Calistoga Fun List Or, What else to do in wine country
In Calistoga an extended visit the wine country means more than simply an opportunity to imbibe fine wine and enjoy great foods all day, every day. Don’t limit yourself! The combination of superb Mediterranean weather, marvelous natural features, an educated and artistic population, and an active lifestyle, drive lots of other activities to be enjoyed.
A Safari Tour
Located between Calistoga and Santa Rosa, Safari West contains over 400 acres with some 350 species of animals. Take a 2 ½ hour tour led by a resident naturalist, with half the time being spent in an open-air safari vehicle, and half on foot. The organization offers regular tours, private twilight safaris in the summer with wine and cheese (from 7:00 until the sun is gone), and private sunset safaris in the spring and fall, also featuring wine and cheese. Various renditions of these private tours occur on holidays. Reservations required
Soar in a Hot Air Balloon
In the Napa Valley, hot air balloon rides begin at dawn in order to take advantage of the optimal air currents and atmospheric conditions. When you launch from Calistoga at the base of Mt St Helena, the hour you are in the air is spectacular and where else can you get an aerial shot of a geyser in full performance. Reservations required.
Shop
There are wonderful shopping opportunities in Calistoga, where just stroll down Lincoln Ave , wandering in and out of the shops and art galleries is an enjoyable experience. In Calistoga you are centrally located to follow Alexander Valley North to Healdsburg to shop the downtown square or South in the Napa Valley, with the revitalized downtown area of Napa and it’s outlet stores. Bring your credit cards!
Enjoy Mudbaths and Spa Treatments
Calistoga, since the 1860’s has been known as the Hot Springs of the Napa Valley. These days, when most people refer to a spa in wine country, they are speaking of Calistoga, a town founded on its volcanic ash and peat-moss mud and hot natural mineral baths. Calistoga sits on natural hot mineral springs, thus making it the ideal hot spot to luxuriate. From its day spas to its stay spas and hot spring resorts you will find Swedish Massage, Hot Stone Massage, Thai massage or any of the many relaxing and stimulating spa procedures to be found in this magical place. There is some hands on health and pampering here for everyone!
Golf
There are only a few courses in the Napa Valley, but a dedicated golfer can find two 9 hole public courses, one in Calistoga (at the fairgrounds) and one in Yountville. A 18 hole public course in Napa, and private links including 18 holes at both Silverado and Chardonnay Country Clubs, and a 9 hole at Meadowood Country Club are also conditionally available.
Area Festivals
Throughout the year in Wine Country there are dozens of festivals, many that have nothing to do with wine. In Calistoga there are the Spring Jazz Fest, Mustard Mud & Music; the Fall the Calistoga Downtown Blues Fest; Calistoga parades include December Lighted Tractor Parade; May Cinco de Mayo; and July Silverado Parade. Throughout the area, events such as the Napa/Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival (summer); the Napa Valley Mustard Festival (spring); Music in the Vineyards, ( a chamber music festival held in the Napa Valley); Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Fest (Celebrates opening of Salmon Season); Healdsburg Jazz Fest (June); A Taste of Alexander Valley (June); and the Sonoma Hot Air Balloon Classic (in Windsor in July); Wings Over Wine Country (in Windsor in August) to name but a few, occur nearly every weekend.
Cooking Classes
Take this opportunity to discover something new, develop or improve upon your culinary skills — and have fun in the kitchen. The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone offers both food demonstrations and a few scheduled food enthusiast programs. Demonstrations are about an hour in length and are held Friday thru Monday at 1:30P and 3:30P. Another option is a CasaLana Gourmet Retreat. Calistoga is the perfect setting to combine a casual getaway with a fun and informative cooking class. Whether you are an experienced home cook or are just beginning to discover cooking, Gourmet Retreats culinary vacations and cooking vacations at CasaLana can help take your cooking to the next level.
Natural Features
Interested in natural history? Calistoga has the remnants of another age with
Old Faithful of
California and
the Petrified
Forest.
