8 days in Santa Rosa & Phoenix & Central Arizona Itinerary

Located less than an hour's drive north of San Francisco, Santa Rosa serves as a convenient hub for travelers on their way to the world-famous Napa Valley wine country.

Change things up with these side-trips from Santa Rosa: Calistoga (Castello di Amorosa & Clos Pegase Winery), Napa (Wine Tours & Tastings, Balloon Rides, &more) and St. Helena (Delectus Winery & V. Sattui Winery). There's still lots to do: take a peaceful walk through Muir Woods National Monument, examine the collection at Charles M. Schulz Museum, learn about winemaking at Pride Mountain Vineyards, and take in the exciting artwork at Patrick Amiot.

To see reviews, maps, photos, and tourist information, use the Santa Rosa online sightseeing planner.

San Francisco to Santa Rosa is an approximately 1.5-hour car ride. You can also take a bus; or do a combination of bus and train. Traveling from San Francisco in November, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be little chillier in Santa Rosa, with lows of 41°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 19th (Thu) to allow time to travel to Scottsdale.

Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, adjacent to the Greater Phoenix Area. Get out of town with these interesting Scottsdale side-trips: Off-Road Tours (in Phoenix) and KOLI Equestrian Center (in Chandler). There's still lots to do: examine the collection at Musical Instrument Museum, take in nature's colorful creations at Desert Botanical Garden, admire the landmark architecture of Taliesin West, and enjoy unforgettable views with a balloon tour.

To see traveler tips, ratings, more things to do, and other tourist information, read our Scottsdale trip planner.

Traveling by flight from Santa Rosa to Scottsdale takes 6 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus and subway. The time zone difference moving from Pacific Standard Time to Mountain Standard Time is 1 hour. In November, Scottsdale is somewhat warmer than Santa Rosa - with highs of 78°F and lows of 55°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 23rd (Mon) early enough to travel back home.