Calistoga Fun List - What Else to do in Wine Country...

In Calistoga, an extended visit to the wine country means more than simply an opportunity to imbibe fine wine and enjoy a spa treatment and great food all day, every day. Don’t limit yourself! The combination of superb Mediterranean weather, marvelous natural features, an educated and artistic population, dynamic community organizations, and an active lifestyle, provide lots of other activities to be enjoyed.

In addition, as can be seen in the many activities described below, Calistoga (and the surrounding area) is very family- and kid-friendly. The majority of these activities are open to, and appeal to, kids of all ages!

Hot Air Ballooning

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! Where else could you get an aerial shot of a geyser in full performance? Enjoy the most pristine scenery in the Napa Valley – Mt. St. Helena (the tallest point in the valley), the Old Faithful Geyser of California, the Palisade Cliffs, and many beautiful wineries and vineyards, not to mention the unique layout and buildings of the City of Calistoga.. Reservations are required; see a list of providers on our Napa Valley Attractions Page.

A Safari Tour

Located between Calistoga and Santa Rosa, Safari West is an over 400 acre property with some 350 species of animals. Take a 2 ½ hour tour led by a highly experienced, resident naturalist guide, 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 7:00pm 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. The experience includes a drive through a 12-acre extreme Africa exhibit, where you will be at one with the wild, observing giraffe, gazelle, scimitar-horned oryx, ostrich and other species of African antelope all living together and sharing this exotic savannah setting. In one area you may find a cape buffalo and a zebra enjoying a refreshing break at the nearby watering hole. Safari West is also home to cheetahs and other exotic mammals and birds. It is an American wildlife preserve where entire herds roam freely. It is also a center for wildlife preservation, breeding, education, research and interaction up close and personal. Reservations required; see the Napa Valley Attractions page for contact information.

Napa Valley Wine Train

Family "trips" allow parents to be treated to a quiet, intimate & uninterrupted gourmet dinner in the elegance of a restored 1890s-era dining car, while children are entertained by a professional care provider in a separate railcar with kid friendly games, movies, and a meal sure to be enjoyed by kids of all ages. Now in it's 10th year, this popular dinner excursion package is available twice monthly on Fridays during the school year, Sundays in the summer. Children ages 3 to 12 are FREE (one child per paid adult). Sorry, no children under 3 are allowed in this program.

Napa River Adventures

Enjoy a two-hour guided Napa River tour beginning in the wetlands at the Kennedy Park Dock south from the City of Napa. As you travel north through historic Downtown Napa, see the wonder that is Copia and the newly opened Oxbow Market, see remnants of Napa Valley’s past and understand how present changes will affect the future of Napa. As you proceed south into the surrounding wetlands, the many species of birds provide excellent bird watching, and gorgeous sweeping vistas of Napa Valley are available in every direction.

Castello di Amorosa

Visit the authentic, 12th century Tuscan castle-winery (opened to the public in 2007) where you may tour and taste world-class Napa Valley wines from a fourth generation winemaking family which began its tradition more than 120 years ago. The Castello has evolved to include over 121,000 square feet, 107 rooms, 8,000 tons of hand-squared stones, 8 levels (4 above ground and 4 below), 900 feet of caves, a great hall with a 500 year-old fireplace and two-story Italian frescoes, a drawbridge, dungeon and torture chamber, stables, medieval church, a lake, and arguably the single most impressive wine barrel room in the U.S., constructed with ancient Roman cross-vaulted ceilings. Reservations are required for tours (about 1.5 hours long); the tasting room is open to walk-ins.

Natural Features

Interested in natural history? The Calistoga area has two “natural wonders” that are the remnants of another age.

The Petrified Forest, located on (what else?) Petrified Forest Road in the hills west of Calistoga, 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 paved/graveled 0.5 mile long trail of majestic petrified redwood giants arrayed in a fascinating grove in beautiful California wine country. Geologists call this attraction one of the finest examples of a pliocene fossil forest in the world. The park itself is privately owned and has been since its first proprietor started excavating the large petrified trees in 1871. Enjoy your short walk through these well-preserved natural wonders. Brannan Cottage Inn offers discount coupons!

Old Faithful Geyser of California (also known as the Calistoga "Geyser", or Old Faithful of California) is a naturally erupting geothermal well and has been a popular tourist attraction since the 1880s. The Geyser tosses a scalding curtain of water anywhere from 60 to 100 feet into the air approximately every 45 minutes. The Geyser is one of only three Old Faithfuls in the world, designated as such because of its constant and predictable eruptions. This spectacle is a true rarity, and there's no better place to see it than here! It is only 1.5 miles from Brannan Cottage Inn (and we have discount coupons as well!).

