We get it. When you picture Napa Valley, you probably imagine couples clinking glasses on a vineyard patio, not families enjoying an al fresco lunch in the sun. Families that have the best trips to the Napa Valley are the ones who plan ahead.
If you’re wondering what to do in Napa Valley with your little ones, the answer is simpler than most parents expect. Staying at one of our Calistoga bed and breakfasts puts you close to family-friendly experiences beyond wine tasting: geysers that erupt roughly every 20 to 30 minutes, a petrified forest filled with 3.4-million-year-old redwoods turned to stone, an African-style wildlife safari just outside town, and even a medieval castle complete with a drawbridge, peacocks, and grape juice tastings for the under-21 crowd. There are plenty of things to do in Napa Valley that work for the whole family.
The key is knowing where to stay, what to skip, and how to plan things so everyone, including you, actually enjoys the trip.
Stay Somewhere Walkable
Figuring out where to stay in Napa Valley is especially more challenging when you have the family in tow. The southern end of the valley around Napa and Yountville skews more toward romance, and couples. The restaurants serve food that is a little more adult focused, and the tasting rooms feel more formal.
Calistoga, at the northern end, has a little more of a casual vibe. The downtown is about four blocks long. Guests who book directly through our website receive complimentary breakfast vouchers for Calistoga Roastery, perfect for grabbing coffee, pastries, and a quick breakfast before heading out for the day. If your family prefers a slower sit-down breakfast, Cafe Sarafornia is a longtime local favorite known for hearty breakfasts served all day. From there, you can pick up sandwiches at Cal Mart for a picnic, browse the stores, and get ice cream at Calistoga Creamery, all without buckling anyone into a car seat. When it’s time to find dinner, and the kids are fried, being able to walk to a restaurant instead of driving 20 minutes makes a real difference.
Pioneer Park is a two-minute walk from downtown with a playground, shaded picnic tables, and enough open grass for kids to run themselves tired. On Thursday evenings in the summer, visit the park for Concerts in the Park where everyone can spread out blankets and enjoy the live music.
Choose Accommodations with Room to Spread Out
Standard hotel rooms get small fast when you are traveling with kids. By day three, everyone is on top of each other, suitcases have exploded, clothes are everywhere, and there is nowhere to escape when someone needs a timeout, including you.
The best places to stay in Napa Valley for families have shared spaces where everyone can spread out. A porch where adults can sit with a glass of wine after the kids are asleep. A garden where children can enjoy being outside in a safe area. A living room where you can actually hang out together instead of perching on hotel beds.
Both the Craftsman Inn and Wine Way Inn have private rooms with their own bathrooms, but also common areas, porches, and gardens that give families room to breathe. Several of our rooms accommodate more than two guests:
At Wine Way Inn, the Lokoya Room sleeps up to four with a king bed and queen sleeper sofa. It is on the ground floor, which is helpful if you are hauling gear or have little ones who wake early. The St. Helena Room sleeps three with a queen bed and a twin daybed, making it well-suited for smaller families.
The Palisades Room at Craftsman Inn also sleeps four, with a king bed and full-size sleeper sofa. For families of four who want separate sleeping spaces, you can book the Howell Room and Spring Room together for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom suite with a king bed in each room.
If you are concerned about making too much noise and have an extended family we offer whole-inn rentals so you can take over the entire property, just like an Airbnb but more relaxing as we don’t make you do the cleaning before you leave. The kids can play in the garden while grandparents relax on the patio, and everyone can cook dinner together without feeling like they are disturbing other guests.
Finding Things to do in Napa Valley that Everyone Will Enjoy
This is where Napa Valley actually surprises people. Yes, there are wineries. But there are also experiences that kids genuinely love, the kind they will talk about for months. Calistoga happens to be close to the region’s best family attractions.
Safari West, about 15 minutes from Calistoga, is the one family’s rave about most. It is a 400-acre African wildlife preserve where you climb into an open-air jeep and drive past giraffes, zebras, rhinos, wildebeest, and antelope. Then you get out and walk through an aviary, see cheetahs up close, and watch lemurs swing around their island. Your visit supports the Safari West Zoological Society’s conservation efforts.
*Note that Children must be 4 years or older to participate in the driving portion of an African Safari Tour.
Old Faithful Geyser is affordable, and close. The geyser erupts every 20 to 30 minutes, shooting water 60 feet into the air. Kids love counting down and watching it blow. Between eruptions, there is a small area with a small petting zoo with goats and llamas, as well as bocce courts and a geology museum. The picnic area is an added bonus with lots of seating areas along with a station where you can borrow baskets, blankets, wine glasses, and utensils.
The Petrified Forest offers a network of easy walking trails past massive redwood trees that turned to stone 3.4 million years ago when a volcano erupted and buried them in ash.
Bothe-Napa Valley State Park has hiking trails through redwood groves, creeks, and a seasonal swimming pool. The Redwood Trail is short and easy. Ritchey Canyon Trail follows a creek through ferns and feels like you are somewhere much wilder than wine country. On weekends, milling demonstrations are held at the Bale Grist Mill, so you can see how grain actually becomes flour.
