Monterey or Wine Country?

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Napa is my pick.

[Steamboat Bill Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Steamboat Bill]

I am now home in Boca Raton after a week in California. I stayed in both Nappa and Monterey.

IMHO...I loved Monterey MUCH more than Nappa.

If you are a wine lover, love farms, hot air balloning, you will probably like Nappa. I would suggest staying at a Bed & Breakfast house rather than a hotel, TS, etc. I STRONGLY suggest a visit to Muir Woods (about 1 hour away) as this place is so incredibly beautiful.

However, I still perfer Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur as the better location. I just like the ocean location better. I am not a wine freak, so Nappa is not that big of a deal to me.

BTY...all of California from San Fran, Nappa, Monterey had perfect weather last week.

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

I love the atmosphere associated with these two areas.

The Napa/Sonoma region is just fantastically lovely to be in. There’s something romantic about the vineyards and wooded hills. The quaint towns are nice to wander in.

Monterey has magic so long as the ocean has surf. Without, there are buildings with no backdrop, most built facing the sea. Without surf, the rocks are dark protrusions along a still waterway. The ocean was calm for our Trip West. We didn’t drive Big Sur and we didn’t hang at the wharf.

[Steamboat Bill Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Steamboat Bill]

The Monterey Aquarium has another Great White shark in the tank (they released the first one last year). This is the only one in the world in captivity. They can't hold them for more than 6-9 months as the sharks eat too many of the other fish in the tank. This is an awesome experience to see one so close.

[PigsDad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PigsDad]

One note about the Monterey Aquarium -- if you are an HP or Agilent employee (or have an old ID ) you can get a discounted admission, plus use the "VIP" entrance and avoid the long lines.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

One note about the Monterey Aquarium -- if you are an HP or Agilent employee (or have an old ID ) you can get a discounted admission, plus use the "VIP" entrance and avoid the long lines.

We bought our tickets at our hotel in Pacific Grove, got tickets good for the one day price good for two days, and used the VIP entrance.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Napa is my pick.

Have decided that will be mine too. I appreciate everyone's input. Coming from HI we won't need more ocean or sightseeing really. We have been to Muir Woods and did spend one day in Monterey a loooong time ago. We really enjoy wine and good restaurants. Now I've got to sell hubby on it, and find some reasonable way to work the flight home from HI with a stop in/near wine country (so far ng). Otw we will make it a separate trip soon after when it's not so hot there, but I am determined.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Well good luck. I hope that you can find a decent flight from HI. I'm sure that you both have a great time sampling the wine and restaurants.