Shop 'til you Drop

There are wonderful shopping opportunities in Calistoga, where just a stroll down Lincoln Avenue, wandering in and out of the shops and art galleries, is an enjoyable experience. In Calistoga, you are also centrally located to follow the Alexander Valley (Highway 128) north to Healdsburg to shop the historic downtown square or at the unique Jimtown Store, to head south (on Highway 29 or the Silverado Trail) in the Napa Valley to the lively town of St. Helena (8 miles south) or to the revitalized downtown area of the city of Napa and it’s regional outlet mall, or to head west to the historic town of Sonoma (with its own central town square) or the county seat of Santa Rosa and it’s several modern malls. Bring your credit cards!

Enjoy a Calistoga Mudbath

Calistoga, since the 1860s, 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 local volcanic ash and hot natural mineral water baths. Calistoga sits on natural hot mineral springs, thus making it the hot spot to luxuriate. From its day spas to its “stay spas” and hot spring resorts (some with extensive pools) there is some hands-on health and pampering here for everyone! Be sure to check out our website and office displays for special deals and BIG discounts! Most Calistoga spas and spa resorts are within walking distance from the Inn.

Calistoga Golf

There are only a few courses in the Napa Valley, but they are located in as beautiful a valley as can be found anywhere, enhanced by vineyards that, in some cases, bound the fairways. A dedicated golfer can find two 9 hole “executive” public courses, one in Calistoga (Mt. St. Helena Golf Club, at the fairgrounds—about 6 blocks from the Inn) and one in Yountville (Vintners Golf Club). 18 hole public course in the Napa Valley include the City of Napa Golf Course, the Chardonnay and Eagle Vines Golf Clubs (south of Napa on Highway 12), and the Silverado Country Club (pay for play available to non-members). Private links in the area include the 18 hole Napa Country Club and a 9 hole course at Meadowood Country Club. The surrounding areas of American Canyon (in Napa County), and Sonoma and Lake Counties have several beautiful courses with a slightly longer drive.

Napa Area Festivals

Throughout the year in Wine Country there are dozens of festivals, many that have nothing to do with wine. In Calistoga we have the Spring Jazz Fest, known as “Mustard, Mud & Music”; in the Fall, a companion event is the Calistoga Downtown Jazz and Blues Fest. Calistoga’s great parades include the December Lighted Tractor Parade, May’s Cinco de Mayo parade and festival, and the July 4th Silverado Parade. Throughout the area, events such as the following occur almost every weekend: 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 the opening of “salmon season”); the Healdsburg Jazz Fest (June); A Taste of the Alexander Valley (June); the Sonoma Hot Air Balloon Classic (in Windsor in July); Wings Over Wine Country (in Windsor in August).

• The Seventh Annual Mustard, Mud & Music (MMM) Jazz & Wine Festival

  One of Calistoga's big annual events has historically been held on a weekend in early March. In 2010, it was a two-day event held on Saturday, March 6 and Sunday, March 7. The Calistoga Chamber of Commerce sponsors the event and it ran from 1 pm to 7 pm (on both weekend days) throughout downtown Calistoga on a typically wonderful, sunny, warm day. Over 2,000 (paying) visitors crowded the downtown area and gained access to more than 15 fine jazz groups playing at various venues around town (shops, restaurants, bars, B&Bs, etc.). We also had about 20 of our area's finest wineries tasting their best products in an equal number of locations. It was quite the weekend! And some of the festivities carried on into the night!

  Make your reservations now for the 9th Annual Event on March 5 and 6, 2011. We're starting the planning for the entertainers and wineries for 2011 now. And, as before, admission (including access to all music, souvenir wine glass and a limited number of wine tasting tickets) is very inexpensive (only $40 per person for both days).

  Doug has historically been very active on the MMM festival committee (he was the Co-Chairman in 2006 and 2007). This year, Brannan Cottage Inn had the Susan Sutton Trio performing on our patio and then the porch from 2 pm til 6 pm, and had Beaver Creek Winery pouring their fine wines on the patio for the big event. We're hoping to have the same level of activity next year on Saturday, March 5, 2010.

  Keep checking here and/or www.CalistogaJazz.com for more details as we get closer to March.

  
  

• Calistoga Blues Festival/Blues in the Vineyards

  Similar to the MMM Festival, but different in many ways, the Calistoga Blues event is also sponsored by the Calistoga Chamber of Commerce and will be held this year on Saturday October 23, 2010. On Saturday, from 1 pm to 7 pm, there will be blues entertainment in several downtown Calistoga venues, including Brannan Cottage Inn, and various shops, bars and restaurants during the day, and into the night at some of the clubs. Also, as with MMM, local wineries will be pouring at several venues downtown. Brannan Cottage Inn is pleased to bring back the Susan Sutton Trio (who were so popular on our patio at events in 2009 and 2010), but we don't know yet which of our fine local wineries will be pouring at our site.

  The ticket prices will be $25 for a "Tasting Pass" (souvenir glass, 15+/- wine tastings, program booklet & map) for access to all Saturday music.

  Contact Allison Day at the Chamber of Commerce at 707-942-6333 for additional information or to buy tickets. Check out the website at www.CalistogaVisitors.com for the musicians and venues as we get closer to November.

