Feedback on our Napa Plan April 12-15

Question

Been scouring the boards, reading TR, Restaurant reviews etc.

Would be so appreciative of some feedback of our plan and any advice.…Hoping I am not totally miscalculating times etc. We are a family of 3 -56, 57 and 22 yo son

Saturday April 12

Arrive SFO at 2:57pm from East Coast. Grab rental car and head over to River Terrace Inn

Plan to take it easy due to the time difference so we figure we will go to Oxbow Market for dinner and probably early night

Sunday- Up early due to time difference again.

Breakfast at Boon Fly Café

Visit Sonoma Plaza

Drive to Armstrong State Park to see the Redwoods

Lunch in Healdsburg – Looking for recommendations, no seafood casual/high end casual/nice outdoor setting if possible

If time would love to visit a Russian River Winery before heading back to Napa. Recommendations?

Assume we will be arriving back close to 7pm and exhausted and not very hungry so grab a lite bite at hotel/drink wine on the balcony. . Although I cannot find a dinner menu

Monday – Breakfast at Oxbow

Head over to St Helena and visit the town.

Light lunch in St Helena…Right Now thinking Pizzeria Tra Vigne

1:30 Honig Vineyards – Reserve Room AVA Experience

Head back to hotel, park car walk to DT Napa, walk around visit 1st street possible tasting at Buena Vista or other tasting

7:30 pm Dinner at Allegria.

Back to hotel drink wine on the balcony  

Tuesday – Check out of hotel

Breakfast at Oxbow or other recommendations

11:00 am – Outpost Vineyards

2:00 pm lunch at Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch

Head towards San Fran

Check Inn hotel (near SFO)

Dinner in San Fran Any Recs?

No balcony to drink wine. 

Wednesday – early flight out to next destination

Answer

Your Napa itinerary is well-planned, realistic, and balanced for a short trip. You’ve built in enough downtime, you’re accounting for the time-zone change, and you’re not cramming too many tastings into each day. What follows is detailed feedback and suggestions based on drive times, pacing, winery timing, and dining options. Nothing in your plan is unworkable — but there are a few places where small tweaks could make the days smoother.

Saturday – Arrival Day

Your timeline looks perfect. You’ll likely reach Napa around 5:30–6:00 p.m. depending on rental-car timing and Bay Area weekend traffic. Oxbow Public Market is a great “soft landing” on your first night — casual, fun energy, plenty of choices, and ideal when you may be tired from travel.

Sunday – Sonoma, Armstrong Redwoods, Healdsburg

This is your most ambitious day, but still doable with an early start. You’ll be driving a fair amount, yet everything aligns logically from south to north.

Breakfast at Boon Fly Café: Excellent choice. Expect a wait depending on arrival time. If you’re up very early due to jet lag, aim to get there at or before 8 a.m.
Sonoma Plaza: Easy stroll, lovely historic square, but note that most shops begin opening at 10–11 a.m. It may be quieter earlier.
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve: This adds about 45–60 minutes from Sonoma. Trails are mostly flat and easy — a beautiful way to see redwoods without the crowds of Muir Woods. Plan for 1–1.5 hours walking the main loop.
Healdsburg lunch: You’ll arrive somewhere between 12:30 and 1:30 depending on how long you spent in the redwoods. Great options include:
- Bravas Bar de Tapas (outdoor seating, delicious, casual/high-end casual)
- Dry Creek Kitchen (more refined, beautiful plaza setting)
- Barndiva (a favorite — outdoor garden seating)
- The Matheson (upscale, modern, rooftop option)
Russian River Valley winery options: You’ll have time for one tasting if you depart Healdsburg by ~2:45–3 p.m. Consider:
- Porter Creek – small, rustic, intimate
- Gary Farrell – gorgeous views, elegant pinot/chardonnay
- Twomey – casual but polished, excellent pinot
- Dutton-Goldfield – friendly, relaxed tasting room

Returning to Napa around 6:30–7:00 p.m. is accurate. A light dinner at the hotel or a simple snack in your room works well after a long day. Many restaurants close earlier on Sundays, so keeping expectations low is smart.

Monday – St. Helena + Honig + Downtown Napa

This is a nicely balanced day with moderate driving and a well-timed lunch/tasting schedule.

St. Helena morning: Good shops, easy walking, and nice coffee spots if you want a mid-morning snack.
Lunch: Pizzeria Tra Vigne is an excellent pick for something light. Fast service, good outdoor seating, and not too heavy before a tasting.
Honig Vineyards at 1:30: Great choice — Honig is consistently friendly, well-organized, and a fantastic spot for a mid-day tasting.
Return to Napa + walk downtown: Totally doable. If you want to add another tasting, in-town options include:
- JaM Cellars (fun, casual, approachable)
- Brown Downtown (excellent zinfandels and reds)
- Buena Vista’s tasting room (easy and walkable)
Dinner at Allegria at 7:30: Solid choice with an easy walk back to the hotel. Their service pace tends to be efficient, which is good after a full day.

Ending on the balcony with wine is the perfect Napa evening.

Tuesday – Outpost, Farmstead, then SFO area

This is your most time-sensitive day because of the driving involved.

Breakfast: Oxbow is great again, but if you want something different:
- Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Co. – quick and local
- Model Bakery – famous English muffins
Outpost at 11:00: Note: Outpost is on Howell Mountain, and the drive is winding but beautiful. Leave Napa at least 45 minutes ahead of time.
Farmstead at 2:00: Excellent food, nice setting, and perfectly timed after an 11 a.m. tasting. Allow 1–1.5 hours.
Drive toward SFO hotel: Depending on traffic, expect roughly 1.5–2 hours. Leaving St. Helena around 3:30–4:00 will help you beat the worst of Bay Area rush hour.
Dinner in San Francisco: Since you will already be south of the city, here are options that are easy and enjoyable:
- Moonstar Restaurant (Daly City) – modern Asian buffet
- Koi Palace (Daly City) – excellent Chinese seafood & dim sum
- Pacific Catch (San Mateo) – fresh, casual, not stuffy
- Pausa (San Mateo) – upscale Italian, great pastas

If you prefer to drive into SF proper for dinner, more memorable choices include:

Sotto Mare – North Beach Italian + seafood
Wayfare Tavern – classic San Francisco upscale comfort food
The House of Prime Rib – iconic, reservations needed
Zuni Café – legendary roast chicken and cocktails

Wednesday

Given your early flight, staying near SFO was the right call. Make breakfast simple — most airport hotels have something quick or you can stop at a coffee shop inside SFO.

Overall Thoughts & Small Suggestions

Your pacing is thoughtful and never excessive.
The Sunday redwoods + Sonoma + Healdsburg day is full but not rushed.
Your tastings are correctly spaced (one on Monday, one on Tuesday morning).
Food choices align well with driving and tasting schedules.
You’ve built in downtime each night, which will make the trip feel relaxing rather than compressed.

In short: your plan is strong, realistic, and very enjoyable. You’ve balanced wine, nature, food, and relaxation perfectly for the time you have. You won’t feel hurried, and each day has a clear anchor activity.

Your family of three will have a very smooth and memorable Napa trip with this itinerary.