Calistoga Girls Weekend {Advice for planning a trip to Napa Valley with Friends}
Sometimes the best form of “self-care” is a weekend getaway with your girls (yup, a mom-cation is now a thing and important for mental health!). If you are looking to take some time with your friends away from work, your kids and your husband, the small town of Calistoga is one of my favorite Wine Country destinations to check out!
A Calistoga Girls Weekend is just the right mix for everyone.
With its treatments at spas, wine tastings, delicious restaurants, and quaint shops, there's something for everyone in this charming town. And what better way to unwind than by spending time with your best girlfriends?
So pack your bags and head on up to Calistoga for a much-needed break! You won't regret it.
And right now, Calistoga is definitely having their moment with Amy Poehler’s new movie WINE COUNTRY about a group of friends turning 50. I wrote about how you can take a girls’ weekend in Sonoma County for Sonoma Magazine recently, but I also love visiting the town of CALISTOGA!
Visitors and locals alike will love spending time in Napa Valley’s most rustic town.
Where else can you go wine tasting in the daytime, relax by a geothermal mineral pool in the afternoon, and hit the town at night?! Plan a bachelorette party (in fact, this is where I had my own many years ago) or a night with your BFF.
Husbands and kids are allowed also… But sometimes a night away is needed for everyone’s mental health. Just saying…
And just remember - Calistoga girl’s weekends don’t JUST have to be the weekend… You will find the best prices during the week. So even taking a Friday off work and heading to Calistoga on a Thursday night can be the min-staycation you need with friends.
Calistoga Girls Weekend: Your best bet for staying the night
Heated mineral pools are the star of many hotels in Calistoga. The pools are heated from the surrounding natural mineral hot springs that come from the soil. Calistoga is home to many hot springs, which are a popular tourist attraction. The springs are heated by the earth's heat, and are known for their healing properties.
There are numerous benefits to soaking in Calistoga's mineral springs. The minerals in the water can help to detoxify the body, improve circulation, and relieve pain. Soaking in the springs can also be a relaxing and rejuvenating experience.
If you're looking for a unique way to relax and rejuvenate, consider spending some time at one of Calistoga's mineral springs hotels. You'll be glad you did!
Calistoga Spa Hot Springs
This resort is located right in the middle of downtown and has 4 different pools. At night, you and your friends can soak in the whirlpool, which can get as hot as 104°F. During the day, lounge by the Soaking Pool, where it never gets above 100°F. In the morning, you can swim the 80°F Lap Pool… And IF you happen to bring your kids along with you during your girls’ weekend in Calistoga, there is a kids’ pool that isn’t as hot (but, let's be honest... it isn't truly a Calistoga girl’s weekend with your kids).
Calistoga Golden Haven Hot Springs Spa & Resort
Just a bit farther down the road is the Golden Haven resort. I stayed here with high school friends for a bachelorette party last year, and we loved it! Check out their Girlfriends Spa Getaway Package for a mudbath, massage AND a facial. Trust me – getting in a mudbath with a group of your friends will be something you talk about for years to come. The resort also has a main mineral pool and two hotter whirlpools as well. Though, it is all inside, so sunbathing by the pool isn't an option here.
Calistoga Girls Weekend: But first, brunch
Before a day of wine tasting (or to help cure a hangover if that’s your thing), grab brunch at one of the small diners in town. They still have the small town charm, and if you get there early enough you don't have to worry about crowds from tourists.
Cafe Sarafornia
Breakfast is served all day. This is definitely important for those who party late into the night. This place is a traditional diner with a Wine Country twist of seasonal dishes such as Braised Pork Tostada.
Lovina Calistoga
The Calistoga Kitchen just revamped its restaurant and reopened as the Lovina Calistoga. Try the hash of the day paired with a mimosa made by local sparkling wine producer Schramsberg.
Calistoga Girls Weekend: Wine Tasting
Speaking of local wine, Calistoga is home to both large and small wineries for travelers to visit. Take the Calistoga Vine shuttle to go wine tasting. Make sure to hit up Schramsberg for sparkling wine, visit August Briggs Winery right downtown, and stop by Castello di Amorosa if you have never been! Here are a few other suggestions of Wine Country's favorite wineries to visit as well!
Calistoga Girls Weekend: Hitting the town at night
Yes, daytime activities are great. Mud Baths, wine tastings, and lazy days by the pool with friends are the best parts of a Calistoga girls’ weekend. But, after dark…there are a few MUSTS in Calistoga as well.
Susie's Bar
Any good bachelorette party needs at least some dancing, and Susie’s dive bar on Main Street, Calistoga is one of the most fun. While there isn’t a dance floor per se, there is a jukebox…and trust me, most women I know will automatically start dancing any time “Man I Feel Like a Woman!” from Shania Twain comes on. Grab some shots and let loose.
Calistoga Inn Restaurant & Brewery
If you’re a beer fan, thankfully Napa Valley has some great brews for you as well. The restaurant has a great outdoor space (and yummy food), and they have dancing in the bar after all the diners head home.
