Ferrari- Carano Vineyards - near Healdsburg

view of Sausalito from the Golden Gate bridge 

Sausalito is often compared to Mediterranean coastal villages. 

view of Angel Island from Sausalito 

Sausalito, California

Sausalito (spanish for "little willow grove") is located just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, on the south-eastern tip of Marin County. It is a small town, covering a mere two and one half miles and consisting of 7,500 residents.

Sausalito is known for one thing: spectacular waterfront views of the San Francisco Bay and the City.

Before completion of the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito was the site of an auto ferry running to the Hyde Street Pier in San Francisco and the continuation point of old U.S. Highway 101.

Sausalito was the setting mentioned by Otis Redding and Steve Cropper in their 1967 tune (Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay.

You can reach Sausalito by taking an exit off from Highway 101 just north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

view of Sausalito from the Bay 

Navigating from the Bay Area to Wine Country

Now, that you got your hotel, how the heck do you actually get to Wine Country?

Well, we got you covered!

Here, find driving directions from the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to the Wedding Hotels.

Here, find driving directions from the Sacramento International Airport (SMF) to the Wedding Hotels.

Here, find driving directions from the Oakland International Airport (OAK) to the Wedding Hotels. (Note: you will be crossing the Richmond Bridge and will need toll fare)

Here, find driving directions from the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) to the Wedding Hotels.

Please note, the directions are to the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country. The other two recommended hotels are located within 1/4 mile (literally, on the bottom of the hill that the Hilton rests).

Links to these directions are also permanently saved on the right hand column of the blog.

Lodging for the Weekend

Let's get you to the Wine Country!

Paige and I are recommending three hotels which are all within 1/4 mile of each other. Here is the contact information for each of the three hotels:

Hilton Sonoma Wine Country

3555 Round Barn Boulevard

Santa Rosa, CA 95403

(707) 523-7555

FountainGrove Inn

101 Fountain Grove Parkway

Santa Rosa, CA 95403

(707) 578-6101

Extended Stay America - North

100 Fountain Grove Parkway

Santa Rosa, CA 95403

(707) 541-0959

Paige and I have reserved hotel blocks at the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country and FountainGrove Inn. When making your reservations, say that you are a part of the Saunders-Hein Wedding group. Please make your reservations soon! The reservation blocks expire in early August.

Links to these hotels are permanently saved on the right hand column of this blog.

Welcome to our Wedding Blog!

Welcome, welcome! Paige and I are trying our best to make your visit to the Bay Area, Wine Country, and Northern California for our wedding as comfortable, convenient, and memorable as possible. We thought that one of the best ways to do that was to create a separate website devoted entirely to information we believe will help those planning on taking the adventure out here. Oh yeah, and we like the blogs, so why not put it in blog form?

In the coming months (yes, I realize that is cutting it close, for the big day is really only 55 days away!), Paige and I will be posting maps from all of the major airports to the Wedding Hotels, information on places we recommend you visit if you are making a vacation out of the trip, contact information concerning venues that wedding events will be occuring, and more. A blog is really a malleable form of communication, so we shall see how far we stray from its original purpose. However, you will also see some pictures of the groom and bride to be as we make some last minute decisions, or engage in some wedding creating projects.

Well, welcome!