Travel Guide to California

2024-25 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA 47 advance planning. 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 19 th -century stone buildings on the grounds are also home to 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 a premier ballooning outfit, Napa Valley Aloft. Strollable 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 19 th -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 famous mud baths. Calistoga 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 while cementing Napa Valley's position as a world-class wine destination. That famous moment during the Judgement of Paris wine competition may have put Napa Valley on the world m a p ; n e v e r t h e l e s s, t h e p a s s i o n a n d 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.

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