Hotel at a Glance: Calistoga Inn Restaurant & Brewery

There are few spots as serene as California wine country, and the 132-year-old Calistoga Inn Restaurant & Brewery fits right in. Set along the banks of the Napa River, the inn—lauded by Bon Appétit as 1 of the country’s top 10 hotels for beer lovers—houses a microbrewery that stays open year round. 

Stationed on the second floor, the inn’s 17 guest rooms have shared baths—showers and restrooms are located down the hall—and are adorned with white wood-frame beds and pedestal sinks. The rooms have neither phones nor televisions, leaving you with more of the peace and quiet needed to construct origami swans from the bedsheets.

• Surf ‘n’ turf: Use your $20 dining credit toward a dinner of steak, mussels, salmon, and more at the onsite restaurant.
• Napa Valley Brewing Company: Enjoy an included tasting of Calistoga wheat ales or seasonal brews at the onsite brewery.
• August Briggs Winery: Sample pinot blanc and zinfandel with your included tasting.

Calistoga, California: Down-to-Earth Hamlet in Northern Napa Valley

The story goes like this: 19th-century developer Samuel Brannan wanted to create a West Coast version of Saratoga Springs (renowned at the time for its mineral spas), but he had been drinking when he made the announcement and so the name came out garbled as the “Calistoga of Sarifornia.” This origin myth sounds a little fishy, but nevertheless, Brannan’s vision of creating a relaxing-and-therapeutic Napa Valley getaway was eventually realized. Thanks to the area’s natural hot springs, a slew of spas sprang up, offering restorative mineral soaks and mud baths. You can still find many such businesses peppered among the restaurants, boutiques, and art galleries lining Calistoga’s quiet main street, which is set against a backdrop of rolling hills.

Those hills are home to some of Napa Valley’s more than 400 wineries, many of which lie within a short drive of downtown Calistoga. The curious wine lover can choose from an array of vineyard experiences, ranging from tours to tastings at wineries modeled on English castles and Tuscan villas. One word of warning: many of these places require reservations, so be sure to book in advance.