Suggested Itinerary for a 3 Day, 2 Night Stay
At The Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake, California
Round trip from San Francisco
Day 1
Just across the Golden Gate Bridge stop in Sausalito for breakfast at the Windmill diner. We recommend the pancakes with fresh fruit and Manuel’s scramble.
Drive 101 North to Healdsburg (about 1.15 hours from Golden Gate Bridge). Enjoy coffee and home made pastries at Flying Goat or have lunch at Willie’s Seafood Bar. Visit the shops selling women’s clothing, food, wine, etc. on the Square. Check out the ultra modern lobby of the Healdsburg Hotel and the Dry Creek Restaurant in the lobby. With a full stomach and some shopping bags in hand, head north out of town and rejoin 101 north, a very scenic drive from here on
If you don’t pull off in Healdsburg, consider stopping in Geyserville. It’s a smaller town than Healdsburg, but check out the Santi Restaurant and nearby wineries. Continue North on 101 to Ukiah.
If you have time, visit the Grace Hudson Museum in Ukiah. Also walk Stanley St, pedestrians only behind the courthouse, for a bookstore, Schott’s bakery and deli, other fun stores. Get back on 101 north.
Exit just a few miles north of Ukiah on to Route 20 East to Upper Lake. It’s another scenic drive past Lake Mendocino and lovely oak woodlands. You’ll pass the exits on your left to Redwood Valley and Potter Valley which feature several fine Mendocino wineries.
Continue on Route 20 to Upper Lake. Turn left on Main St. The Tallman Hotel and Blue Wing Saloon are one block down on the right hand side of the street, next to the big red barn which features “The Elegant Bowl” with its interesting inventory or antique plumbing fixtures.
Check in to the Tallman Hotel, relax in the garden or the pool, walk Main St. It’s a quiet place but check out the Tony Oliviera’s antique store across the street with it’s large collection of western antiques and memorabilia. Also check the Lake County Wine Studio and taste their large selection of Lake County wines (the great Zoom Zinfandel among others), Olivia’s Organics health food store in the old bank building, Powell’s Antiques, Gracious Ladies for local crafts, and other small businesses.
Enjoy a casual dinner at the Blue Wing, either inside or out in the garden. The restaurant features a selection of craft beers on tap and a wine list, including our own Blue Wing wines, composed entirely of labels within a 30 mile radius of the Saloon. During the summer months, there’s always music in the garden during Sunday brunch and the Blue Wing Monday Blues features great local blues bands inside the Saloon every Monday evening.
Day Two
Enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast at the Tallman. On Sunday, brunch is served inside the Blue Wing and out in the garden starting at 10 am.
Use this full day to combine some outdoor activities with wine tasting and shopping.
Water activities include a guided kayak trip (Rubicon Adventures) or rent kayaks at Clear Lake State Park in Kelseyville and go up Kelsey Creek on your own; a guided fishing trip; rent a ski or party boat at Disney Watersports in Lakeport. Or hike Eden Trail on Scotts Valley Road. The front desk at the Tallman can help you with arrangements.
In Kelseyville, stop by Steele Wines on Highway 29, Lake County’s first major Winery since Prohibition. Enjoy Main St by wine tasting at the Wildhurst VineyardsTasting Room in the old Odd Fellows Hall. Try some delicious tacos at John’s Market across the street or check out Studebaker’s Deli or Marci’s Brick Grill for breakfast or lunch.
In Lakeport, see the collection of beautiful Pomo Indian baskets at the Lake Co Museum, located in the old Courthouse on the main square; visit Library Park right on the lake where you can dine at Park Place or TNT’s Mexican restaurant on the water, or go up to Main St and have a draft beer and shepherds pie at Molly Brennan’s Irish Pub.
Consider booking a concert at Konocti Harbor Inn or Robinson Rancherie for Saturday night. For dinner, consider the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro in Kelseyville; Zeno’s Italian Restaurant or the more upscale Watercolors, both in Soda Bay, or relax again in the garden at the Tallman and try something different than at the Blue Wing.
Day Three
After breakfast, head east on Rt 20 to Ceago Vinegarden, a beautiful lakeside bio dynamic winery owned by Jim Fetzer and his family. It’s located between Nice and Lucerne, about 5 miles from the Tallman. Then continue east on Rt. 20 to Clearlake Oaks and the Shannon Ridge Tasting room. Continue east on 20 and follow signs to Rt 53.
Stop in at Andersen Marsh State Park on Rt. 53 just past the town of Clearlake. The park offers great walks and birding, depending on the season.
Take Rt. 29 south towards Napa. You’ll go through Middletown and then over Mt St Helena. If you want to stretch your legs, stop at Robert Lewis Stephenson Park, trailhead for the walk north to the top of Mt St Helena or south to the Palisades for a beautiful view of Napa Valley. Continue on Rt. 29. You’ll have a choice of taking Silverado Trail (to your left) which offers many wineries open for tasting or go straight through Calistoga and St. Helena for shops and restaurants. We like Taylor’s Refresher, just south of St Helena, over the bridge, for a quick meal eaten outside on picnic tables. For reasonably priced olive oil and cheeses, go to Napa Olive Oil Company.
Continuing back towards SF on Rt. 29 you’ll pass by Yountville (shops and restaurants galore!) and then right on 121 through Sonoma’s Carneros area, passed Infineon Raceway and then right on RT. 37 to get back to 101 south.
We hope you’ll look forward to a great experience in Lake County!
