Page 53 - 2023-2024 Travel Guide to California

Yountville, another magnet for foodies. The
French Laundry, the famous Michelin-
starred wonder, is at the top of some bucket
lists, but snagging a reservation is an effort.
Plenty of other celebrated dining options
are nearby, including Bistro Jeanty and Ad
Hoc—Chef Thomas Keller’s other, more
casual comfort-food restaurant.
Simply exploring Yountville’s tree-lined
Washington Street is a pleasure, with its
lavish tasting rooms and inviting outdoor
patios for leisurely lunches or an afternoon
hangout. The V Marketplace is home to
Bottega and Coqueta, and 19th-century stone
buildings on the grounds also house an art
gallery and Kollar Chocolates—perfect for
satisfying any sweet-tooth cravings.
Insider’s tip: Consider picking-up a
rental bike in Napa and cycling to
Yountville via the seven-mile easy stretch
on the beautiful, safe, and paved pathway—
the Napa Valley Vine Trail. Riding between
Napa and Yountville is an enjoyable way to
get outdoors and explore the beauty of this
region, plus there are several wine stops
along this portion of the Vine Trail,
including Laird Family Estate and
Trefethen Family Vineyards.
Downtown Yountville also happens to
be one of several launch points for another
outdoor thrill: flying high above Napa
Valley on a hot-air balloon ride, an
unforgettable experience available through
several local companies, including Napa
Valley Aloft and Balloons Above The Valley.
Quaint St. Helena
The town of St. Helena is full of charm. Art
galleries, wine-themed shops and chic
boutiques line its charming Main Street,
three blocks of which are on the National
Register of Historic Places. Be sure to
experience the hip tasting rooms and savor
lunch at Market. If burgers, fries, and
shakes are more your jam, don’t miss Gott’s
Roadside!
Heading just slightly north, the Culinary
Institute of America (CIA) at Greystone
features tours and cooking classes—all
housed in a grand 19th-century stone
building. Beringer, a handsome landmark
winery, is notable for its 146-year-old
history and caves, offering a fascinating
look into early California winemaking. And
at the northernmost end of town, a tall
water wheel and mill that date from the
mid-1800s are on display at Bale Grist Mill
State Historic Park.
Calming Calistoga
The northernmost town of Napa Valley
is Calistoga, with its renowned spas,
geothermal hot springs and volcanic muds.
It has pampered guests since the late 1800s.
Sam Brannan, one of the first American
settlers to arrive during the 1860s,
envisioned a spa town similar to Saratoga,
NY. Legend has it that Brannan famously
said he would develop “the Saratoga of
California” and, after a few drinks,
Brannan’s words came out as “the Calistoga
of Sarafornia.” The name stuck.
The geothermal hot springs and famous
mud composed of volcanic ash have long-
provided a unique style of spa therapies
and treatments. Many of the area spas
create indulgent and relaxing experiences
with combinations of mud baths, mineral
soaks and aromatherapy. Relaxation is
definitely on deck in Calistoga.
Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga’s tiny main
street, is made for strolling with tasting
rooms, restaurants, boutiques, and art
galleries that are all one-of-a-kind. Outside
of town is the awe-inspiring Petrified
Forest where ancient redwoods and other
trees were preserved after a volcanic
eruption 3.4 million years ago.
Many wineries around Calistoga are well
worth a visit and the gorgeous stone castle,
Chateau Montelena, built in 1882, is a
stand-out. The Chardonnay from Chateau
Montelena is the famous wine that put
California on the wine map, winning the
1976 Judgement of Paris and stunning the
European wine world. Nothing in Napa
Valley has been the same since.
That famous moment during the
Judgement of Paris wine competition may
have put Napa Valley on the world map;
nevertheless, the passion and commitment
of the original farming families and land
stewardship remains to this day. And,
many of the same family-owned and
operated wineries from that era are still
producing world-class wines today. The
wine is still awesome and the experiences
that have sprung to life around the wine in
this little bucolic region of California are
unrivaled. Visit Napa Valley and experience
the laid-back, relaxed vibe that, along with
the wine, will keep you coming back.
2023-24 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA 51