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Napa Valley | Activities
| Attractions
 Old
Faithful Geyser of California - Come visit a grand
old show, a spectacular, nature- directed performance. The
stage, walled by thick bamboo and plumed pampas grass, appears
as an innocent pool of shallow water until time for the major
attraction. Uprising steam and bubbling hot water announce
the geyser. Then, while Mount Saint Helena and the craggy
Palisades mountains stand silent as backdrops, Old Faithful
Geyser of California throws a tower of thousands of gallons
of water skyward.
 Rubicon
Estate - founded
as Inglenook in 1880, the historic Rubicon Estate has the
honor of being one of the few remaining family-owned wine
estates of this magnitude in existence. Francis and Eleanor
Coppola purchased the property in 1975, and then spent twenty
years restoring it to its original dimensions by acquiring
the famed Inglenook Chateau and its adjacent vineyards. Today,
Rubicon Estate offers a truly unique VIP guest experience
and a level of elegance and personal attention rarely available
at other wineries. Rubicon, the flagship wine of Rubicon Estate,
reflects the unique terroir of this world-renowned property.
Using only 100% organically-farmed grapes sourced directly
from Estate vineyards, Rubicon has become a role model for
Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon. Rubicon is blended primarily
from Cabernet Sauvignon, which was first planted on the Estate
between 1882 and 1885 by Inglenook founder Captain Gustave
Niebaum. Recently, laboratory analysis verified that the vineyard
clone is indeed the same genetic material as the vines Niebaum
brought back from France in the 1880s. Because the Niebaum
clone - Clone #29 technically speaking - has been continuously
planted here, it is one of California's most historic and
important clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, and totally unique
to Rubicon Estate.
PUBLIC TASTINGS
ORDER ONLINE TOURS 1-800
782-4266 DIRECTIONS
 Sharpsteen
Museum - The Sharpsteen Museum's permanent exhibits
are designed to present the history of
the upper Napa Valley from its pre-history to post World
War I with an emphasis on people and changes brought by the
period of U.S. emigration and development. In addition
to its many historical exhibits, the Museum uses unique
and extraordinarily extensive dioramas to depict Calistoga
during its period as the elegant 1860s Hot Springs resort
developed by pioneer, promoter, publisher, entrepreneur,
and California's first millionaire, Sam Brannan. The Museum
was a project of Ben and Bernice Sharpsteen, who retired to
a ranch near Calistoga which had been acquired by Ben's grandmother
in the 1800s and which today remains in their family. Ben
was an Academy Award-winning animator, producer and director
for Walt Disney Studios, working on many famous Disney projects.
Memorabilia of his career (including one of his Oscars), his
hobby (antique autos) and family history are displayed in
the founders room of the Museum.
 Bothe-Napa
Valley State Park - Located in the heart of the beautiful
Napa Valley wine country, the Park offers camping, picnicking,
swimming, and hiking trails that go through stands of coastal
redwoods as well as forests of Douglas-fir, tanoak, and madrone.
Daytime visitors can enjoy a leisurely stroll in Ritchey Canyon
on the Redwood Trail to view the delicate ferns and listen
to the water splashing down the rocky creekbed. Bring your
wine and cheese and picnic under the towering Douglas Firs.
On hot summer days, grab a swimsuit and towel and come enjoy
a dip in the park's swimming pool open on weekends, beginning
on Memorial Day weekend through mid-June, then daily through
Labor Day, from 12- 6 p.m. There is an additional fee for
the use of the swimming pool, to be paid at the park entrance.
 Bale
Grist Mill - The park is the site of a water-powered
grist mill that was built in 1846. It was once the center
of social activity as Napa Valley settlers gathered to have
their corn and wheat ground into meal or flour. The owner
of the mill was Dr. Edward Turner Bale. He received the property
in a land grant from the Mexican government and lived near
the site until his death in 1849. The mill remained in use
until the early 1900s. The mill and its 36-foot water wheel
are protected as a state historic landmark and have been partially
restored. A trail connects the historic park to Bothe-Napa
Valley State Park. Additionally, the park includes the site
of the first church in the Napa Valley as well as the Pioneer
Cemetery. Visitors can hike from the mill on the historic
trail to Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, which features extensive
picnic facilities and a number of trails. The round trip hike
from Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park to Bothe-Napa Valley
State Park is approximately two miles.
 di
Rosa Preserve
- The current di Rosa Preserve is a portion of the original
460 acres of land purchased by Rene di Rosa in 1960. Vineyards
were established in 1855, but the land and building had fallen
into disuse. Phylloxera in the late 19th Century and Prohibition
in the 20th Century did away with the vineyards, and the 1886
stone winery was used for making moonshine, growing mushrooms,
storing grain and hay, and milling. After Rene di Rosa purchased
the acreage, the stone winery was converted into a home and
the land turned from dairy cattle to grapes once again. In
1963, Winery Lake Vineyards was established. Vines eventually
covered some 250 acres and through the years the quality fruit
was sought by over 50 wineries. Seagram purchased the famed
Winery Lake Vineyard in 1986.
 Elmshaven
- This stately country Victorian residence -- known since
1900 as Elmshaven -- was built in 1885 by railroad developer
and executive Robert H. Pratt and served as a vacation home
to the Pratt family until 1900. Ellen G. White, one of the
founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, purchased the
home in 1900 and lived here until her death in 1915. During
her life, White wrote about 60 religious books, including
nine volumes she penned in the upper writing room at Elmshaven.
