Napa and Sonoma Wine Country + Alcatraz Island Tour and Aquarium

How can a Napa Valley Wine tour be better? Combine it with a trip to Sonoma County and Alcatraz!

ABOUT YOUR NAPA VALLEY WINE TOUR WITH SONOMA WINE COUNTRY

This is not an ordinary Napa Valley Wine Tour. Go beyond tasting and fully immerse yourself in the Napa and Sonoma Wine Country on this fun and educational tour of both Napa and Sonoma Valley! After a pickup from your SF hotel, you’ll set forth on a picturesque drive over the Golden Gate Bridge and through the Marin Headlands into California’s amazing and beautiful Wine Country.

Upon arrival in Sonoma, you will embark on a 45 minute tram tour of the Benziger Family Winery, including their fermentation facilities and wine caves. Here you will learn about the art and science of biodynamic winemaking. Follow the winemaking process from roots to glass and see how wine is made, bottled, aged, and distributed. Finally, back in the tasting room, you can enjoy the fruits of these labors!

After the vineyard tour (including tastings at Benziger and their sister winery Imagery), relax with a tasty picnic lunch (INCLUDED) at a local winery. In the afternoon, you’ll head out to other favorite locations in Sonoma and Napa Valleys for more tasting and exploring before your return to the City by the Bay!

ABOUT YOUR ALCATRAZ TOUR

Alcatraz is a must-see for any traveler visiting San Francisco.

You’ll take the ferry out to the island, with amazing views of the San Francisco skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, and Angel Island.

Upon arrival, you’ll learn a brief history of “The Rock” and then head up to the prison. You’ll be equipped with an audio tour titled “Doing Time”, in which you’ll hear interviews from former inmates and learn more history about Alcatraz. You may explore for as long as you want (the ferry departs for the mainland approximately every 30-40 minutes).

The tour generally takes people about two and a half hours. Don’t forget your jacket – it can get chilly out on the bay!

Alcatraz Info:

• For security purposes, a government-issued photo ID is required for all guests to board the Alcatraz ferry
• Alcatraz audio tour is available in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Mandarin, Portuguese and Korean
• You may leave Alcatraz Island at any time; ferries depart every 30 to 40 minutes; the last departing ferry is usually 6:30pm

Alcatraz tickets are subject to limited availability, so book your tickets today!

ABOUT THE AQUARIUM OF THE BAY

You’ve crossed the bay, now see what’s swimming below!

On the first day of your tour, you’ll visit the 20,000 animals living in the Aquarium, from 8-foot native seven gill sharks, to eels, rays, and jellies – all of which can be found in the San Francisco Bay.

The Aquarium of the Bay is the ONLY aquarium dedicated to the diverse marine life of the the San Francisco Bay and its watershed. Like us, Aquarium of the Bay is a certified San Francisco Green Business, doing its part by educating guests about endangered animals and habitats, participating in ongoing research, distributing information about sustainable seafood sourcing, and partnering with America Cup’s “Healthy Ocean Project” to educate about marine protected areas and the effects of marine debris and plastics.

It is just as fun and entertaining for the whole family as it is educational, and you’ll definitely walk away learning something new about our Bay and its ecosystems!

DAY 1 – ALCATRAZ AND THE AQUARIUM

The Aquarium of the Bay is at Pier 39, and you may spend as much of your day there as you like.  When it’s time for your Alcatraz Cruise, make your way to Pier 33 in Fisherman’s Wharf to pick up your Alcatraz tickets from the Group Services Window and meet the ferry. You may pick up your tickets any time the day of your tour, but they MUST be claimed no later than 30 minutes prior to the tour departure. You will need a valid ID and your paid voucher to pick up the tickets.

Departing for Alcatraz

Board your ferry and ride across the San Francisco Bay to Alcatraz Island. See the San Francisco Skyline, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Angel Island from the ferry! Depart the ferry at Alcatraz and follow your guide up into the prison.

On Alcatraz Island

Enjoy the audio tour “Doing Time” with commentary from inmates and guards that experienced the prison when it was operational.

BONUS: If you are departing for the Alcatraz Night Tour, you’ll have access to areas of the island that are not open to the public on the day tours.

You may take as much time as you’d like on the island; the ferries return to SF approximately every 30-40 minutes.

DAY 2 – WINE COUNTRY TOUR

8:15 – 9:30am: Pick up from San Francisco hotels

9:30 – 10:15am: Head north across the Golden Gate Bridge. You will be immediately rewarded with sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay: Alcatraz Island, the city skyline, and the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. Next, we’ll wind our way through the coastal mountains of the Marin Headlands and past Mt. Tamalpais, leaving the rush of the city behind and setting the pace for a relaxing day out in the country.
Once in Sonoma County, dairy farms and vineyards provide an inspiring introduction to the rolling hills and beautiful valleys that have supplied the world with fantastic wines for over 60 years. Your professional guide will give you details about the region, wine, and the day’s itinerary so that you can truly appreciate your experience.

10:30am – 12:00pm: Arrive at Benziger Family Winery & Biodynamic Vineyard and check-in for your tram tour. Enjoy a close-up look at the vineyards, fermentation facility, and crush pad on a comfortable fully-guided tram tour. You’ll also have a chance to walk through their wine caves! The tour is approximately 45 minutes long, and includes a special tasting of Benziger’s biodynamic and other award-winning wines.

12:00 – 1:00pm: After your tasting, enjoy your picnic lunch in a quiet spot at one of the local wineries, surrounded by views of the beautiful countryside and vineyards.

1:00 – 5:00pm: In the afternoon, you will head over to Benziger’s sister winery Imagery for another take on California wine-making. Then, head out to famed Napa County for more wine tasting in Oakville, Yountville, or in the town of Napa. The landscape of rolling hills laced with rows of wine grapes is impressive and will provide a romantic backdrop for memorable photographs.

5:00 – 6:00pm: On the return trip, you’ll make one more photo stop above the Golden Gate Bridge – a must-do if you’ve never witnessed the awe-inspiring view of San Francisco from the Marin Headlands!

**Sample Itineraries: Please note that due to conditions (special events, traffic) in Wine Country and the small size of our vehicles/groups, we can allow our guides the flexibility to tailor your itinerary to best suit the needs of the group. While we guarantee that we’ll do our best to provide you with all of the highlights within this itinerary (conditions permitting), we do not guarantee them in this specific order.
In the wintertime, there is less daylight and some tasting rooms may have shorter open-hours. Your group may also make a detour to Muir Woods National Monument. If this is not an original item in your itinerary, please be aware that your entrance fee will be covered and you are welcome to enjoy the cafe and have a delicious warm breakfast or a cup of coffee in lieu of exploring the woods.**