Winding down in Napa Valley

California really has so much to offer! After two days discovering Yosemite we had booked two nights in the Napa Valley region, famous for its wineries. Apart from Napa Valley there is Sonoma Valley, the latter said to be more relaxed. When doing research we fell for the town Calistoga in the northern part of the Napa Valley, since that particular part is famous not only for wine but also for its thermal activities. Calistoga has lots of hot springs and spas. The speciality for the town is mud bath with volcanic soil from the area. Therefore our first activity upon arrival was a mud bath followed by some soaking in the different temperatured hot springs in “Calistoga Spa hot springs”. It was a wonderful afternoon and for the first time on this trip we had time to actually relax. We ended the day with great Italian, accompanied with excellent red wine ofcourse. Then we slept like babies in our comfortable hotel. Filled with energy for the next day´s activity!

The next day we had booked a self guided tour called “bike & sip”. After being provided bike, helmet and a map with a couple of wineries where we could do wine tasting just by showing our wrist band, of we took. The sun was shining and it was nor desert heat or chilly coastal winds. Just perfect temperature. The instructions we got was to rather bike and spit but we didn´t follow those instructions but enjoyed the great wine throughout the day. At one small winery we decided to have a picknick that we had bought along the way. It was just a lovely day! From the five places we visited I liked “Lava vine” and “Tedeschi” best. That were small, hip places with relaxed tasting atmosphere.