Most of what we like to do is drink good wine, eat good food, and hike...so this Things to Do section reflects our tastes! Hike information coming soon.

Calistoga sits at the northern end of Napa Valley. The wineries around Calistoga tend to be smaller and less well-known than the big names in mid-Valley, but they are great places to visit. Most of these wineries are close to Calistoga. They are listed more or less from north to south. There are a lot of people visiting Napa Valley in August, so book your visits to the wineries as soon as you know your travel plans. Check tasting prices—they can be expensive. And check bottle prices on the web before you visit if you think you want to buy wine. Prices can be high! Two wineries a day is enough for most people. Don’t try to book four. There are a lot of tasting rooms in Calistoga, so you can easily taste wine even if you don’t visit any wineries.

Storybook Mountain Vineyards: A family owned and run winery that is best known for its Zinfandel. You will taste in their cave, among the oldest and largest hand dug caves in Napa Valley. Tell Rick and Colleen you are friends of Felicia and Steve.

Jericho Canyon Vineyard: Nestled in a canyon just north of Palisades Vineyard, this is a true family run operation. Great people, great friends. Ask to get a ride on their Polaris for a vineyard tour.

Chateau Montelena: A stone’s throw from Palisades Vineyard, this winery put Napa Valley on the map by winning the 1976 Judgement of Paris (Bottleshock was the movie) with their Chardonnay. It’s an historic site and a great visit. It gets very busy in the summer so make a reservation well in advance.

Vince Arroyo Winery: Virtually across the road from Palisades Vineyard, people love this winery. Very “down home.”

Rivers-Marie: This is the home winery of Thomas Rivers Brown, one of the big names in Napa Valley winemaking. While Thomas is known for his Cabernets, the Pinot Noirs they taste at the winery are probably the best you will taste locally.

Kelly Fleming Winery: Tucked into a canyon just south of our canyon, this is a charming small winery with great Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet. The Sauvignon Blanc is one of our “house” wines in the summer.

Fisher Vineyards: A beautiful new family-run winery just south of Calistoga (though the family has been making wine in Sonoma County since 1973). Beautiful modern facility, great people. Great wines.

Titus Vineyards: Excellent wines in a low-key modern tasting room with a great view of the vineyards along the Napa River.

Larkmead Vineyards: One of the oldest wineries in the north end of the valley, they make great wines in a beautiful setting. While not corporate, it is bigger than a family winery.

Schramsberg Vineyards: Schramsberg, one of the oldest wineries in Napa Valley, is a “champagne" house. Their sparkling wine is served at the White House. They have incredible old caves and their tour is one of the best in the Valley. Book way in advance.

Barnett Vineyards: On top of Spring Mountain above St. Helena, the views from Barnett are stunning. Great wines made by David Tate. Very friendly and down to earth.

Corison Winery: Cathy Corison is a great winemaker and Napa Valley visionary (and in Felicia’s (Scott’s mom’s) monthly wine tasting group). Pam Starr (of Crocker & Starr where Friday night’s party will be held) is too.

Joseph Phelps Vineyards: Large, famous, but a beautiful place to visit. Excellent wines and a great tasting staff. Book well in advance.

Viader Vineyards & Winery: Situated above the valley with great views, this is a family operation that has developed a great reputation for Cabernet.

Seavey Vineyard: A pretty drive and a beautiful location. The Seavey’s are kindred spirits who have taken a historic property and farmed it with care.It’s a very relaxing place to visit away from the crowds.

Tres Sabores: No one is nicer and more “authentic” than Julie Johnson and her staff. Julie is a leader in organic farming in the valley and a great friend of ours. She is passionate about her wine, her animals and her pomegranates.

Robert Biale Vineyard: Biale is a Zinfandel and Petite Sirah specialist and makes among the best wines from these grapes, including a terrific Petite Sirah from our own Palisades Vineyard. He is a good friend as well. If you go, make sure to tell them you’ve come from a wedding at our vineyard.

