Calistoga is our favorite town in the Napa Valley. Driving along Highway 29 north will lead you to this quaint town with an old-time atmosphere. Calistoga is famous not so much for wine, but for mud baths and hot springs. If you visited Calistoga 25 years ago, it remains about the same today. The Calistoga Inn, the Mount View Hotel, and Dr Wilkinson’s Hot Springs Resort are still around. Yes, some shopping has gone fashionable but it’s still far different from St. Helena or Yountville. Everything in Calistoga is less expensive and less upscale than anywhere else in the Napa Valley. Nevertheless, travelers will find plenty of choices to fit their needs for dining and lodging. There are many nearby wineries to visit both big and small and a good choice of activities, such as visiting the geysers or taking a hot air balloon ride.
Calistoga is a great little town and we always look forward to spending a couple of nights there. These are our favorites in Calistoga. Dinner: All Seasons Bistro, fabulous cuisine. Lodging: Stevenson Manor, very clean and comfortable, reasonable. Breakfast: the Calistoga Roastery. Lunch: Wappo, eclectic menu. Winery: Chateau Montelena, great Riesling. Favorite activity: taking a stroll along Lincoln Ave, the main street in Calistoga.
