California Weekend Bike Tour — Sonoma Wine Country & Coast
Daily Itinerary
Day One: Saturday
We meet on Saturday morning in Monte Rio, at the Village Inn & Restaurant. After a brief orientation, we fit everyone on our road bikes and head out on a ride under the redwood trees of the Bohemian Highway to Occidental. From there, we travel along the Russian River Valley to a small family-owned winery (that makes exquisite zinfandels) for a picnic lunch. After returning to Monte Rio, we check in to the Village Inn and have dinner in their restaurant. [36-51 miles]
Day Two: Sunday
We have continental breakfast in the morning, supplemented with our own Organic Cyclist’s Oatmeal. After breakfast, we head out on our bicycles for a tour of the Russian River Valley and northern Sonoma County Wine Country. We’ll do some quality bicycling along miles of sun-drenched vineyards, stopping along the way at a couple of our favorite wineries. If you wish to pick up a bottle or two at the wineries, our SAG van will carry them for you. We ride through the inviting Wine Country town of Healdsburg on our way to another undiscovered winery for a picnic lunch. After lunch, we return along the west edge of the Sonoma Valley in the afternoon light. [53 miles (37 with shuttle)]
When we return to the Village Inn in Monte Rio, we will have an afternoon wine tasting with wines from the Russian River and Sonoma Country, complemented with award winning cheeses made by artisans throughout Sonoma County. Our local selections are chosen by regional experts John Haggard and David Defries of Sophie’s Cellars in Monte Rio. To accompany the cheese and wine, we’ll sample freshly baked breads from Raymonds Bakery in Cazadero.
Dinner Sunday night will be at the Village Inn Restaurant, providing fine dining in a relaxed atmosphere, overlooking the Russian River.
Day Three: Monday
Today's ride provides a completely different experience than the prior two days, as we head straignt for the coast to where the Russian River empties into the sea. The Pacific Ocean has carved out the country’s western border mile after magnificent mile, so we follow the Pacific Coast Highway south, past the bluffs and beaches to the bustilng fishing village of Bodega Bay. We make a lunch stop here at the Tides Wharf (which makes an excellent seafood chowder!), relax on the sunny deck while the gulls and sea lions entertain us.
After lunch in Bodega Bay, we head inland through rolling pastures to the tiny village of Bodega, made famous by Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. We continue inland past the oak-studded coastal hills to the Bohemian Highway and the welcoming town of Occidental. Then it’s a gradual downhill ride through the shady redwoods back to Monte Rio, where we complete our relaxing getaway. [38 miles]