There are lots of great places to eat in Calistoga and St. Helena. Here are some of the family favorites. Since we’ll be serving food on Friday and /Saturday nights, we’ll start with places for breakfast. Calistoga is small so no need for a car if you are staying in town, Google for directions.

Sam’s General Store: On Wappo just off Lincoln. Sam’s is a charming place for a great coffee, cappuccino, latte, chai, tea (more than 20 drink choices) with a pastry or a breakfast quiche or frittata. They have lovely garden seating that can’t be beat on a lazy sunny morning. To make it more perfect, the inn above the General Store will be occupied by Sara and Scott's friends, so you’ll likely be hanging out with fellow wedding revelers. This place is a little bit of Brooklyn in Calistoga.

Cafe Sarafornia: In the middle of town on Lincoln. Calistoga was founded as a spa town. The town founder marketed the town as “The Saratoga of California”—Calistoga. Left over was “Sarafornia.” Cafe Sarafornia is the classic breakfast spot—lots of egg dishes, pancakes, etc., but with a California vibe. Servings are large. Prices are mid-range—less than $20 for a big breakfast.

Sam’s Social Club: This is the restaurant for the Indian Springs resort and it’s right on Lincoln at the edge of town. A great breakfast menu for those looking for something upscale. Their eggs Benedict is terrific but costs $24. Good for groups wanting a social breakfast.

Bella Bakery: On Lincoln in the center of town. There are a few tables, but mostly this is a take-out bakery. It’s the only bakery in town, but fortunately it’s terrific. They have a wide assortment of pastries, but get there early if you want your pick. They have coffee and espresso drinks too.

The Calistoga Roastery: Main drag. This is the coffee hangout for old-time locals. You’ll recognize the scene. If you want to stir the pot, sit at the big table at the front with the old guys. It’s the “Table of Knowledge.”

House of Better: Lincoln next to Calmart. Looking for a morning Blueberry and Pomegranate Mimosa ($12) or a Spicy Bloody Mary ($12) to drink in an Adirondack chair while you eat your Breakfast Protein Bowl ($18) or Kale and Maitake Omlet ($18)? This is your spot! Lot’s of other moderately-priced choices.

Calistoga Inn: Lincoln Ave. on west end of town. This is our favorite lunch spot on a sunny summer day. It’s a brewery as well as a restaurant with ample outside seating in the sun or shade. Full bar, large menu that will appeal to anyone. Good pizzas, great salads, excellent sandwiches. The salmon cakes are a favorite as well as the Reuben.

Burgers: Sam’s Social Club, Sarafornia, Calistoga Inn.

Solbar or Pico Bar: Both of these choices are at the Solage Resort. Excellent cocktails and great menus. Pico Bar is a poolside bar/retaurant that swings tequila or mezcal for the drinks and high-end tacos and ceviches to help the tequila go down. Solbar has a Asian-Mexican focused menu that rivals high-end NY restaurants. Solbar once had a Michelin star and is working hard to get it back. The fish tacos are fantastic. Expensive, but a treat if you want fine dining.

El Taco Feliz Taco Truck: Best in town is El Taco Feliz on Lake Street at the East end of town. It’s a black truck. Unless you are really into tacos and want t eat them all day, you may want to hold off as Edgar, who owns Tacos Feliz is going to cater the Saturday night dinner with a taco bar.

Sam’s Social Club: Very good lunch with outside seating.

Hydro Bar: Felicia loves the Chile Relleno. Lots of other choices at a ”real" bar. Great prices for Calistoga. No need to dress up!

House of Better: Lincoln next to Calmart. See breakfast above. The brunch menu runs all day. They also serve pizza.

Busters: If you are looking for a late lunch on Sunday and want barbecue, you can try Busters. They have live music. At the way east end of Lincoln Ave. Follow the smoke.

