Place to stay in St. Helena, CA

[jhg41977]

We are traveling, with friends, to St Helena, CA in late June this year. Looking for great places to eat while there, a nice place to stay and of course any Porsche events Not on a 'budget' but not free for all throwing money around either. Hotel/B&B $200 a night, dinner under $50 each without alcohol. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Jim

[trekkor]

I'll report back a little later today.


KT

[ros74911]

Hi, Jim. As for staying in the area. I usually do search on website i.e. Tripadvisor.com or search b&b in Napa area. You can get a better deal. Some offer spa package. Places to eat... Mustards (known for porkchop), Bix, Buchon, Travigne, Greystone Culinary, of course, make reservation and I forgot the name of famous BBQ place(cheap eats). It's along the main highway 29.

[Steve Carlton]

Just a thought... Calistoga is not far away and is well worth seeing. I've stayed at Indian Springs and can highly recommend it. Really cool little duet cottages there.

[Tobra]

What is your budget? You can't go wrong with Domaine Chandon for lunch. Nice little courtyard, great food

[Rick Lee]

IMHO St. Helena was long a well-kept secret and it's now totally out and way overcrowded. I was there in Oct. and even on a Tuesday, it was just hard to walk around. I had been to Calistoga a few times before, but it really grew on me this time. It seems to be a place that a lot of folks miss because they turn around after St. Helena. Even Sonoma was just crazy crowded. I ended up staying in Santa Rosa and being pleasantly surprised by it. The winding road there from Calistoga is quite a trip.

[jhg41977]

Thanks for all your input. We were told by a friend that lives in the area that Helena was a great relaxing spot to go visit. Sounds like it may be a bit busy though. Our budget is not strict, but we try to keep things reasonable. Dinner for two without alcohol around $75-100 and lodging under $200 a night is our typical 'budget goal' for traveling.

I checked out Indian Springs and it loks nice. How busy is it? I prefer low key lodgings, more on the B&B side of things. As long as it is quiet and comfortable, we are happy.

We are going to stay in San Fransisco the night we arrive, head to Napa area and St Helena for a few days, then up to see the Redwoods (not the portion of the trip I am planning) and then back to San Fransisco. So we also need a recomendation for a Hotel/B&B in SF as well.

Thanks!
Jim

[trekkor]

The 'Christophers Inn' just before you get to Calistoga is nice.

The 'Churchill Manor' in Napa's Old Town is my high pick.
Talk to Brian or JoAnna. Request room #11.

I would visit St Helena during your day trip on week days. The traffic on Highway 29 is AWFUL on the weekends.

Visit V. Sattui Winery, Dean and DeLuca gourmet store. The Main street area has some interesting little shops.

I think you have a better time in Calistoga. If you go to Calistoga, visit the Vincent Arroyo winery. Tell them Trekkor sent you and try the Merlot.

There is a fantastic BBQ restaurant right at 29 and Lincoln. They have a hot BBQ sauce.
Get it 'on the side'. Don't try and be a hero. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Porsche events: there is a PCA a/x in Santa Rosa on the 21st of June.
I'll check the Infineon Raceway website and report back if there are any events of interest going on.

How long will you be in town. There's quite abit to do in the Napa/Sonoma Valleys.
I know lots of cool places to go.

In Napa: Artessa Winery, Copia, Wine Train, Downtown Joe's...

Hope this is a start.


KT

[Don Plumley]

If you gotta do Napa, lunch at Bouchon in Yountville.

For my $, I'd stay in Healdsburg. http://www.staysonoma.com/

Other places to eat:
Bistro Jeanty
Taylor's Automatic Refresher (burgers)
Bistro Ralph (Healdsburg)

[buttjoint]

We stay at the roman spa in calistoga, Not anything special other than the fact they have grills in the courtyard that you can grill on at night. Add a couple bottles of your favorite wine= Heaven

[Steve Carlton]

Originally Posted by jhg41977

I checked out Indian Springs and it loks nice. How busy is it? I prefer low key lodgings, more on the B&B side of things. As long as it is quiet and comfortable, we are happy.

We are going to stay in San Fransisco the night we arrive, head to Napa area and St Helena for a few days, then up to see the Redwoods (not the portion of the trip I am planning) and then back to San Fransisco. So we also need a recomendation for a Hotel/B&B in SF as well.

Thanks!
Jim

It's been a long time since I stayed there, so I couldn't say how busy it would be. It's walking distance to town, where there's a lot of cool shops, restaurants, and spas. I'd recommend a mud bath, if you've never tried it. Just plan on vegging afterwards. And there's plenty of conventional spa deals, too. Get a massage for sure. Some ideas:
http://juliuscastle.com/
http://www.calistogainn.com/
http://www.goldenhaven.com/
http://www.lincolnavenuespa.com/
http://www.travignerestaurant.com/
http://www.frenchlaundry.com/
http://www.mustardsgrill.com/ (I'm pretty sure about this)

[K. Roman]

Why did no one mention Taylor's automatic Refresher?

It's a great fast food joint opened in '48
http://www.taylorsrefresher.com/

[Stanley]

Originally Posted by trekkor

There is a fantastic BBQ restaurant right at 29 and Lincoln. They have a hot BBQ sauce.
Get it 'on the side'. Don't try and be a hero. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

I believe this is the place, It was just written up in the local paper's online food section: http://biteclub.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=738548&mode=

Also mentioned by Trekkor is the Sattui Winery. If you are in the area this is a can't miss attraction. The place is simply incredible, a tour takes around 2 hours. http://www.castellodiamorosa.com/

[trekkor]

Why did no one mention Taylor's automatic Refresher?

Don did.

I thought about it, but it's really nothing special, if you ask me.
Crowded, overpriced and comparable to 'In-n-Out'.

You'd enjoy a meal from 'Sunshine Market' better. They have quite a nice deli and ready to eat hot and cold selections.


KT

[trekkor]

Yep, that's the place. "Buster's".

That's funny. The writer of that article used the exact same phrase that I did.
'Don't try and be a hero'.

It's true. I tried to 'pretend' it wasn't that hot in front of friends.
Ha ha...Punishing.




KT

[Rick Lee]

V. Sattui was always my favorite winery. In years past, it was never crowded. Last time there I had to wait in line to get into the parking area and it was tough to even get a tasting and then find a table out front to eat. Weekends there must be impossible nowadays.

[trekkor]

I had heard that Napa Valley is second to Disneyland as a California tourism destination.

It's so spread out with somany things to do, I gues I just don't notice it much.
Then again, I don't go 'Up Valley' on weekends or holidays either.


KT

[cantdrv55]

+1 for Bistro Jeanty. I never thought I'd enjoy chicken gizzards but, apparently, it's a French Country cuisine favorite.

[cantdrv55]

Has anyone eaten at CIA? I'd like to try it out some day.

[trekkor]

OK... As far as track stuff at Infineon Raceway goes, June 20-22 is THE MOST INSANE WEEKEND AT THE TRACK!!!

Unless you are a NASCAR fan, stay away, I repeat stay far away from South Sonoma.
It is THE LARGEST spectator event in California.

They start posting automatic road-side display signs a month in advance reminding everyone to take alternate routes and expect delays.

"They" arrive late Wednesday or early Thursday and camp/party 'til Sunday night/Monday morning. 100's of thousands come for this race ( SaveMart 250 ).
They bus them in from nine counties.

http://www.infineonraceway.com/schedule/major_events/nascar/


KT