Relax and Rejuvenate
3 Day Itinerary
Here are some suggestions to change the way you relax:
Day one
Now that you’re well on your way to relaxation, why not take advantage of your surroundings and connect with nature on a hike at Bothe-Napa Valley State Park where you can also visit the historic Bale Grist Mill. If you’re in need of a swimsuit to enjoy the mineral pools,St.Clair Clothing Company has a great selection! Experience wine tasting and shopping at Picayune Cellars & Mercantile, where you can indulge in some retail therapy as you sample French Provencal-style wines on the tasting room’s outdoor patio.
After a full day of wine and wellness, you’ll want a relaxing and low-key dinner at a cozy spot such as Lovina. The team you’ll see every day and night at Lovina is a diverse group of friends, uniquely suited to running this small, historic restaurant space. The newest members of Calistoga’s vibrant restaurant scene has two lovely patios with plenty of outdoor dining space.
As dinnertime rolls around, plan to dine by the fire-pit on the outdoor patio at Sam’s Social Club, the restaurant located on the grounds at Indian Springs Resort & Spa.
Day two
Today is all about getting muddy! Volcanic ash is a component of the restorative mud baths at many Calistoga properties. Where to begin? How about fully immersed in a tub of mud in a traditional mud bath. You can book this style of mud bath at Calistoga Spa Hot Springs, Golden Haven Hot Springs Resort, the recently renovated spa at Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs or at the Baths at Roman Spa.
Many of Calistoga’s hot springs resorts offer colorful cruiser bikes for complimentary use, or you can rent one from the Calistoga Bikeshop. Grab your bike and order a healthy lunch to go from Cal Mart for a picnic at the Old Faithful Geyser of California. Fun fact: There’s a discount on admission for those who arrive by bicycle! Once you enter, head to the picnic-prep area with cutting boards, wine glasses, chillers and everything else you might require. Sit at a picnic table for two or at a larger table under a covered and cushioned cabana while you enjoy your lunch and the view of the geyser as it faithfully erupts. The same volcanic activity that makes Calistoga famous for mud and wellness is what produces this spectacular natural phenomenon.
Just down the road from the Geyser, your afternoon will be complete with a visit to Chateau Montelena to taste the wines that put Napa Valley on the world’s best wines map. Besting French whites, a Chateau Montelena ’73 chardonnay placed first in the 1976 grand tasting at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Paris. The results proved Chateau Montelena could produce some of the world’s finest wines; California’s wine industry had come of age.
Another great morning option is the active relaxation of a guided bike tour to area wineries with the popular Getaway Adventures Sip ‘n Cycle bike tour. It’s a great way to get a light workout and some fresh air, not to mention an excellent guided tour of the area by a local who knows their stuff! For the yogis and yoginis, Getaway Adventures also offers a Yoga, Hike and Bubbly package, featuring a yoga practice in the redwoods and a spirited hike in the tall trees, topped off with a bit of bubbly!
When you’re ready, return to downtown Calistoga and contemplate another indulgence, perhaps a non-traditional spin on the mud bath. A Mudslide at Solage, an Auberge Resort, consists of painting yourself with mud and rinsing off in a private outdoor shower. Another treatment of interest is to get down and dirty with a “Perfectly Muddled” experience at MoonAcre Spa & Baths with its mix-your-own-mud bar.
After a full day of wine and wellness, you’ll want a relaxing and low-key dinner at a cozy spot such as Bricco Osteria or Lovina.
Day three
Keep the restorative vibes going with a drop-in class at Calistoga Pilates or you can even partake in aerial yoga at Calistoga Fit Studio.
End your stay with a little wine tasting at Laura Michael Wines, a boutique winery owned by husband and wife team, Laura and Michael Swanton. Sip award-winning estate zinfandel and a light rosé while basking in the Calistoga sunshine and surrounded by a rose garden in full bloom.
