The Napa Valley, which appears to get extra lavish with every passing 12 months, will not be the primary place that involves thoughts once you consider touring together with your youngsters. But it surely must be, particularly should you stay within the Bay Space and are searching for a staycation that may please everybody. It’s simple to get to, but it feels distant in all one of the best methods. I simply spent 4 days and three nights with my eight-year-old daughter in Napa — each the county (Calistoga, to be exact) and the city of Napa itself. It was the proper antidote to our Bay Space rut, which has been inscribed largely by the pandemic. The Napa Valley presents limitless out of doors actions, kid-friendly wineries, vacation spot eating places, and artistic purchasing, all with a watch towards Covid-safety and laid-back enjoyable.
Indian Springs Calistoga has a geyser-fed Olympic-size mineral pool.
A 4-Day Napa Valley Itinerary With Youngsters
Day 1
There are a lot of methods to slice and cube a couple of days within the Valley with youngsters in tow. My daughter likes to swim and store — and he or she loves oysters — so we organized our journey round these sorts of actions. We set out for Calistoga, on the northern tip of Napa Valley, recognized for its geyser-fed sizzling springs. And there’s no extra good spot to take the waters than Indian Springs Calistoga. With an Olympic-size mineral pool fed onsite geysers whose steam is seen from a number of components of the property, this is a perfect winter vacation spot. Our first morning there, it was 28 levels outdoors, and the pool (whose temperature fluctuates naturally) was 101 levels. It’s no shock the place we spent most of our day.
Mustard season within the Napa Valley is in late winter, early spring.
Lodging vary from two-bedroom cabins with kitchens to massive double rooms. Sam’s Social Membership restaurant does an excellent job with selfmade pastas, every day fish specials, and the requisite pizzas and burgers. Youngsters can feed the chickens, play croquet and badminton, and heat up by the hearth pits after being coaxed out of the pool.
Day 2
Cruiser bikes can be found freed from cost to visitors.
We grabbed bikes (freed from cost to visitors) and cruised into city — simply two blocks to the principle drag — and picked up some provisions for a picnic later within the day. We visited three of probably the most kid-friendly wineries within the space: Castello di Amorosa, whose fortress was constructed with households in thoughts, has goats, pigs, and non-alcoholic grape juice for the youngsters when you style by way of the in depth wine choices (surprisingly, not simply Napa Cab, but additionally very nice Pinots from Anderson Valley and the Sonoma Coast. Take residence some goodies and a few extra-virgin olive oil from Morning Dew Ranch.
One of many many ornate and meticulously detailed areas of the Castello di Amorosa.
We had our picnic at Pope Valley Winery, a fab gem of a spot off the overwhelmed path the place you possibly can whereas away a day exploring the grounds. Don’t miss the Sangiovese glowing wine or the wonderful nonetheless model of this Italian grape that’s vinified in a properly restrained fashion. Then, we performed bocce, the sport that’s all of the retro rage within the Valley, it appears.
An previous barrel room at Pope Valley Vineyard with signage unique to the property.
We returned to Indian Springs within the afternoon for a warming swim, then had a stunning meal at Picobar, a brand new hotspot at Solage by Chef Gustavo Rios. Learn the complete assessment right here.
Day 3
Earlier than we headed again all the way down to Napa city, we had a carb-fest breakfast of churros and sizzling chocolate (effectively, one in all us did). We have been searching for some heat winter youngsters’ garments, and we discovered a number of good gross sales at each Cupcake and Lemondrops, two downtown outlets inside strolling distance of just about wherever in Napa. Then, we hightailed it to Hog Island Oyster Co. in Oxbow Public Market to get there earlier than the road acquired too lengthy.
Having an oyster lunch at Hog Island in Oxbow Public Market.
We checked into our resort, the stunning, understated River Terrace Inn, set throughout the bridge from downtown and proper on the Napa River. It’s a reasonably priced boutique property with targeted and private service and a mellow vibe — and it’s inside strolling distance of every part in Napa city. The bogs have deep soaking tubs — a rarity, as of late — and our massive king room had a pullout sofa and a small terrace overlooking the river.
A view of the Napa River from our River Terrace Inn room.
The onsite restaurant, Alba, does an ideal job of bridging the hole between grownup and child palates with dishes starting from smoked hamachi crudo to tomato soup with fiscalini cheddar cheese sticks. River Terrace Inn is ideally located for a weekend getaway with out breaking the financial institution.
Tomato soup with fiscalini cheddar cheese sticks at Alba.
Day 4
After an skilled Mama-daughter pedicure at Orchid Nail Spa, in a strip mall on Trancas St., we feasted at Gott’s Roadside, one of the best quick meals for miles. Greater than only a nice burger joint (which it is also), Gott’s has “Unimaginable” hen nuggets, an addictive Vietnamese hen salad, and poke tacos to die for. This a one-stop-shop for everybody in your occasion, proper all the way down to Pliny the Elder beer and natural milkshakes. (You realize who you might be.)
The addictive Vietnamese hen salad at Gott’s Roadside in Napa.
After one final swing by way of Oxbow for some cookies to take residence, we drove again to Berkeley — and hour, on the nostril — blissful, relaxed, recharged, and satiated.