Today, the home is furnished much as it was when Ellen White
lived and worked here. In fact, many of the furnishings belonged
to her, and still sit where she placed them. Elmshaven is
owned and maintained by the Seventh-day Adventist Church,
but is open to the public. Whether you are interested in architecture,
antiques, church history, or just want to see how some people
lived 100 years ago, you are welcome to enjoy the peaceful
environment of Elmshaven.
 Calpine
Geothermal Visitor Center - In the Mayacamas Mountains,
located 72 miles north of San Francisco, naturally occurring
steam field reservoirs below the earth's surface are being
harnessed by Calpine to make clean, green, renewable energy
for homes and businesses across Northern California. The Geysers,
comprising 30 square miles along the Sonoma and Lake County
border, is the largest complex of geothermal power plants
in the world. Calpine owns and operates 19 of the 21 power
plants at The Geysers with a net generating capacity of about
750 megawatts of electricity - enough to power 750,000 homes,
or a city the size of San Francisco.The Geysers satisfies
nearly 60 percent of the average electricity demand in the
North Coast region from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon
border. The Geysers is one of the most reliable energy sources
in California delivering extremely high availability and on-line
performance and accounts for one-fourth of the green power
produced in California.
 Guided
River Cruise on the Napa River - After a long
day of wine tasting, take a relaxing cruise on the Napa River
aboard the electric-motor launches at Napa River Adventures.
Hear about the history of the Napa Valley and see the plentiful
wildlife throughout this two-hour guided cruise. Bring a picnic
and a bottle of wine to enjoy along the way. This is a special
trip not to be missed!
 Napa
Valley Opera House - The
Napa Valley Opera House was built in 1879 as one of the first
"respectable" venues west of the Mississippi River.
For the latter half of the 19th century, the Napa Valley Opera
House was the cultural center for the region, until the decline
of vaudeville and other pressures forced it to go dark in
1914.The house was nearly destroyed until a few Napa Valley
Opera House devotees spared it from the wrecking ball in the
early 1970s.For the last 15 years, the NVOH has been slowly
restoring itself for a new future through a series of fundraising
challenges, construction activities and visionary plans. The
house came back to life in June 2002 with the opening of the
Cafe Theatre; its historic main hall is expected to reopen
in late summer, 2003, in all of its original splendor.
 Petrified
Forest - Step back in Time, over 3 million years,
and follow the trail of majestic petrified redwood giants
arrayed before you in a fascinating grove in beautiful California
wine country. Take a guided walking tour of the Petrified
Forest's spectacular upper meadow with Naturalist David Storck.
During the 1/2 mile round trip tour, David will explain the
volcanic activity and petrification of the forest. Guests
will see a 100 foot-high Ash Fall which contains deposits
of volcanic material, such as tuff, pumice, iron, petrified
wood chunks and obsidian. Guests will also see rare native
wildflowers, live oaks, madrone and manzanita trees, and a
scenic overview of Mt. St. Helena.
 Napa
Valley Museum
- The Napa Valley Museum is dedicated to promoting the cultural
and environmental heritage of the Napa Valley. Our special,
changing exhibits represent a diverse range of subjects from
fine arts to history to natural sciences. We are committed
to presenting exhibits that will entertain and educate our
local community and visitors from around the world.
Calistoga Depot - Built in 1868, the second oldest
depot in California. Listed under the National Register for
historic buildings. Now includes six restored railcars housing
historical exhibits and retail shops. In town at 1458 Lincoln
Avenue.
Sam Brannon Cottage - The only cottage still on its
orginal site, at 106 Wapoo Avenue. Architecture differs from
other two cottages in Calistoga (at Sharpsteen Museum and
on Cedar Street) with wrap-around porch. Huge palm in front
was planted when the house was first built.
Robert
Louis Stevenson State Park - Inspiration for Stevenson's
"The Silverado Squatters," the story of his stay
in Calistoga in 1880. Trail to the top of Mount St. Helena
provides unsurpassed views of the Napa Valley. No facilities.
Eight miles north off Highway 29 to Lake County. 707-942-4575.
Napa
Valley Wine Train, Inc.
- A 3-hour, 36 mile, excursion from the historic town of Napa
through one of the world's most famous wine valleys to the
quaint village of St. Helena and return. Government regulations
do not permit the train to stop or disembark passengers enroute,
except at designated stops or stations. Guests enjoy the freshest
and finest ingredients available prepared on board in a classic
continental style with California overtones.
Marshall's
Farm Honey -
We At Marshall's Farm have a hand-crafted
approach to traditional honey production. Our Beekeeper Spencer
Marshall Harvests small quantities of superior quality gourmet
honey in the very special microclimates of the San Francisco
Bay Area. Spencer searches out locations that support only
a few hives but produce exceptional tasting honeys. The diverse
& constantly changing seasonal blooms of the Bay Area
(Eucalyptus, Star Thistle, Wildflower, Blackberry & others)
produce floral nectars & pollens that differ greatly in
taste, texture & color. Spencer harvests after each bloom,
isolates the honey harvested from each apiary & thus creates
the special flavor nuances & wonderful color variations
in Marshall's Farm delectably delicious honey.
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