Official Luthiers Forum!

Which is the best airport (least congested) to fly into when going to the HB Festival. SanFrancisco airport is about 1/2 price of Oakland and Sacramento. SF and OAK are the closest but that may not be the best choice. Any locals or experienced veterans out there? TIA

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tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

Tim, I'm staying with a friend in San Rafael (sp) which is about 45 min south of Sant Rosa. She said SF and OAK are about the same distance, which in turn would make them both about the same to the center. OAK makes you drive through the city but I'm not sure what SF does as I've never flown in there. But time wise, they are about the same so I'd save a buck and go with SF

Dont' know where it is in relationship to where the fest is, even though lived in San Jose from 2nd grade through high school. Might check out San Jose airport. Maybe few miles further, but cost may offset the the difference

Hank is from San Jose also, so would have more knowledge. I know little further than other places noted, but maybe easier in and out of airport and freeway system isn't (or wasn't except Bayshore -101- at rush hour) to bad

Paul:
Natalie (at LMI) said I didn't want to go to one of the three airports but I can't remember which one. I got he Atlas out and SF looks like it is the straightest shot to Santa Rosa. It's right up 101.

Stan:
Is 101 a BAD or congetsed freeway to travel? I have seen rush hour footage of CA freeways and with my luck, it's probably 101.

Now ... back to the booth and lacquer. I'm shooting two part [McFaddens] Urethane-Lacquer and WOW does it lay down nice Tim McKnight38465.6634375

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tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

Tagging on to your question, where are you guys making hotel reservations?

I need to get on this.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Tim, let us know which Natalie doesn't recomend if you talk to her.

I'd say Oakland would be the easiest. Just a trip across the Richmond brideg and you don't have to go thru SF. I'll try to post as map later but unfortunately I have to go to a wedding right now. See ya later.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Johns right, I would do Oakland, you can avoid alot of the 101 mess that way, we come up the Richmond bridge to drive up there so we can avoid the heavy traffic (you still get some in Santa Rosa).

Cheers

-Paul-

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-Paul-

Patriot Guitars

[QUOTE=Brock Poling]
Tagging on to your question, where are you guys making hotel reservations?

I need to get on this.
[/QUOTE]
Brock:
We are booked at the Fountain Grove Inn & Conference Center
One Freeway exit from the Festival
101 Fountaingrove Pkwy.
800-222-6101

http://www.fountaingroveinn.com/Tim McKnight38465.7135416667

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tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

[QUOTE=Pwoolson] Tim, let us know which Natalie doesn't recomend if you talk to her. [/QUOTE]

Paul: She suggested using SF airport as a last resort and NOT traveling between 3:00 & 7:00 PM. Take a red eye and arrive early if possible. Traffic is less congested in the AM and ealy PM.

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tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

Tim...see my reply on the 13th Fret to your questions.

Tim,
101 is a "small" highway. If I remember correctly only two lanes. Another alternative you have is flying into SF and taking the shuttle/bus into Sonoma/Santa Rosa/wherever. The bus runs in conjunction with the airlines flight schedules is very cheap($18 RT) and you don't have to drive at all ( until you get to whatever city your staying in). Still another alternative is to fly into SF and take a puddle jumper into Sonoma airport. You can rent a car right at Sonoma airport and drive in about 10-20 mins. to Healdsburg ( or your hotel)depending on the route you take. Sonoma is beautiful and worth visiting.

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

101 is a freeway, at least two lanes in each direction, more in many places. Dave, you may be thinking of hiway 1 (the coast hiway).

A total of about 70 miles from the Oakland airport, and you don't have to drive thru SF which can be a real pain.

1.     Start going toward the AIRPORT EXIT on AIRPORT DR - go 0.2 mi
2.     Continue on AIRPORT ACCESS RD - go 0.3 mi
3.     Turn on HEGENBERGER RD - go 0.8 mi
4.     Take ramp onto I-880 NORTH toward DOWNTOWN OAKLAND - go 6.3 mi
5.     Take fork onto I-980 EAST toward WALNUT CREEK - go 1.5 mi
6.     Take the I-580 exit toward SAN FRANCISCO - go 19.1 mi
7.     Take ramp onto US-101 NORTH - go 42.1 mi
8.     Take the RIVER RD/GUERNEVILLE exit toward MARK WEST SPRINGS RD - go 0.2 mi
9.     Turn on MARK WEST SPRINGS RD - go 0.1 mi
10.     Arrive at 50 MARK WEST SPRINGS RD, SANTA ROSA.

You'll be able to see the Luther Burbank Center on the right (other left) as you exit the freeway.

I'll be staying in my travel trailer in a local RV Park about 2 miles from the festival.John How38467.4586574074

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Thanks everyone for the responses. It seems as though the concensus is NOT to go to SF and stay out of the congestion around SF.

Hank made a valid point that though SAC is further the ease of getting in and out of the airport plus the drive is less congested that it may be a viable alternative too.

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tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

Yea the 101 20+ years ago and when growing up was a major freeway from San Jose to San Francisco. I am probably in minority in this, but I won't fly anywhere, anytime. If it doesn't drive on roads, or float, I don't go. Funny used to jump out of airplanes (even halo) but wouldn't get near a chute now

Yes, SAC is definately a less congested area and you don;t even have to go thru Oakland




1.     Start going toward the AIRPORT EXIT on AIRPORT BLVD - go < 0.1 mi
2.     Take ramp onto I-5 NORTH toward WOODLAND - go 8.2 mi
3.     Take the MAIN ST exit toward WOODLAND - go 0.7 mi
4.     Turn left onto CA-113 SOUTH toward DAVIS - go 10.9 mi
5.     Take ramp onto I-80 WEST - go 36.5 mi
6.     Take the CA-37 exit toward SAN RAFAEL - go 1.7 mi
7.     Continue on MARINE WORLD PKY - go 2.3 mi
8.     Continue on SEARS POINT RD[CA-37] - go 14.1 mi
9.     Continue to follow CA-37 WEST - go 3.2 mi
10.     Take the US-101 NORTH exit toward SANTA ROSA/EUREKA - go 33.0 mi
11.     Take the RIVER RD/GUERNEVILLE exit toward MARK WEST SPRINGS RD - go 0.2 mi
12.     Turn right on MARK WEST SPRINGS RD - go 0.1 mi
13.     Arrive at 50 MARK WEST SPRINGS RD, SANTA ROSA, on the right.

This is the route I take from Cool, Ca.John How38467.4750694444

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Tim,
If you get a chance visit Sonoma, Bodega Bay, the whole area is just Beautiful. If I could afford it I would leave Sarasota in a heartbeat for Sonoma/Bodega.

p.s. I went to Oakland about a year or so ago and took the alternet route ( whatever bridge) and avoided SF it was an easy straight run to Sonoma/Healdsburg.

I also went thru SF on another trip and while it was congested it wasn't all that bad...wasn't like Sarasota in tourist season.

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

I've got tickets into SF. It is really not that bad. I've been through SF in
afternoon rush hour in a big moving truck pulling a car. Not nearly as
bad as you would think.

I think the easiest would be either Sacramento or oakland though.

I got a room in Santa Rosa. the "aunt Mary Inn"... lol.. it is good to have
family across the US! I saved $400 on not having to have a hotel room!

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com