Dates: Sunday, April 27 – Tuesday, April 29

3 day totals: 133.3 Miles, 5,017 feet, with options for more climbing depending on rider mix

2 nights in hotels

Itinerary – Day 1 – Healdsburg Start

Drive Early AM to Healdsburg, Route 40 miles, 1600 ft –> https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45929539. With a packed lunch/snacks and possible wine tasting en route, we ride from the Healdsburg square with highlights that include Alexander Valley Wineries, Chalk Hill, and even more wineries on one of my favorite roads, Westridge Rd, back to the Healdsburg square for coffee and pack up, and drive to Sonoma. Hotel: The Lodge at Sonoma Resort (use your Marriott points). Dinner at the Hotel: Wit & Wisdom, Chef Michael Mina’s first venture into wine country dining or other options in the square.

Itinerary – Day 2 – Sonoma Start

Rise and Shine in the Sonoma Square for breakfast, or at the hotel. After packing up to our cars, we ride from the hotel on a 39 mile 1800 feet day –> https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45929818. Today, we venture to the backcountry of Sonoma as we try to stay off the main road, Valley of the Moon Hiway 12 as much as possible. We first start with a climb to Lovall Valley, seeing the backyard and established vineyards. We even cross into Napa County for a few turns of our wheel. We then return to Sonoma and visit Velo Cheese company, the Sonoma Mission (last of the missions) and then General Vallejo’s Historic house flyby. We then continue up through Glen Ellen, grabbing lunch at the Market, and ride past Jack London’s stomping grounds, and then classic Sonoma backcountry to Kenwood. We can then stop at a wine cave for a quick tasting at Marci’s and my favorite winery. It is rumored that the last time I did a 3-day bike ride in wine country, I biked in this cave….. After a fast return to the hotel, we drive to downtown Napa for our check in at The Westin Verace Napa, right near downtown and the Oxbow Market. With so many options closeby we will figure out dinner as we get closer.

Itinerary – Day 2 – Napa start

Today’s route is our longest at 54 miles and 1600 feet –> https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45929846 We start from Downtown Napa (perhaps with a Cortado) and then bike up the Silverado Trail with a side out and back to Lake Hennessey. We will ride just beyond St Helena where we will turn back and use the backroads to get a bite in downtown. From there, we will get to Zinfandel Lane to get back to the Silverado, as we don’t want to bike on the main drag. From there we make our way to Yountville for a group photo in front of the French Laundry and a coffee/snack at the Model Bakery. From Yountville we bike back on the new bike trail right into Napa and back to our start and our finish celebration. We will be getting home in the evening, hopefully after the traffic.