Photo credit: eLjeProks (CC) Famous for its hot springs and namesake bottled water, dog-friendly Calistoga is a relaxing but lively destination at the north end of the Napa Valley, also reached by a short drive from nearby Santa Rosa. DogTrekkers will be happy to discover a wealth of wineries whose staffs won’t blink when four-legged guests walk in the door.
Read more.Exploring napa’s ‘ghost wineries’
Photo credit: lizzie1326 (CC)
Visit Napa Valley midweek or in fall/winter, and you’ll have an experience much different than on high-season weekends. And there’s no shortage of wineries that welcome four-legged visitors. With Halloween coming up, why not theme a day to the valley’s “ghost wineries,” a term given to a handful of resurrected facilities built between 1860 and 1900, before disease, Prohibition and the Great Depression decimated the valley’s early wine-grape industry?
Delightfully secluded at the end of a long, winding drive off the Silverado Trail, Regusci charms with a wine cellar made of buttery stone and dating to 1878. The dog-friendly tasting room next door is elegantly modern. You and Fido are welcome to belly up to the bar or picnic on the shaded grounds. Read more.
Calistoga on a leash
I Love Calistoga art. Photo by Tim Carl.
A welcoming destination with a rich history, the charming town of Calistoga caps the far north end of the Napa alley like a cork in a bottle. Recently named one of the ten best small towns in America by Fodors Travel, Calistoga encourages visitors to stay a little longer, with small-town ambience, dog-friendly dining and lodging options, the walkability factor and the many wineries that roll out the red carpet for you and your best friend.
Read more.Bark for bocce
Gold Rush entrepreneur Sam Brannan founded Calistoga with the intent of harnessing its hot springs and making it the "Saratoga of California." In one of California history's most oft-quoted slips of the tongue, he famously uttered the words "Calistoga of Sarifornia" instead. People still come here for the hot springs and mud baths, but we bet your pooch can find plenty of mud on his own. Might we suggest a winery visit instead? Read more.
