Help to plan a trip

[wondersofwine]

Wine Country Inn in Napa Valley is lovely, but pricey. I had planned to give Applewood Inn in Guerneville, Sonoma a try but my trip to California this month didn't take place. For less expensive accommodations if you do go to Monterey County I can recommend Casa Munras Garden Hotel in Monterey and Carmel Sands Lodge in Carmel-by-the-Sea. (Rooms are not that special at Carmel Sands Lodge, but the location is good, there is off-the-street parking which is at a premium in Carmel, and the price is a pretty good value in my estimation.) There are some nice bed and breakfast inns in Mendocino County. For splurges in Monterey County I would suggest Vagabond's House Inn in Carmel (www.vagabondshouseinn.com) or a bed and breakfast in Pacific Grove (Seven Gables or other). Once you decide on which region you will visit, we can chime in with restaurant suggestions. Some prefer to avoid Napa because of the huge number of tourists hitting wineries and clogging the roads, etc. but it does have a variety of winery tours and some good eating.