The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone inhabits a castle-like building.
St. Helena, Calif.: Weekender
In the heart of California’s Napa wine country, you can shop for a tiara, create your own wine, join a cooking class, and eat in world-class restaurants.
IF YOU'RE GOING...
Area code is 707 except as noted.
to do
Health Spa Napa Valley Massages, yam and pumpkin peels, and other treatments. 1030 Main St., 967-8800, napavalleyspa.com. Silverado Museum A world-class Robert Louis Stevenson collection that includes the author’s toy soldiers. 1490 Library Ln., 963-3757, silveradomuseum.org. St. Helena Cyclery Carbon-fiber road bike rentals and regional biking info. 1156 Main St., 963-7736, sthelenacyclery.com.
Shopping
Baksheesh A gift shop with fair-trade goods such as throws made from old saris and Kenyan stone sculptures. 1327 Main St., 968-9182, baksheeshfairtrade.com. Culinary Institute of America at Greystone Chef demos, classes, a corkscrew museum, and a shop selling Himalayan pink salt and 1,700 different cookbook titles. 2555 Main St., 967-2309, ciastore.com. Napa Valley Olive Oil Extra-virgin olive oil bottled and sold. 835 Charter Oak Ave., 963-4173. Patina A Victorian diamond tiara, art deco rings, and other estate jewelry. 1342 Main St., 963-5445, patinajewelry.com.
Unusual Sips
Charbay Winery & Distillery Cabernet, ruby port, pomegranate dessert wine, and green tea aperitif. 4001 Spring Mountain Rd., 963-9327, charbay.com. Charter Oak Winery Zinfandel, petite sirah, and cabernet sauvignon. 831 Charter Oak Ave., 963-2298, charteroakwine.com. Conn Creek Winery Create a bottle of your own bordeaux-style blend. 8711 Silverado Trail, (800) 793-7960, conncreek.com.
eats
Cook St. Helena California-inspired Northern Italian fare such as mussels steamed in spicy tomato broth. 1310 Main St., 963-7088, cooksthelena.com. Farmstead Restaurant Farmhouse food (try the grass-fed beef). 738 Main St., 963-9181, farmsteadnapa.com. Model Bakery Breakfast pastries, cookies, and lunch items, including ham-and-Gruyère quiche. 1357 Main St., 963-8192, themodelbakery.com. Pizzeria Tra Vigne Antipasti, pasta, and thin-crust Neapolitan pies (for tasty simplicity get the tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil margherita). 1016 Main St., 967-9999, pizzeriatravigne.com.
sleeps
El Bonita Motel From $80. 195 Main St., (800) 541-3284, elbonita.com. Harvest Inn From $199 for AAA members. 1 Main St., (800) 950-8466, harvestinn.com. Wine Country Inn From $220. 1152 Lodi Ln., (888) 465-4608, winecountryinn.com.
Get going
Request the Northern California & Nevada TourBook and the Napa Valley map at AAA.com or any AAA branch office. For more information, contact the St. Helena Chamber of Commerce: 1010 Main St., (800) 799-6456, sthelena.com.
Photography courtesy Napa Valley Destination Council
This article was first published in January 2011. Some facts may have aged gracelessly. Please call ahead to verify information.
