching heights of 350 feet.

After lunch, continue by bike or shuttle toward your hotel in downtown Healdsburg. Along the way you may choose to visit family-owned Gracianna Winery for an optional tasting. Once in Healdsburg, you’ll have time to settle in and explore town. This vibrant destination is known for its historic Spanish Colonial plaza. Visit the museum, stroll along the river though Railroad Park or perhaps explore one of the galleries showcasing art, photography, glassware, and jewelry. Dinner is on your own with many choices in the neighborhood.

Hotel: The Harmon Guest House
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 21 – 47 miles

Morning
Bodega Bay to Armstrong Redwoods: 26 miles

Afternoon
Armstrong Redwoods to Healdsburg: 21 miles

What to Expect: Today you cycle along the famous Pacific Coast Highway with breathtaking ocean vistas. Then you will head inland to ride among the coastal redwood trees following the Russian River. The morning ride ends in Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve where your trip leaders prepare a picnic lunch. If you wish, after lunch continue cycling through redwood forests and into the Russian River Valley where pinot noir is king!

Today takes you on a ride through the kingdom of pinot noir in Alexander Valley. The valley is sheltered from the Pacific Ocean by low lying hills. Because of this, it is one of the warmest areas in Northern California during the day, but at night the temperatures lower significantly, offering cool climate conditions for the grapes. The valley’s closeness to the Russian River allows for an early morning fog that covers the lower vineyard areas until it is burned off by the sun. This natural air-conditioning allows the grapes to develop full flavor maturity over an extended growing season—often 15 to 20 percent longer than neighboring areas.

You’ll also ride the Geyserville and Lytton Springs roads within Alexander Valley offering optional stops at tasting rooms, including the Coppola Winery, a one-of-a-kind experience.

All cycling finishes before lunch, which is on your own in Healdsburg. Take advantage of free time to swim or paddle in the river at Veterans Memorial Beach, or at your inn’s pool.

Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner at the inn and make a toast alongside your fellow travelers to your California wine country bike tour.

Hotel: The Harmon Guest House
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 23 miles

Morning
Alexander Valley: 23 miles

What to Expect: You can look forward to a gentle ride through pinot noir country. You will cycle the beautiful West Dry Creek and Dry Creek roads, followed by Geyserville and Alexander Valley passing through some of the most famous California vineyards, with fun tasting stops along the way.

All of the cycling today takes place before lunch (on your own) in Healdsburg where you have the chance to explore local shops, hang out by the pool or go on another bike ride.

Your California wine country bike tour ends with one final scenic journey. Today’s route takes you through the Dry Creek Valley, a beautiful, winding landscape with a unique microclimate filled with an unusual mix of plant life, from redwood groves to live oak forests—even palm trees and cactus dot the landscape. Along the way, a couple notable wineries may interest you: Everett Ridge or Quivira Biodynamic Winery.

Return to your inn for a shower and lunch before your shuttle to San Francisco International Airport at 2:00 p.m. We recommend a flight out of San Francisco no earlier than 6:00 p.m.

If you drove to the start of the tour, the VBT van will transfer you to meet your vehicle.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 19 miles

Morning
Dry Creek Valley: 19 miles

What to Expect: Enjoy a peaceful ramble through the Dry Creek Valley, passing beautiful vineyards and elegant tasting rooms. Upon returning to Harmon Guest House, your trip leaders prepare a final picnic lunch.