Great Escape: Calistoga in Wine Country

Calistoga, famous for its rejuvenating and purifying volcanic hot springs, is a charming town located at the north end of the Napa Valley, in California’s Wine Country. Boasting an erupting geothermal geyser, the oldest surviving railroad depot in California, and a history going back to the 1860s, Calistoga has been a romantic and fun getaway for decades.

Calistoga’s main street of shops, restaurants and mud bath spas is on Lincoln Avenue, where unique gift, art, book and jewelry stores are interwoven with tasting rooms, clothing boutiques and great restaurants.

The city is celebrating its 125th anniversary and is holding many honorary events, including a big birthday-party blowout at 12 noon, Saturday, July 16, at Sharpsteen Museum Plaza, on Washington St. in Calistoga. There will be live music, food, party activities and wine from Calistoga's wineries.  Call 707-942-6333 for more information about the birthday party.

Eat at Calistoga’s Boskos Trattoria, 1364 Lincoln Ave., a restaurant with a simple setting and spectacular Italian food. Going back to its beginning in the early 1980s, Boskos first opened across the street from its present location. Now situated in a building built in 1888 from sandstone quarried along the Silverado Trail, Boskos is famous for its fresh pasta dishes like Piacere! and Linguini Cefalu, and Nepolatana-styled pizza. The restaurant features a dessert menu that includes tiramisu, gelato, torte, cheesecake, and dessert wines.  Call Boskos at 707-942-9088 for more information. 

Sleep at Calistoga’s Cottage Grove Inn, 1711 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga, a luxurious and private cottage resort. In addition to a private porch, Cottage Grove offers a massage menu for individual or couples therapy in your room. Special packages are available throughout the year. The inn features complimentary bicycles for your own self-guided tour along scenic roads and pathways. Call 707-942-8400 or email innkeeper@cottagegrove.com for Cottage Grove Inn reservations, or book online.   

Visit and sample the wineries of Calistoga by downloading and printing the Calistoga Winery Map. Call 707-942-6333 for more information about the wineries.