The Napa Valley Vine Trail gives families a chance to experience wine country without getting back in the car. The paved multi-use trail connects sections of Napa Valley through vineyards and open countryside, and the Calistoga section is especially scenic and easy for casual riders. Rent bikes from Calistoga Bikeshop and cruise along, stopping for coffee, snacks, or a quick break downtown. For families with younger kids, shorter out-and-back rides work best, especially in the morning before temperatures heat up.
The Sharpsteen Museum is a good rainy-day backup or quick stop. It is small but has a detailed diorama of what Calistoga looked like in the 1860s, an authentic stagecoach, and a restored cottage from the original resort. Admission is free, and it’s located in downtown Calistoga near the Saturday farmers market.
Build in Downtime
We suggest trying not to over schedule your days but rather take an extra day to enjoy some downtime between visiting the attractions.
One major activity per day is enough. Safari West in the morning means the rest of the day is for relaxation, a slow lunch, maybe a walk around downtown.
Even an afternoon at Pioneer Park counts as downtime. Let the kids run around the playground while you sit on a bench with a cool beverage or iced coffee.
Include the Whole Family at Wineries
A lot of guests ask if they can visit a winery with under 21’s, and while not all wineries offer an option for younger family members there are a few.
The Napa Valley Vintners Association website has a helpful filter for family-friendly wineries, but it’s important to look beyond wineries that simply allow kids. The best experiences for families tend to be the ones with outdoor space, a relaxed atmosphere, and something that keeps children engaged, whether that’s gardens, animals, open lawns, or room to move around between tastings.
V. Sattui is the practical family choice. They have 2.5 acres of shaded picnic grounds with big redwood tables, a deli with sandwiches and gelato, and a weekend food truck. It is affordable, relaxed, and you can easily spend an hour or two without anyone getting restless.
Frog’s Leap is a working organic farm where kids can explore between tastes. The property has chickens wandering near the barn, a frog pond with lily pads, and gardens you are welcome to walk through. They offer a dedicated Family Friendly Garden Tasting on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings that includes organic DRY soda tastings for kids (four flavors to identify like a blind tasting) plus coloring books and juice boxes for younger children. Dogs on leash are welcome too.
Inglenook is the Coppola family’s historic estate, and they have thought about families in a way most Napa wineries have not. Skip the formal tastings and head to The Bistro, where you can order wines by the glass or bottle alongside cheese, charcuterie, and light bites in the courtyard. The best part for kids: they lend out wooden sailboats to float in the courtyard fountain, just like the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris. The grounds are beautiful for wandering.
Hoopes Vineyard is worth the drive if your kids love animals. Their Oasis property is a regenerative farm and rescue animal sanctuary with goats, pigs, a donkey, chickens, and even a retired SFPD horse. Kids get goodie bags with juice, snacks, and coloring activities, and there is cornhole and room to run around. The setting is gorgeous, with organic gardens and vineyard views. Reservations are required, and there is an admission fee for kids ages 2-20.
Charles Krug is the oldest winery in Napa Valley, founded in 1861, and it has made a real effort to welcome families. Their Cucina di Rosa café serves wood-fired pizzas (Thursday through Monday, 11am to 4pm) on a tree-lined lawn, along with cheese and charcuterie boards. Walk-ins are welcome for by-the-glass experiences, so you do not need a formal reservation. Children over age two are welcome with a small fee that includes a non-alcoholic beverage.
Castello di Amorosa is the big splurge, but kids typically love it. It is a 13th-century-style Tuscan castle with turrets, a drawbridge, a moat, and a courtyard with peacocks, goats, and chickens. The guided tour goes through the great hall, barrel rooms, and a dungeon. They offer grape juice tastings for kids. It is expensive and gets crowded on weekends, but as a once-in-a-trip experience, it is hard to beat.
Sterling Vineyards is another premium option, but the aerial gondola ride is really the draw. You take a tram 300 feet up to a hilltop winery with panoramic valley views. While they don’t sell tickets to just the gondola ride, you can purchase tickets when adults in the group have purchased an ‘experience.’ The gondola cabins are big enough to accommodate a stroller and once you are at the top there are some areas restricted to over 21 but the Sterling Stroll Experience and the Tour and Terrace experience are available to under 21’s. Just ten minutes from Calistoga.
Plan Your Napa Valley Family Vacation
A trip to Napa Valley with the whole family is not the same as a trip without them, but that does not mean it cannot be great. The families who enjoy it most are the ones who slow down, pick activities everyone can enjoy, and extend their stay so they have down time between activities, we suggest at least two or three days to make it a pleasurable trip.
Calistoga makes it easier. Stay somewhere with room to spread out, plan one big thing per day, and leave space for playgrounds, and the unplanned moments that turn into the best memories.
Book your stay at the Craftsman Inn or Wine Way Inn and let us help you plan a trip the whole family will enjoy.