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Visitor Resources

Getting Here:

Just a scenic 90 minute drive from San Francisco and Sacramento, and 25 minutes from Santa Rosa, Calistoga is centrally located between Napa and Sonoma counties.

• From San Francisco, take Hwy 101 north through Santa Rosa; take the River Rd/Guerneville exit and follow signs to Calistoga.

• From Sacramento, take Interstate 80 south to Hwy 12 west and follow Hwy 29 north through Napa Valley to Calistoga.

• From Sonoma County (Charles M. Schulz) Airport, take Hwy. 101 south to River Road exit (left). River Rd. becomes Mark West Springs Rd./Porter Creek Rd; continue for 10.1 miles. Turn left on Petrified Forest Rd. and follow for 4.4 miles. Right on Foothill Blvd/CA 128, Left on Lincoln Avenue to downtown Calistoga.

Airport Shuttles:

• Evans Airport Service (reservations required), 707-255-1559 (SFO/OAK airports)

• Airport Express Santa Rosa 707-837-8700 (SFO/OAK; does not go directly to Calistoga; there are three car rental options at Sonoma County (Charles M. Schulz) Airport; see below).

• Solano Airporter 800-953-6999 or 707-554-2254 (SFO/OAK/SAC ).

Getting Around:

Car Rental:

• San Francisco Airport Information: 800-435-9736; (8 car rental agencies):

• Sonoma County Airport: Avis 707-571-0465; Enterprise 707-570-3600; Hertz 707-528-0834).

• Sacramento Airport Information: 916-929-5411 (6 rental agencies)/ www.air-market@saccounty.net

Taxi service:

• Valley Valet Taxi: 707-942-9009

Public Transportation:

The Napa Valley VINE runs seven days a week from Calistoga to Vallejo. Call 707-251-2800, 800-696-6443 or visit www.NapaValleyVINE.net. From San Francisco and Marin, Golden Gate Transit (www.goldengatetransit.org) goes as far as Santa Rosa, where you can pick up a VINE bus to Calistoga (route operates Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday only). There are also numerous wine tour companies available; for more information, go to www.calistogavisitors.com.

Statistics:

• Population: 5,190 (2000 census)

• Median age: 38.1

• Area: 2.5 square miles, or 1,620 acres.

• Location: 365 feet above sea level at Longitude 106.5, Latitude 37 on the map.

• Distance from San Francisco: 75 miles.

• In 2001, the National Trust selected Calistoga for Historic Preservation as one of 12 Distinctive Destinations.

Weather:

Calistoga is blessed by distinct seasons with a high proportion of sunny, smog-free days. Nights range from crisp and cool to pleasantly warm in the summer. Annual temperatures range from an average summer high of 92 to an average winter low of 36. Annual rainfall can reach 36 inches.

Banks/ATMs:

• Bank of America 1429 Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga 707-942-6238

• Bank of the West 1317 Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga 707-942-6291

• Wells Fargo Bank Business Office 1107 Main Street, St. Helena 707-963-3000

• Westamerica Bank 1110 Washington Street, Calistoga 707-942-7400

Brief History:

Incorporated as a town in 1885, Calistoga was founded by Samuel Brannan, California’s first millionaire, who was fascinated by Calistoga’s natural hot springs and purchased 2,000 acres to develop a spa reminiscent of Saratoga, New York. His resort (originally located where Indian Springs Resort is today) opened to California’s rich and famous in 1862. With the completion of the railroad in 1868, Calistoga became not only a destination, but the transportation hub for the upper Napa Valley. The town’s name comes from Brannan’s tipsy malapropism that he would make this the Saratoga of California, which came out as the “Calistoga of Sarafornia.”

Hospitals:

The closest medical facility to Calistoga is St. Helena Hospital, 650 Sanitarium Road, Deer Park, 707-963-3611.

To reach the hospital, drive south toward St. Helena on Highway29/128, turning left on Deer Park Road at the north edge of St. Helena. Cross Silverado Trail and turn left on Sanitarium Road, proceeding about a 1Ú2-mile to the hospital on your right. (The route is well-marked.)

