Transportation
If you are looking for a flight for the wedding weekend, we recommend using the search engine kayak.com, which we have found to be a consistent source for the best rates. You can fly in to either San Francisco (SFO) or Oakland (OAK). There are also new direct flights from Los Angeles and Seattle to Sonoma County Airport (STS) on Horizon Air.We recommend renting a car for the weekend, as Santa Rosa is roughly an hour and a half to two hours away from San Francisco and the East Bay, depending on the traffic. We've had good success using priceline.com to get relatively cheap rental cars. If you'd rather not rent a car, the Sonoma County Airport Express can take you from SFO or OAK to Santa Rosa, but you will need to arrange for transportation within Santa Rosa as public transportation is limited. Please visit the Ride/Room Share Board if you are interested in carpooling with another guest.
If you plan to spend some time in either San Francisco or the East Bay before coming up to Santa Rosa, the most affordable option is the local metro system, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). Ticket prices vary by destination, but are generally around $5. Shuttles from either airport will take you directly to the BART station - just look for the signs.
Accommodations
We have reserved blocks of rooms at two hotels in Santa Rosa: the Holiday Inn Express ($168/night) and the Best Western Garden Inn ($119/night). Be sure to let them know you are part of the “Diaz/Thaler Wedding” when calling to make a reservation. We will have to release any remaining rooms on July 9, and August is the height of the tourist season for the wine country, so please reserve your room well in advance! If you are coming alone, you may want to post on the Ride/Room Share Board to find a roommate for the weekend.Holiday Inn Express
870 Hopper Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 545-9000
The wedding party will be staying here. See below for directions from US-101.
Best Western Garden Inn
1500 Santa Rosa Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
(707) 546-4031
A more affordable option only slightly farther from the wedding venues. See below for directions from US-101.
Santa Rosa Map
Click for a printable map in PDF format.
Directions
Here is a Google Map of Santa Rosa with all wedding-related sites marked. You can use it to generate driving directions from your preferred destination.The following are sets of directions from the airports and to the various wedding venues. All distances are approximate. For those who are not familiar with California roads, the exits are not numbered, but only designated with the names of the destinations, so look out!
To Santa Rosa
from San Francisco Airport
- Follow signs to US-101 North toward San Francisco, and travel about 1 mile
- Take the exit onto I-380 West toward I-280 / San Bruno, and travel about 2 miles
- Take the exit onto I-280 North toward San Francisco, and travel about 6 miles
- Follow the signs for CA-1 North / 19th Ave / Golden Gate Bridge, and travel about 7.5 miles (this route will take you through San Francisco city streets)
- Take the exit toward Golden Gate Bridge, then merge onto US-101 North, and travel about 50 miles
- See below for directions to specific hotels.
from Oakland Airport
- Follow signs to I-880 North, and travel about 6.5 miles
- Take a slight right at I-980 East, following signs for I-980 / CA-24 / Walnut Creek, and travel about 1.5 miles
- Take the I-580 exit toward San Francisco / Hayward, then keep Left at the fork, following signs for I-580 West / San Francisco, merge onto I-580 West, and travel about 19 miles
- Take the exit onto US-101 North, and travel about 38 miles
- See below for directions to specific hotels.
To Hotels
Holiday Inn Express, 870 Hopper Avenue
- From US-101, take the Mendocino Ave / Old Redwood Highway exit, turn right at Mendocino Ave, then sharp right at Mendocino Overcrossing, and travel about .3 miles
- Turn Right at Cleveland Ave, and travel about .3 miles, then continue on Hopper Ave a few hundred feet - the hotel will be on your left
To Best Western Garden Inn, 1500 Santa Rosa Avenue
- From US-101, take the Baker Ave exit toward Santa Rosa Ave, and travel about .3 miles
- Turn Left at Santa Rosa Ave, and travel about .2 miles - the hotel will be on your right
To Welcome Dinner at Safari West
3115 Porter Creek Road, Santa Rosa
from Holiday Inn Express
- Head East on Hopper Ave
- Continue on Cleveland Ave for about .3 miles
- Turn left at Mendocino Overcrossing, and travel about .3 miles
- Sharp left at Mendocino Ave, then continue on Old Redwood Highway for about 2 miles
- Turn Right at Mark West Springs Road, and travel about 5 miles
- Continue on Porter Creek Road for about 1.5 miles - Safari West will be on your left
from Best Western Garden Inn
- Head South on Santa Rosa Ave toward Baker Ave
- Turn Right on Baker Ave and take the ramp to US-101 North, traveling for about 5.5 miles
- Take the River Road / Guerneville exit and turn right on Mark West Springs Road, traveling for about 5.5 miles
- Continue on Porter Creek Road for about 1.5 miles - Safari West will be on your left
To Wedding and Reception at Paradise Ridge Winery
4545 Thomas Lake Harris Drive, Santa Rosa
from Holiday Inn Express
- Head East on Hopper Ave
- Continue on Cleveland Ave for about .3 miles
- Turn left at Mendocino Overcrossing, and travel about .3 miles
- Continue on Fountain Grove Parkway for about .7 miles
- Turn left at Thomas Lake Harris Drive, and travel about .7 miles
- Look out for a large copper sign and a stucco and metal gate marking the entrance to Paradise Ridge Winery on your left
- Drive up the hill, past the sculpture garden, and park in the winery lot
from Best Western Garden Inn
- Head South on Santa Rosa Ave toward Baker Ave for about .2 miles
- Turn Right at Baker Ave and take the ramp to US-101 North, traveling for about 3.3 miles
- Take the Bicentennial Way exit, then keep Right at the fork, follow signs for Bicentennial Way East and merge onto Bicentennial Way
- Slight Left at Fountain Grove Parkway, and continue for about .3 miles
- Turn left at Thomas Lake Harris Drive, and travel about .7 miles
- Look out for a large copper sign and a stucco and metal gate marking the entrance to Paradise Ridge Winery on your left
- Drive up the hill, past the sculpture garden, and park in the winery lot
Recommended Activities
San Francisco
Where to begin? Get lots of fun ideas at the official visitors site for San Francisco.- There's nothing like touring the city on a futuristic Segway Human Transporter.
- Take a cruise to Alcatraz or picnic on Angel Island.
- Visit the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, then stroll the nearby Yerba Buena Gardens.
- Head over to the Haight-Ashbury for a trippy adventure, and pick up retro tunes at Amoeba Music.
- Rollerblade through Golden Gate Park, or look for great views of Golden Gate Bridge from the Presidio.
- End the day with an Italian meal at The Stinking Rose, then ride the Cable Car to a decadent chocolate dessert at Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop.
North Bay & Wine Country
If you are staying at the Holiday Inn Express or the Best Western Garden Inn, see the brochures in your welcome bag!