  Brannan Cottage Inn will be offering a special weekend deal for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (10/22, 23 and 24) for the program. Stay two nights and get one Free "Tasting Pass" for all the events of the Festival. Call us at 707-942-4200 for other info, or to make a reservation.

Calistoga Free Events - Music, Dance, Movies and Art

In 2008, the Calistoga Chamber of Commerce (teaming with local business partners like the Merchant Family-owners of Indian Springs Resort, Twin Pines Casino (in Middletown), and Calistoga Beverage Company) began sponsoring two significant types of events (described below). We believe the same events will continue in 2009 and are awaiting information about the 2009 schedule of movies and bands:

Monthly Free Concert/Dances on the first Friday of each month from 6 to 8 pm. Look here for the schedule for the rest of 2008; we'll update the website as we obtain info from the Chamber.

Two times per month Free Movies at the Gliderport Building in the center of Calistoga. On the first and third Thursdays of each month, in the early evening (typically 7:45 pm in April, later as the days get longer), free movies will be shown. The two movies for April in 2008 were “My Cousin Vinny” and “Ghostbusters”. As future movies are scheduled, you'll see it here.

Please be aware that the times of these events will likely change as the days get longer!

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 (about 7 miles south) 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 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm. Other options include several privately held “Gourmet Retreats.” 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, culinary vacations in Calistoga can help take your cooking to the next level.Call Doug or Judy for additional details.

Hiking and Biking around Calistoga

For hikers and those who bring their own bikes or choose to rent from Calistoga Bikeshop downtown, 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, and the Calistoga Bikeshop offers the “Calistoga Cool Wine Tour” option. There are few places in the world better suited to biking than the Napa Valley.

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 lists street addresses of interests ranging from historic sites such as the original Rail Road Depot and the Brannan Cottage Inn, 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 on the west side 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 the nearby Triple Creek Horse Stables has horseback riding available.

Oat Hill Mine Trail/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. 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/Robert Louis Stevenson State Park Trails - This is (at 4,343 feet) the highest point in the Napa Valley, 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, and the trail is 11.2-miles long out-and-back (5.6 miles each way). On a clear day you can see Bodega Head (the Pacific Ocean), San Francisco, Mount Diablo, the Sierras, and Mounts Lassen and Shasta. It contains one of the best views in the world. The trailhead is at about 2000 feet elevation. Take lots of water, there is none on the trail. To get to the trailhead, follow Highway 29 north out of Calistoga to the parking lot and hiking trailheads. (For bikers, keep going about 1/2 mile and you will see where the fire road intersects with Highway 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 is overgrown with shrubs, including poison oak (so stay in the open if you can’t identify the plant). This more than 10 mile long 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 at all times you get magnificent mountain, valley and wildlife views (so bring your video camera). The trail, easily accessible from downtown Calistoga, is at the intersection of Highway 29 (Lincoln Ave.) and the Silverado Trail. For those seeking information or who arrived without their equipment, the Calistoga Bikeshop is a font of local lore.

Road 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, the Calistoga Bikeshop 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 call Doug or Judy for picnic options. If you want to enjoy wine with your repast, it is always appreciated if you buy your picnic wine at the facility that is providing you with a picnic spot.

For History Buffs

The Sharpsteen Museum - Located on Washington Street 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 1870s 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. The Museum also includes colorful and interesting displays covering the 33 year career of Ben Sharpsteen at Walt Disney Productions.

Bale Grist Mill State Park - Built in 1846, the Old Bale Mill has been restored to operating condition complete with its 36-foot wooden waterwheel. On weekends you can buy freshly ground cornmeal, whole-wheat flour and other gifts in the mill’s store. You can walk along the History Trail from the mill to Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, a mile and half north and visit the Native American Plant Garden next to the visitor center. The Bale Grist Mill is located four miles south from Calistoga on Highway 29.

Visit Villa Ca'toga

Ca’toga is the Palladian Villa of Italian-born artist Carlo Marchiori, built just north of Calistoga (about 1.25 miles north on Grant Street from the Inn). 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 artifacts are available through his Ca’ Toga Galleria D’Arte studio located in downtown Calistoga. On some weekends, he also opens his home and gardens to tours (which can be scheduled at the Galleria).

Musical Picnics in St. Helena’s Lyman Park

The St. Helena Chamber of Commerce presents a series of FREE musical picnics in beautiful Lyman Park along Main Steet (Highway 29-about 9 miles south from the Inn) in the early evenings on every other Thursday starting in mid- to late June. Plan to bring your picnic blanket, a bottle of (Napa Valley) wine, and dessert and sit back, relax and enjoy the music and family friendly environment. The schedule for 2008 was:

• June 26-The Maikai Gents (traditional Hawaian music)
• July 10-St Helena Community Band (playing American Pop favorites)
• July 24-The Royal Deuces (rockabilly)
• August 7-Birdmonster (rock 'n' roll)
• August 21-Sweet Burgundy (acoustic rock)

For more information, go to www.sthelena.com and check here once the schedule is released.