Sushi Mambo: Lincoln across from Indian Springs Resort. Sushi Mambo is a favorite spot for locals for lunch or breakfast. Think excellent sushi (same fish source as the high-end Marimoto in Napa) with a sense of humor and generous quantities. Order off the laminated menu insert and not the traditional menu. You’ll get tons of fish in unique combinations. The Mount Hula Hula is all fish and seaweed. That and one of the irreverent-sounding rolls will fill you up! This could be the best fish for the price that you’ve eaten.

We’ll keep this section short as most of you will be eating at the wedding.

Sushi Mambo: See above. Highly recommended.

Calistoga Inn: Large menu at moderate prices. Good bar.

Lovina: A local favorite at the west end of town on Lincoln.

Sam’s Social Club: Standard American cuisine well done.

Solbar: High-end casual. Expensive. Dine in or outside.

Auro at the Four Seasons: The exclusive restaurant at this world-class resort where Rolls Royce held their worldwide launch of their EV. Auro is intimate and has a tasting menu only. If you want the best and most expensive meal in California prepared by a French Laundry alum, check it out. If you want to spend money, you won’t be disappointed—by the food.

Since most of you are staying in Calistoga, this will only be a list of a few good places to try. Look at Open Table for details.

The Model Bakery. They are famous for the English Muffins that Oprah has declared the best in the world.

Gott’s Roadside: A classic roadside hamburger joint with choices that range from classic old style milkshakes to ahi tuna tacos. A St. Helena institution that won’t let you down.

Farmstead: With an organic farm and cattle ranch, Farmstead is a fabulous farm-to-table restaurant where you can’t go wrong. We especially recommend the steak tartare, the the grilled artichoke (both Felicia’s favorites) and the ribs (Steve’s regular over-indulgence).

Charter Oak: Considered the best happy hour around. Dine as a group in a yurt. Some say the best hamburgers in the Valley.

Market: Classic American restaurant.

Brasswood: A family favorite restaurant and bar that has great food. Ask for the fresh housemade mozzarella!

Cook: Italian dishes and housemade pasta. Will not disappoint. Intimate.

Charlie’s: The new kid on the block. Excellent. Getting rave reviews.

Bistro Jeanty: This Yountville bistro is a Valley mainstay and the family favorite restaurant in the area. Traditional French food done better than anywhere in the Bay Area. The smoked trout and haricots verts are to die for. You can’t go wrong here. You can sit at the bar, drink, eat and watch a French movie (with subtitles). A good way to waste three hours in Napa Valley.

Buchon: A Thomas Keller restaurant in Yountville. Excellent and expensive—but nowhere near as expensive as the French Laundry. Book a reservation well in advance.

Ciccio: A relatively new restaurant in Yountville that is knocking it out off the park. Make a reservation.

R&D Kitchen: Along 29 at the edge of Yountville, the traditional family stop for a fried chicken sandwich when driving from SFO to Calistoga.

Don Giovani: Between Napa and Yountville, Don Giovani is where you go for classic Italian food in Napa Valley. Lots of outdoor seating.

Angele: Another French restaurant that’s in Napa and the place where winemakers and vintners hang out. They describe their cuisine as simple food from the countryside, but don’t be fooled—it’s elegant, classic French fare.

Torc; A great place for dinner in Napa.

Kitchen Door: If you are walking around Napa during the day and want a casual fast lunch that’s surprisingly good, try the Kitchen Door.

The drive from Calistoga to Healdsburg in Sonoma County on 128 through Knight’s Valley and the Alexander Valley is beautiful in the late afternoon. If you go earlier, you can taste wine at many places along the route. In Healdsburg there are great dining option. Here are three of our go-to places

Valette: Classic California cuisine by one of the areas best chefs—Dustin Valette.

Bravas: A Spanish tapas restaurant. Casual. Good drinks. Very nice patio for lunch.

Hazel Hill at the Montage Resort: Expensive but beautiful view from the deck where you can drink or eat. You’ll feel very privileged there if you need a hit of privilege. Expensive, but very relaxing.