Seniors Visit A Distinctive Destination

Calistoga, California, in Napa county, derived its name from a combination of the words California and Saratoga. About 5,200 people call Calistoga home. Senior travelers enjoy visiting Calistoga, named a Distinctive Destination by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2001.

The city allows senior visitors to see wine country as it was before freeways and fast food—only two-lane roads lead there and fast food franchises are banned by law.

Calistoga is noted for its hot springs spas. A local specialty is immersion in hot volcanic ash, known as a mud bath. Nearby attractions include an artificial geothermal geyser known as the “Old Faithful of California” or “Little Old Faithful”.

The town was founded as a hot springs resort in the 1860′s by Sam Brannan, California’s first millionaire, and has long been a destination for its natural hot springs and mineral water and their supposed health benefits.

Seniors Find Petrified Trees

Calistoga is located in the upper Napa valley, which was initially the home of the Wappo Native Americans. From 1830 to 1840, much of Napa valley was divided into large ranchos by the Mexican government, following the country’s independence. The first American settlers arrived in Calistoga in 1840.

In and around Calistoga, senior visitors will encounter the Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, the Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, the Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park and the Calistoga Ranch.

The Calistoga Depot is a national historic landmark. In the only petrified forest in California, from the Pliocene era, senior visitors will discover the largest petrified trees in the world. While the Forest is privately owned, yet it is open to the public to visit every day of the year.

And There Are Vineyards…

TripAdvisor has a list of 64 things to do in Calistoga starting with Castello di Amoros, the only authentically-built 13th century Tuscan castle and winery in America, thus the name in Italian.

For you oenophiles, Schramsberg, Vincent Arroyo and Sterling Vineyards rank high along with many others. The local Chamber of Commerce  promotes Concerts in the Park, the Calistoga Harvest Table, a Lighted Tractor Parade and an event called Winter in the Wineries.

Then there is the Sharpsteen Museum where visitors can discover the fascinating history of Upper Napa Valley. Sonoma State University, Napa Valley College and the College of Marin are some of the local colleges and universities.

So folks, set your GPS for Calistoga and relax in the hot springs, enjoy the resorts and wineries in Napa Valley and take a memorable mud bath. Enjoy your stay. -jeb