Muir Woods and Wine Country Combination Tour/Sausalito

The day begins at 8:00am, heading north across the Golden Gate Bridge, which offers sweeping views of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz Island, and the city skyline. We wind our way through the coastal mountains of the Marin Headlands and past Mt. Tamalpais (the highest point in the North Bay region) on our way to Muir Woods National Monument. The coastal redwood is the tallest tree species in the world. These trees only thrive in Northern California and Oregon, due to the thick fog that blankets the west coast in the summer months. In 1908, Senator William Kent and his wife donated their land to the state, and President Theodore Roosevelt designated it as a federally protected area. Muir Woods National Monument is the only surviving stand of old-growth redwood forest in the Bay Area. You will have 1 - 1 1/2 hours to wander amongst these towering giants. The sights, sounds, and smells of this living museum are sure to reconnect you with a natural world that was almost lost. The group will reunite before noon and travel to wine country, where we will spend the afternoon sampling fine Sonoma County wines. Taste a variety of white, red, and dessert wines at wineries such as Homewood, Larson, Cline Cellars, and Robledo, among others. Stop for a picnic lunch at a winery, or grab a bite in the historic Sonoma town square. In the town square (time permitting), you will have a chance to see Mission San Francisco de Solano, the northernmost California mission, sample cheeses at Sonoma Jack's Cheese Factory, and peruse the boutique shops of this quaint downtown. Traveling through wine country, you will see the beautiful valleys where fantastic wines have been produced since before California was a part of the Union. The landscape of rolling hills laced with rows of grapevines is impressive and provides a romantic backdrop for memorable photographs. In the early evening, you’ll have a chance to explore beautiful bay-side Sausalito, a quaint and artsy town with *amazing* views of the San Francisco skyline, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Angel Island! The tour will end with a hotel drop-off at around 6pm.