Indeed. Many people have pointed this out.

BUT ... there was a major accident on June 22 and they're still doing investigations and trying to bring the system up to modern safety standards (a lot of the equipment is from when it was new - back in 1970-something).

We will be in Napa the county- our B&B is actually in Calistoga.

Faboo! Calistoga is AWESOME.

I guess you know that Healdsburg is a white-knuckle drive over the mountain on Mark West Springs Road just to get to into Sonoma County, then north up Rte. 101 a piece, yes? It's about a 45 minutes drive away from Calistoga, I think? The good news is that much of Mark West Springs Road has been repaved recently so it isn't quite as scary or dangerous as it was. I try not to drive that road in the dark myself.

ETA: Just Googlemapped. There's an alternative that I'm not familiar with that looks easy, 128. So that's good!

I'm a white wine person myself. IMHO, if you are headed over into Sonoma County, Navarro [link] and Husch [link] are the two best wineries up there. YWWMV.

So...something on the 8th isn't likely to work. What about the 9th?

eta, also t-, what were you thinking of doing?

Bay Area Buffistas: cool new restaurant. Lake Chalet, right on Lake Merritt, next to that Victorian house near the Oakland Main Library. *Beautiful* building and location. Good food. Longest bar in the county. Consider it for next out of town visitor meet up?

Mmm, Nora, I have such envy. We drove thru Sonoma recently but it turns out wine tasting and whiny kids don't mix, so we skipped the vino.

We drove thru Sonoma recently but it turns out wine tasting and whiny kids don't mix, so we skipped the vino.

Well, a creative application of wine tasting might solve the whiny kids problem, but I doubt the vinyards would be legally able to go along with the plan.

also t-, what were you thinking of doing?

Oh, I wasn't doing any thinking beyond "Nora! In Napa where I can get to! Yay!"

I could do lunch or beer in Calistoga or Healdsburg on the 8th, certainly. During the day would be easier than in the evening for me, but other than that, I'm down for whatever.

Yeah, I think the 8th could certainly work, during the day...

I have to be back at work on the 9th for a retirement party, as it turns out. I'll have yoga, lap swimming, light hiking, and de-camping that'll take until about 2:30, travel time 30 mins. to Calistoga, maybe 30 mins. flex time? Meet around 3:30 on the 8th?

I *could* lap swim in Calistoga, then leave earlier, after yoga, light hiking, and de-camping. This is the only place that has day-pass use of the hot springs ($10, I think). They have 3 different pools - hot-hot, body-temp-hot, and lap swim pool. (It's in a great location; best place to stay in Calistoga IMHO). We could meet there and hang out around the pool? [link]

That would work for us!

And me!