When you live a long way away, it’s a natural assumption to think that the town of Napa is the hub of the valley and the right place to stay to enjoy all the wonderful things to do in Calistoga & Napa Valley. For some, seeking a larger town center, a walk to the theatre or cinema and a wider shopping selection Napa can be the right choice.
However, as a larger town with industrial roots it is not the rural wine country ambiance that many people are actually seeking. For that you need to look, what the locals refer to as, up valley. Our Calistoga inns offer the perfect setting from which to explore the many activities and attractions that this beautiful region has to offer.
At the very top of the valley sits the small country town of Calistoga. Despite its roots as a spa town for vacationers, it remains the most authentic of Napa Valley’s small towns. Here the valley narrows down to give stunning vistas of the Palisades cliffs as you look to the east down the main street of Lincoln Avenue. To the west the view is of the gentle wooded slopes of the Mayacamas range.
The next town south is St. Helena. Known to the locals as the Rodeo Drive of Napa Valley, it’s the place to shop for that special, expensive, something! St. Helena also offers some outstanding dining experiences.
Moving further down the valley you pass through the villages of Rutherford and Oakville, with a number of more rural lodging choices, until you reach the small town of Yountville. Riding the coattails of the world-famous French Laundry (the only restaurant we cannot get you a reservation for) the town has attracted many great restaurants as well as larger lodging establishments and a scattering of smaller inns.
Surrounded by vineyards and some of the finest wineries in the valley, Calistoga is a great base for wine country touring, dining and of course the world-famous geyser, spas and mud baths.
