Going going back back to Cali(stoga)

Alright, so the title is a little misleading because this was our first trip to Calistoga, but we definitely will be going back. Last Friday Troy and I were trying to figure out our weekend plans and decided last minute to make a little trip up to wine country. We thought we’d try somewhere a little different and landed on Calistoga. After searching online for an available hotel to no avail and calling a few B&Bs, Troy was directed to the chamber of commerce where a rabbit was somehow pulled out of a hat and we were able to find a great last minute deal on a room at the old famous Dr. Wilkonson’s Hot Spring Resort. I’m typically a big planner, so spontaneous trips like this don’t usually happen much in my book, but so glad it all worked out because we had such a great time. You seriously can’t get much better than the Bay Area where you can decide on a whim to make a trip to wine country, the beach, the mountains for a day trip or the weekend.

We rented bikes at the Calistoga Bike Shop and did a self-led bike tour. We did four wine tastings (which they reserved for us) and they gave us wristbands and a map and sent us on our way. So fun.

Troy at Twomey Cellars – the first winery on our stop.

There were two dogs that lived on the property of our second stop, Dutch Henry. They were pretty awesome. Note that if you do this same route, the map is definitely not to scale and the hills are a bit intense between the two wineries.

We bought a tasty bottle of wine and enjoyed it on their picnic grounds along with some delicious sandwiches from a deli we stopped off before the route.

Rustic chairs at our 3rd stop – Lava Winery. This place was fun. There was definitely more people here than the other two wineries and quite the lively crowd, including a former WSU Coug that was on her honeymoon with her husband. Got love that Cougar pride.

Awesome chandelier made out of an old grape vine and cut wine bottles.

These spontaneous tips need to happen more often. Such a fun weekend. Oh and we’re definitely planning on going going back back go Cali- stoga. And yes, that’s a Notorious B I G reference. May he RIP.

-Christie