Instead of exchanging traditional presents with my sister-in-law and her family, we decided to gift each other a getaway! Just after Christmas, we traveled down to northern California. After a quick afternoon, and night in the Oakland area (where they live), our two families traveled to Calistoga, in Napa Valley. The hot spring fed pools, and funky camper-van, yet still a comfortable resort, style led us to Calistoga Motor Lodge where we stayed for 2 nights.

Our first day in the area consisted of exploring Napa Valley, specically the towns of Napa & St. Helena, as we made our way to Calistoga. You’ll also get a quick tour of our room at the Calistoga Motor Lodge, including the fun transformation of their seating area turned bed!

Join us on Day 1 of our Calistoga, CA Adventure by playing the video below!

On our second day in Calistoga, we stayed in town, visiting parks, local restaurants, and of course, tasting the wines of the region. As it often goes when traveling with kids, this day did not go as expected. You’ll find out why:

Day 2 of our family travels in Calistoga, CA

Napa Valley/Calistoga, CA with Kids Highlights:

Oxbow Market (marketplace with local food vendors, crafts, and books)
Town of Napa, California (walking tour with public art stops)
Stone Brewing (family friendly brewery in historic building on the Napa River)
Gotts Roadside (burgers, fries, & shakes in an outdoor setting, covered & heated!)
Calistoga Motor Lodge (small family-friendly resort with camper van theme)
Calistoga Roastery (downtown Calistoga, great coffee, tea & breakfast)
Pioneer Park & playground (perfect spot for the kids to burn off some energy)
Lincoln Avenue Brewery (casual spot for an easy lunch or dinner with the kids)
Sterling Vineyards (pricey, but a fun experience for the whole family with aerial tram & wine tasting)
Evangeline (french bistro with creole inspiration)
Buster’s BBQ (great for grabbing a quick bite to eat with kids in tow)
Tank Garage Winery (funky location, delicious, creative wines, friendly service, pinball machine for the kids to play!)

While (as you can see from our videos) we had rain our first day in Napa Valley, we were so thankful and appreciative of the gloriously warm and sunny day 2! If you’ve visited Napa Valley, we’d love to hear about the vineyards, wineries, restaurants, and other experiences you encountered.