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Wineries
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V. Sattui If you want to taste some incredible Merlots and Cabs while enjoying a picnic lunch outside in the hot sun, this is the place to be! V. Sattui is known not only for its amazing wines that you can only buy from the winery itself, but also for its delicacy of breads, cheeses and meets. You can get everything in their cute little store on the premises for your picnic, from utensils to tablecloths. Free tasting. Tours by appt.. 707-963-7774 Beringer (707) 963-7115 Open 9:30 am to 6 pm, tours every 1/2 hour Sterling 707-942-3344. Viansa 707-935-4700. Niebaum-Coppola Winery 1991 St. Helena Hwy Silver Oak - Great Cabs Cheateau Montellana - Excellent Chardonney - This is what put Napa on the map when they beat the French in world wine-tasting contests in the 1970's.
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Other Things To Do |
Wine tasting, Wine Tasting, and more wine tasting. But, we know that all of you are not wine finatics! So, there is other stuff for you to do! NAPA Napa Valley Balloons offer tours and brunch up in a hot air balloon overlooking the vineyards. Call 1-800-253-2224 for more info.. You launch early in the morning from the Domaine Chandon Winery. There are many companies in the area. Another one is Balloons Above the Valley at 1-800-464-6824. These are $175/person, but they do include continental breakfast and champaigne brunch when you return to earth. There is one, Bonaventura Balloon Co. that is $165/person when you have 2 or more in your party. Children's rates are lower. It is expensive, but a neat way to spend your time and see a spectacular view of the valley. Call 1-800-FLY-NAPA. CALISTOGA This quaint town is about 1/2 hour to 40 minutes Northwest of Napa depending on traffic. It is worth visiting if you want a change. Stu and I brought our bikes once and stayed at the Pine Ridge Inn! Very cute. We rode our bikes all the way to St. Helena and went wine-tasting on our bikes! If you are into dipping your whole body in mud, the spas in this town are for you. No, really, mud is not your only option. Stu and I did a "peat moss" spa together. It was like brown water. However, extremely romantic. You can just get a plain old massage, too. Oasis Spa Lincoln Avenue Spa For kids, Marine World Africa USA is right next door to Napa. It is about 10 minutes outside of Napa. Call (707)643-6722 for information. Also, there is a miniature golf place right in Napa called Paradise Miniature Golf at 640 3rd Street. Remember to think about Sterling Winery for the gondola ride…Children would really like that as well. For all you shoppers, check out Vintage 1870 in Yountville, which is a small city between Napa and St. Helena. Open daily 10:00-5:30. (707)944-2451. It offers 40 specialty shops and galleries, lots of places to eat and even wine tasting! Or you can try to find some good buys at the Napa Factory Stores on the west side of Hwy 29 at the 1st street exit! Other Stuff to do For the exercise fiends, one can always rent bikes from stores in Napa, St. Helena or Calistoga. Call 707-963-7736 for St. Helena Cyclery or 1-800-499-BIKE. Also, you can golf at the Silverado Resort if you have $$$$ (there's others, I just can think of them all). Horseback riding is also popular. Try the Sonoma Cattle Co.-(707) 996-8566. You can take a day trip on Sunday and drive up the coast to Mendocino to catch some beautiful cliff-views of the sunset and roam through the huge Redwoods or you can drive south to Pointe Reyes Lighthouse or San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge! There is some great hiking in Muir Woods and Mt. Tamalpais if you go this route also. For just relaxing, there is Music in the Park at the Veterans Memorial Park. Fridays at noon. 257-9529.
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Dining Out
Dining Out On A Budget |
Dining out in Napa and Sonoma valleys has become a great culinary experience. Over the past five years or so, many renouned chefs have made the valley their homes, creating one of the highest concentrations of tremendous restautants in the area (excluding San Francisco, of course). Got out and grab a bite to eat - if you can affort it!! Check out the Epicurious site for more information about dining here.
