24 hours in napa: where to sweat, eat and stay
Located a little more than an hour north of San Francisco, Napa Valley is one of California’s most coveted destinations. Following a multi-million dollar revitalization project with a sparkling, new riverfront, Downtown Napa is booming—yes, arguably even more so in the wake of summer’s earthquake—with a handful of restaurants headed up by celebrity chefs, a massive public market-gone-emporium filled with artisans and specialty food purveyors, a crop of new hotels and spas, and a long line of wine tasting rooms, wineries, and even a wine train that winds through the region. Yet, luxury and even wine aside, the valley’s warm climate and scenic backdrop makes it an outdoor mecca for cycling, running (the annual Napa Valley Marathon happens each March), and yoga. Here’s the rundown of the area’s best spots to sweat, eat and sleep.
Napa has plenty of lodging options from idyllic bed-and-breakfasts like The Poetry Inn in Yountville (guestrooms named for iconic poets), to clean-lined resorts like Solage Calistoga, which is replete with complimentary cruiser bikes, in-room yoga mats, and a spa with geo-thermal soaking pools. Situated on 250 acres, the 85-room Meadowood Napa Valley has launched a “Healthiest Year Yet” program that includes a fitness assessment, a personalized 90-minute eco-fitness class using the grounds as an outdoor gym with circuit training, hill sprints, push-ups, and stretching, followed by a fresh juice with veggies and fruit plucked from the on-site gardens.
Carneros Inn comes complete with 86 cottages outfitted with fireplaces, outdoor showers, and patios with rocking chairs. Go for a spin to a nearby winery or picnic spot on a new fleet of custom, orange-hued bikes by San Francisco–based cycling company, Public, or take in the view of nearby mountains and wildflowers while lounging by the pool. On weekends, gear up for a complimentary yoga class, boot camp with assigned stations around the resort, or a guided vineyard walk or run.
Napa is home to more than 40 public parks. Alston Park, popular among locals, is 157-dog-friendly-acres ideal for hikers and mountain bikers, and offers views of neighbouring vineyards, a creek, and plum orchards. For quiet meditation and gentle stretching, drop in for a class at Rev Yoga Napa ($16). At the newly opened Dailey Method, channel your inner ballerina and work on core conditioning using correct posture with barre exercises ($20).
For lunch, don’t miss Oxbow Public Market, 40,000-square-feet stocked with eateries from cupcake purveyors to butcher shops, and retail stores with one-of-a-kind wares. Newcomers include Cate & Co., a gluten-free bakery with a selection of breads, lactose-free cinnamon buns, macaroons, and mini carrot cakes, and Napa Valley Distillery with artisan cocktail bitters and syrups and craft spirits like vodka made with locally-grown grapes. About 20 minutes north in St. Helena, Archetype is a mainstay with a resort-like vibe and an outdoor patio. The light and airy bistro, designed by famed architect Howard Backen (the dining room earned “10 Most Beautifully Designed” by Architectural Digest), serves everything from California avocado with nasturtium dressing and corn frittets to its take on a Clubhouse Sandwich using smoked salmon, boursin cheese and pickled cucumbers.
Inside the cozy, tavern-like eatery at Goose & Gander, make a pit stop for happy hour (think: buck-a-shuck oysters on Wednesday and Thursday nights). Appointed with leather banquettes, a wooden-clad ceiling, and exposed brick walls, sidle up to the bar for cocktails like the Cucumber Collins with cucumber vodka, yuzu, lemon, huckleberries and seltzer.
For hand-crafted cocktails in a saloon-inspired setting with taxidermy and chalkboard menus, check out Fagiani’s Bar at The Thomas. Housed in a historic brick building in St. Helena, the former Prohibition-era speakeasy offers inventive drinks from the Old Pimm’s Cup with housemade limoncello, vodka, strawberry, and ginger beer, to the Clover Leaf with Fords gin, raspberry, mint, and egg white.
Jennie Nunn is a professional writer and traveller who has lived in SF for 11 years. She is a former full-time editor at magazines including Sunset, 7×7, and California Home Design.
