Singles Bike Tour Of

California Wine Countrhy

California Red Woods

Unbelievable Vistas

The Wine Route

Garden Tour

You’ll be tasting champagne on a beer income on our popular California Wine Country-Budget tour. This six-day tour enjoys all of the beauty of the Napa and Sonoma valleys but stays in nice motels instead of the upscale accommodations of our regular wine country tours.  

We follow the same route as our California Wine Country-6 Day tour and begin cycling on Sunday near Sonoma, the birthplace of California’s wine industry. Sonoma was founded in 1823 as the most northerly of the Spanish missions linking California to Mexico, and seven different national flags have flown there since. Terraced vineyards surround quiet country roads — it’s a beautiful place to ride even if you don’t care for wine. We spend the night at the El Pueblo Inn, enjoying its pool and hot tub.

Monday’s ride takes us on side roads into the beautiful Napa Valley, with lunch at Clos du Val winery. Strong riders will want to take advantage of the optional route over Mt. Veeder. All riders will have a chance to stop at wineries such as Domaine Carneros and Artesa, admiring their architecture and art as well as their samples.

We spend the afternoon riding the old stagecoach road, the Silverado Trail, built in 1852 to connect Napa and Calistoga. On our way to Calistoga, we pass many wineries, including Stag’s Leap, whose Cabernet Sauvignon won first place in the 1976 Paris Wine Tasting, much to the dismay of French winemakers. The event drew world attention to California wines for the first time. We spend two nights in Calistoga at the Comfort Inn.

Tuesday is a layover day. We’ll lead a morning hike into the foothills of Calistoga, and an afternoon van tour of nearby wineries such as Mumm, Opus, and Beringer. You can join us, or spend the day exploring Calistoga, perhaps indulging in one of the town’s famous mud baths. We also offer some exciting and challenging cycling options, including a great climb over the foothills to the next valley on a deserted, one-lane road.

Wednesday morning’s ride takes us into the Alexander Valley of Sonoma County, where famous wineries abound. We stop for lunch at the homey Field Stone Winery, where the manager often takes us for a private tour. In the afternoon we ride winding, quiet roads through the peaceful vineyards of Dry Creek Valley. We spend two nights at the Dry Creek Inn in Healdsburg, a charming town whose plaza is graced with boutiques and art galleries.

On Thursday we offer a bicycle ride to the far end of Dry Creek Valley. Along the way we’ll stop at the Ferrari-Carano Winery, which may have the most elegant grounds and buildings of any winery in the area. After a picnic lunch at Lake Sonoma, we head back to our inn in time to browse the shops in Healdsburg.

On Friday we’ll ride to lunch at Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve. The 805-acre reserve is home to some of the oldest (1,400 years) and tallest (more than 300 feet high) trees remaining in this part of California. Along the way, you may want to visit Hop Kiln Winery, Korbel Champagne Cellars, or several other wineries that we pass by.

After lunch we’ll hike through the magnificent growth of redwoods in the reserve, then follow side roads to the mouth of the Russian River. From your vantage point high on a bluff, you’ll look down on the beautiful, rocky Pacific Coast. Our trip ends with a shuttle back to Santa Rosa.

This unusual Budget Special trip will offer an opportunity to travel the classic Bike/Winery tour and not break the bank. You will have enough left over to join us on one of our winter cruises.

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