Greystone Culinary Institute of America 2555 Main Street (Route 29) Stu and I have eaten on here before and it is excellent food in such an amazing setting with a cool concept. You know all those wines you will be drinking??? Well, you can actually go out for a 3-hour, 36-mile dinner or brunch on a train excursion through the vineyards where they came from! It is highly recommended if you like scenery when you eat and if you can splurge. The damage? $55.00-$95.00/person. Call the Napa Valley Conference & Visitor's Bureau at (707)226-7459 or call them directly at 1-800-427-4124. You definitely need reservations. Rutherford Grill 1180 Rutherford Rd, Rutherford, CA This restaurant is expensive, but excellent (and it's always very busy). Tra Vigne can be explained simply as the collaboration of Italian and American Innovation, but their food is anything but simple (hey, they grow their own Olive trees for the oil!). The fresh bread and olive oil are scrumptious. It is located right in the heart of the wineries, so it is easy to get to. It is on the right just as your driving from Napa into St. Helena. For dinner, we suggest reservations for sure. Lunch is a toss-up. The ambience here warms one's soul, also. PRICE: Entrées $10 to $18. 1050 Charter Oak Ave. Very delightful place to eat on the run or pick up a picnic. Has a deli-style selection and a wide variety of cheeses, spreads and breads. Muff and Ed highly recommend this place! Red Hen Cantina Mexican Cuisine in California is really good because we are so close to the border. You can find anything here that will satisfy the palate (if you are into Mexican food). When it is hot in the summer, you can sit outside at the cute café. Inexpensive. 5091 St. Helena Highway (707)255-8125 |
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Places to Stay |
Here is the rundown on beautiful expensive and inexpensive places to stay!! Best Western Inn - Offers mini suites and lofts. Good family place, located in downtown Napa, offers cable, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, and A/C. Call 1-800-528-1234 or 707-257-1930. $121-165/night. Wine Valley Lodge - Located near the Napa River, a mission-style lodge, offers pool and complimentary continental breakfast on the weekends. No minimum stay. Very close to The Churchill Manor. $80-92/night. Call 1-800-696-7911 or 707-224-7911. Napa Valley Marriott - A/C, pool and spa, basketball court, tennis courts, fitness center, refrigerators, cribs and rollaway beds available. Call 1-800-228-9290 or 707-253-7433. $159-199/night. (may include breakfast). Cedar Gables Inn (B&B) -Located right behind The Churchill Manor, has 6 rooms. English 1892 Tudor, offers gourmet breakfast, wine and hors d’oeuvres, winding redwood staircases. Call 1-800-309-7969 or 707-224-7969. $129-179/night. If Sat. night is included, it has a 2-night minimum. Highly recommended by the owner of The Churchill Manor. The Hennessey House-1889 Victorian B&B, garden and trellis, sauna, amazing dining room with gourmet breakfast! Call 707-226-3774. 10 rooms. $105-160/night. La Belle Époque- Queen Anne Victorian B&B, 7 rooms. Wine, hors d’oeuvres, and gourmet breakfast, rooms have TV with VCR, videos, phone, can have additional person in rooms. 7 rooms. $135-179/night. Call 1-800-238-8070 or 707-257-2161. Mc Clelland-Priest B&B - Historical, check out www.mcclellandpriest.com, built in 1879, 2-night minimum or Friday only, Jacuzzi. Call 707-224-6875. 3 rooms. Close to The Churchill Manor. $149-189/night. The Old World Inn - 1906 B&B, Jacuzzi, mid-afternoon snacks, cheeses, breads, desserts and gourmet breakfast. A/C, 2-night minimum with Sat. stay. Canopied beds, clawfoot tubs, Swedish architecture. Call 707-257-0112. $110-195/night. 8 rooms. The Blue Violet - Located right next to the Churchill Manor, beautiful Victorian B&B, however too pricey for what you get and they are picky about what nights you stay. Call 707-253-2583. $185-240/night. The Chateau - Located on Solano Ave. (not on map), has restaurant, pool and spa. $115-120/night. Call 1-800-253-NAPA. |
