“Clean and comfortable in Calistoga”
While not the fanciest hotel, this hotel was clean and comfortable, and a great value. A short 2 block walk from downtown and restaurants. Good continental breakfast, and the staff were very friendly. We purchased wine from some of the local wineries during our visit, and the front desk held our wine for us to pick up later after we checked out so it didn't have to cook in the car.
Area recommendations
Take the short walk to downtown Calistoga. Plenty of shops and dining options. For wine tasting, go east 1/2 mile east to Silverado Trail and then south on Silverado Trail. Wineries start popping up immediately. Lava Vine Winery was a fun visit.
When to go
Wineries are packed (SRO) on the weekends. We went Monday through Wednesday and missed the crouds.
Getting around
A designated driver is a must if you or someone in you party will be tasting. Narrow, winding roads and wine don't mix. Make sure to take plenty of snacks and water to balance out your wine consumption.
For wine tasting, there are too many tasting rooms to choose from, so pick up one of the free winery guides that you find everywhere and start making your list. The guides will tell you the winery hours, tasting fees, and if an appointment is required. Most guides also have a map to the different wineries. In all reality, you probably won't be able to visit more than 3 to 5 wineries in a day as most close between 4:30 pm and 6:00 pm.
What to pack
Make sure you take a cooler or ice chest to keep your wine from cooking in your trunk while you go from winery to winery. We pick up a cheap one ($5) at the Cal-Mart in downtown Calistoga.
Must see
Visit Sterling Winery and ride the tram ($25 per person but well worth it). If you visit Rombauer, make sure to walk through the gardens.
Family-friendly activities
Make time to visit Safari West for the Safari Vehicle Tour. This is a great reward for the kids if they didn't have fun visiting wineries.
