Calistoga - California

Calistoga, California

Calistoga is in the Napa Valley and its vineyards are south of town. Western-style covered sidewalks lead you to a wide variety of restaurants, cafes and shops that exist only there. It has been a fight to keep the place free of franchises but success has resulted in a genuinely unique experience.

Although taking wine tours in vineyards, soaking in rejuvenating mud, shopping and fine dining may smack of the sweet life, there are also more rustic pleasures available. A rigourous hike can be taken in Robert Louis Stevenson State Park up to the small cottage which was all he could initially afford to build, shortly after his marriage. For a more gentle activity, try biking along the Silverado Trail which runs along the east side of the Napa Valley among vineyards. The view is scenic and the terrain is flat.

A possibly true story accounting for the name tells that the town's founder, Sam Brannan, was comparing its spas to the Saratoga spa in New York State. Under the influence of several drinks, Brannan's intended comment, the Saratoga or California emerged as the Calistoga of Sarafornia. The accidentally coined name persisted.

mineralized mud spas
many vineyards, all different
sky tram
ancient California oak trees
volcanic cave exploration
Old Faithful Geyser
petrified redwood forest
Sharpsteen Museum
Robert Louis Stevenson State Park
Silverado Trail