Old Faithful Geyser of
California an
erupting geothermal well.(also known as Calistoga "Geyser", Old
Faithful of California) it has been a popular tourist attraction since the
1880’s. The Geyser tosses a scalding curtain of water anywhere from 60 to 100
feet into the air approximately every 45 minutes.
The Petrified Forest located on (where else?)
Petrified Forest Rd., has been an attraction since 1871 and was noted in Robert
Louis Stevenson’s “Silverado Squatters”. Here, you step back in Time, over 3
million years, by simply following the trail of majestic petrified redwood
giants arrayed in a fascinating grove in beautiful California wine country
Hiking and Biking around Calistoga
For hikers and those who bring their own bikes or choose to rent from Calistoga Bikeshop there are a broad range of self guided opportunities. For those seeking a more structured adventure, Getaway Adventures operates a series of road and mountain biking, hiking, kayaking and other guided sport excursions based in Calistoga There are few places in the world better suited to biking than the Napa Valley. There is also equipment that combines biking and wine tasting, (isolated wine panniers).
A Walking or Street Bike Tour of Calistoga
There are historical sites, points of interest and just plain curious places to see in Calistoga. One of the best ways to enjoy these, is with a copy of “Looking for the Past in Calistoga” in your hand.(Available at the Sharpsteen Museum) The Guide is by street listing addresses of interest ranging from historic sites such as the original Rail Road Depot, to property given by Sam Brannan to General Vallejo, to a house built with no nails, (the result of a bar bet.)
Bothe-Napa State Park
Just a few miles south of Calistoga at the edge of the Valley, a stone’s throw from vineyards, day visitors can enjoy hiking Ritchey Canyon on the Redwood Trail where in the spring you’ll find ferns and water running down the rugged creek bed. Climbing uphill through redwoods you come out into chaparral to the top of Coyote Peak where you can see the Napa Valley and Mount St. Helena beyond.. Bring your wine and a picnic lunch to eat. (On hot summer days, a swimsuit and towel will let you take advantage of the park's swimming pool. And Triple Creek Horse Outfit has horseback riding.)
Oat Hill Mine/Mt St Helena
This is a 2fer. For the strong of heart, you can attack the Oat Hill Mine trail from the trailhead at Lincoln Ave and Silverado Trail. You can go as far as you want and turn around. (This trail climbs from 400 to 2200 feet!) Or a less strenuous version is to take this hike one-way, which requires some planning: A vehicle needs to be parked at both ends of the trail, one at Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, up Highway 29 over Mt. St. Helena and one at the intersection of Highway 29 and Silverado Trail. in Calistoga. (hikers ride in the second vehicle to the beginning of the hike). Author Ken Stanton has this to say: "This five-star route has most everything: close-up views of volcanic cliffs, panoramic views of the Napa Valley, shady evergreen forests, flower-spangled meadows, mysterious grottos fed by year-round seeping water, nesting peregrine falcons, and in winter, a chance to see 100-foot-high ephemeral waterfalls. …” On this route you see the Palisades rock formations up close. This is a 10 7/8-mile extravaganza that is not to be missed.
Mt. St. Helena
This is the big peak (4,343 feet) just North of Calistoga. At the top you can choose the South or North peak. Both peaks have various man made structures. The North peak is a little further and higher. This is 11.2-mile out-and-back (5.6 miles each way). On a clear day you can see Bodega Head (the ocean), San Francisco, Mount Diablo, the Sierras, Lassen and Shasta. One of the best views in the world. The trailhead is at about 2000 feet. Take lots of water, there is none on the Mountain. To get to the Hiking trailhead, follow Highway 29 East out of Calistoga. to the parking lot and hiking trailheads. (For bikers, keep going about 1/2 a mile and you will see where the fire road intersects with 29. There are several pull outs where you can park. Bikes are not allowed on the hiking trail from the main parking lot.) The hiking trail joins up with the Fire Road.