Physicians

• The Vermeil House Medical Offices Dr. Beverly Benson 913 Washington Street, Calistoga 707-942-6233

Optometrist

• Jean Neeley, OD 1220 Washington Street, Calistoga 707-942-4674

Dentists

• LeRoy Bowser, DDS — 1619 Washington Street, Calistoga 707-942-4621

• Gina Hitchcock,DMD 2436 Foothill Boulevard, Suite A Calistoga 707-942-5177

Biking:

Calistoga is an ideal biking and mountain biking region. The city’s bike path starts at the southern end of Washington Street and ends at Sterling Vineyards. Oat Hill Mine Trail (above Silverado Trail where Lake Street and Lincoln Avenue converge; directly across from La Prima Pizza) is a challenging and scenic eight-mile mountain bike route (take plenty of water!). Go to www.calistogavisitors.com for more information under Recreation. Bike maps available at Calistoga Visitors Center, 1506 Lincoln Avenue, and at Calistoga Bike Shop. For all biking, especially along Silverado Trail or Highway 29, helmets are strongly recommended.

Bike Rentals:

• Calistoga Bike Shop, 707-942-9687, www.calistogabikeshop.com.

• Getaway Adventures: 707-942-0332, www.getawayadventures.com.

Camping/Hiking/Public Swimming Pool:

Bothe-Napa Valley State Park (four miles south of Calistoga), 707-942-4575, www.parks.ca.gov for reservations for tent and RV camping. Bothe has several beautiful hikes, which are suitable for families with young children, including one which ends at the Bale Grist Mill, a historic site which is still operating today with daily demonstrations of its huge water wheel and grist mill. For hiking trail information, go to bahiker.com/ northbayhikes/bothenapa.html. Bothe’s swimming pool is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, noon to 6:00 p.m. Calistoga’s long-awaited public swimming pool at Logvy Park (Washington & Oak Sts) is scheduled to open September of 2008.

Oat Hill Mine Trail:

See Biking, above. This is a vigorous hike with dramatic views of Calistoga and the upper Napa Valley. Sunblock, healthy snacks, a camera and lots of water are a must for this trail.

Napa County Fairgrounds:

For RV camping reservations, go to www.napacountyfairgrounds.com.

Churches:

• Baptist, 1310 Berry Street

• Catholic, 901 Washington Street

• Eastern Orthodox, 1421 Washington Street

• Episcopal, 1504 Myrtle Street

• Non-Denominational, meeting at 1307 Washington Street

• Presbyterian, 3rd and Washington Street

• Russian Orthodox, 1421 Cedar Street

• Seventh-Day Adventist, 2102 Grant Street

Childcare:

• Roe Nichols 707-287-7591 (references available)

• Nannies of the Valley: 707-251-8035, Bethany@nanniesofthevalley.net

Library:

The Calistoga Public Library is located at 1108 Myrtle Street and is open five days a week (Monday-Thursday & Saturday). Services include multi-station Internet access and on-line access to all Napa County Library materials.

Museum:

Calistoga's Sharpsteen Museum is dedicated to the history of the American emigration to the upper Napa Valley. It originated from the donation and design of Ben Sharpsteen, a Walt Disney Studio animator and producer whose grandparents were early settlers to the area. The Museum incorporates one of the cottages from Sam Brannan’s resort. Exhibits include substantial dioramas depicting life in Calistoga in the 1800s, as well as material from the early residents, including Donner Party survivors. The museum is operated by the Sharpsteen Museum Association whose volunteers provide docent tours daily from 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Parks/RV Parks/Golf Courses:

Pioneer Park and its playground (geared for kids from infants-12 years) is located at Cedar Street and Elm, half a block north of Lincoln Avenue. The Napa County Fairgrounds is located at 1435 North Oak Street and the Mt. St. Helena Golf Course (nine holes) is located on the Fairgrounds with entrance from Grant Street.