The heading is Napa (for the Valley), but we are interested in Calistoga, really.  Calistoga is a mixture of the old spas (just motel rooms and mud) and the highly-yuppified/upscaled response to the popularity of this area over the past twenty years.

Being at the north end of the valley, there's less through-traffic here, and finding a quiet destination brings the area back to something that works for us.

PROPERTY	PINE STREET INN
ADDRESS	1202 PINE STREET -- CALISTOGA, CA  94515
TELEPHONE	707.942.6829
WEB	www.eurospa.com

NOTE:  It is very possible that by this writing, the property has changed its name and telephone number. 

WHEN TO GO AND HOW TO GET THERE:

• The property is located at the intersection of Myrtle and Pine, one block off Foothill Boulevard.
• Avoid the high tourist season

MAPQUEST: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?city=calistoga&state=CA&address=1202+pine+street&zip=94515&country=us&level=2

There are, of course, numerous alternative accommodations here -- some of which may even be of MudHole caliber.  We simply have no experience with them.

Wineries are, of course, too numerous to address in detail. Two particular favorites:

• Clos Pegase for the Michael Graves' architecture
• Sterling Vineyards for the tram ride

While wine-tasting outings can be enjoyable, don't pursue them for bargains.  The wines that most of us buy can be found cheaper at the grocery store.

The glider ride was one of the high-points of our most recent trip.  If you are taking the ride with your significant other, however -- both of you had better be pretty compact, as the cockpit is quite small.

The Mud Baths.  For the uninitiated, let's describe the differences:

• A Fango Mud Bath goes like this:  you hop in a normal bathtub full of hot water and the attendant dumps in a hand-full of clay.  That's it.
• A Real Mud Bath goes like this:  you sit on top of a concrete tub full of hot mud and wiggle your way down into it.  When you're done, the attendant has to help drag you out of the mud due to the suction.  By this time, you have mud lodged in each and every orifice; the attendant brings in a firehose and hoses away what she can.  This is not an event for those with low self-esteem.  Our choice for this was Golden Haven Hot Springs, but there are many others.

RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATIONS

(NONE CURRENT)

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