Mountain Biking
Oat Hill Mine Road Locally referred to as a
“road,” visitors find the Oat Hill Mine Road more like a foot trail that varies
from four to 15 feet wide. The route was originally created as a wagon road so
that miners who worked in the hills could haul supplies to and from Calistoga.(
You’ll still see the wagon wheel ruts carved into rock in the trail. Today, the
only traffic is hikers and mountain bikers. Much of the once wide road are
overgrown with shrubs which includes poison oak so stay in the open if you
can’t identify the plant. This 9 plus mile trail is best for experienced
intermediate to expert riders only. It is strenuous, with the trail climbing
over 2,000 feet (and coming down is a challenge too). Near the top is the most
difficult and strenuous portion with a high degree of bike handling skill
required. There are no amenities, so you need to carry water as this is a
strenuous ride and it can be hot. In the spring the wildflowers are
spectacular, in the fall you can see the colors and all of the time you get
magnificent mountain, valley and wildlife views (so bring your video cam).
The trail, easily accessible from downtown Calistoga, is at the intersection of Highway 29 (Lincoln Ave.) and the Silverado Trail just to the left of the Trailside Inn. For those seeking information or who arrived without their equipment, the Calistoga Bikeshop is a font of local lore.
Trail Biking
There are miles of well-paved roads that criss-cross the valley and wander up into the hillsides. Make sure to bring along a camera, water and a picnic and plan for a full day of exploring. If you can't bring your own bicycles, there is a rental and repair shop in Calistoga that can fix you up.
To tour along the floor of the valley, bikers should use the Silverado Trail, which runs parallel to and is linked to Highway 29 by frequent crossroads. There is a bike lane (though it does narrow to only a foot or two along the few winding sections of road) that makes traveling safer than on Highway 29. From Silverado Trail you'll also be treated to some of the more picturesque vistas across the valley. And, of course, there are plenty of wineries to visit along the way.
You can relax at a number of wineries that provide a lawn, shade or even tables on the wooded hillsides. Not all wineries have a license to allow picnicking, so if you're not sure whether or not a winery offers that amenity, call ahead or ask when you arrive. If you want to enjoy wine with your repast, it is always appreciated if you buy your bottle at the facility that is providing you with a picnic spot.
For History Buffs - Calistoga’s Sharpsteen Museum
The Sharpsteen Museum located in downtown Calistoga has permanent exhibits presenting the history of the upper Napa Valley from its pre-history to post World War I, with an emphasis on people and changes brought by the period of U.S. emigration and development. In addition to its many historical exhibits, the Museum uses unique and extraordinarily extensive dioramas to depict Calistoga during its period as the elegant 1860s Hot Springs resort developed by pioneer, promoter, publisher, entrepreneur, and California's first millionaire, Sam Brannan. While there, check the Museum Store for a great selection of local and period history books.
Visit Villa Ca'toga
CA’TOGA is the Palladian Villa of Italian born artist Carlo Marchiori, built just north of Calistoga in the Napa Valley. Mr. Marchiori is a world-renowned muralist who specializes in period art interpretations. He can produce originals in Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassic styles in fresco-like techniques. He also produces original ceramic plates, ceramic tile panels, paintings, sculptures, furniture and Roman style base-relief stone plaques. His art and artifact are available through his Ca’ Toga Galleria D’Arte located in downtown Calistoga. He opens his home to tours which can be scheduled at the Galleria.
Calistoga is the most "laid-back" town in the Napa Valley. This is a place where you can relax and just unwind. You won’t find large shopping malls or busy streets, it’s actually a very quiet town. Calistoga is the home to the Calistoga bottled water (take some photos out by the large metal sculpture in front of the plant.)
There are many spas here offering the mud baths that the town is famous for. Check into the Indian Springs Resort for some R & R and enjoy the quaint little bungalows on the property. They offer mud baths with "authentic" mud here and you can soak your aching muscles in the Olympic size pool after a spa treatment. www.indianspringscalistoga.com
Entrance to the Natural Bath Spa
Olympic Size Pool for Resort and Spa Guests at Indian Springs
