Napa for Christmas -- any must sees?

[Eric Larsen]

We have to go SOMEWHERE for Christmas this year (it's the only vacation we're going to get). So LOML and I picked Napa. Neither of us has been. We'll probably drive to Napa, drive to various spots around Napa for a week, and then go to Carmel via a short stay in SF and return home sometime in early January.

I know what I want to do in SF (mangia!) and Carmel (watch the ocean). But Napa for X-mas is a puzzle. I haven't found much information on what's happening there.

I'll naturally try to get reservations at the French Laundry. I'll also try to find a winery or two that still gives tours in the winter.

I'm sure LOML will indulge me a "wood" day or two. Are there any "can't miss" places that are open in late December?

EDIT - I mean, "can't miss" woodworking places. You know, furniture shops that have Krenov's. David Marks' Tung Oil Emporium, The Gallery of Super Rare Tools that you'll never own. That sort of thing. In December, naturally.

If any locals would drop me a PM, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!

Eric

[Jim Becker]

Umm...there are so many "various spots" to spend quality time at in Napa, that I doubt you'll be feeling like you have nothing to do nor feel like your, umm...parched... :D

This "various spot" is one of my favorites...http://www.stclement.com/stclement/home.jsp

[Christopher Stahl]

There are plenty of locals here, but I used to live in the Bay Area so I'll mention a few.

My favorite winery is V. Sattui, hands down. Check it out at: http://www.vsattui.com/

Since you'll be going by Monterey, you should check out the Monterey Aquarium.

Heading to Carmel, then you should do the 17 mile drive:
http://www.pebblebeach.com/page.asp?pageName=_17_Mile_Home

[Eric Larsen]

Bump! Bumpity Bump bump!

Surely we have some woodoworkers from Napa, Yountsville, Santa Rosa, etc.


Please, please please PM me -- What's closed near the holidays? What's open? Any holiday festivals to do? Where to go out for Christmas bunch/dinner?

Thanks!

[Don Bullock]

My favorite is http://www.domainecarneros.com//index.cfm. Their sparkling wine is superb.

[Joe Pelonio]

Ah, I have fond memories of Napa. As a teen I used to go hiking on Mt. Veeder, lots of redwoods, manzanita, rattlesnakes and back then hippies.

http://www.mountainzone.com/mountains/detail.asp?fid=723545

There is a very unique event that you might find interesting, Christmas Carols in the Caves:

http://www.carolsinthecaves.com/

Other than that I don't remember much in the way of holiday events there, maybe a light decorated parade of tractors in Calistoga, but that was always very early December.

[Eric Larsen]

That Carols in the Caves looks like it could be a fun way to spend an evening.

Anyone know any woodshops, studios, stores, etc. that I just HAVE to see? Santa Rosa isn't far -- does David Marks maintain a gallery somewhere?

Thanks!

[Joe Pelonio]

We used to enjoy the Jack London state park, it's a bit of a drive from Napa to Glen Ellen, maybe an hour. Check the website and see if it's of interest.

While at it, drive another hour to Armstrong Woods, it has some amazing Sequoias, just don't try to cut off any burls or we'll have to visit you in jail. In that area you pretty much have to spend a lot of time in the car to see anything.

I remember some small museums in the Napa area but no specific details.

Though there used to be redwood burls sold along the roadside down there
I don't remember any good woodworking places to see. I still have a table I made from one of them back about 1975.

http://www.jacklondons.net/museum.html

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=450

[Don Bullock]

If you like duck decoys don't miss http://www.duckhornvineyards.com/visiting_the_winery/#. The collection displayed there is amazing. I know nothing about their wine.;)

[Chris Padilla]

Well despite living nearish to Napa, wifey and I haven't gone very much. We were investigating investing in some real estate there but that dried up. We don't drink wine, either. Still, it is cute town that is revitalizing (hence our initial interest to invest) and I believe we'll be heading there to stay at The Westin Verasa (condo-hotel...what we were looking to invest in) for our 10th anniversary in early December.

Keep in mind that it could be raining...a lot...but I've also cut the grass on Christmas Day, too. :)

Let's see: Muir Woods, Big Basin, Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Golden Gate Park, Alcatraz

Winter time is actually the best time to mull around San Francisco.

[Bob Rufener]

I second the v. Sattui winery mentioned by Christopher. My wife and I were there in early August. We also went to Robert Mondavi. They charged $25 per person for a tour and 5 sips of their finest. My wife really likes their Merlot. As for me, I'll take a micro-brewery product any day-especially a Spotted Cow made by a small brewery in New Glarus, WI. Great stuph.

The 17 mile drive is reallly nice too. They charge $9.25 for a vehicle. The guy at the gate said they used to charge $9.00 but were running out of singles. I imagine that they now run out of quarters-go figure.

Alcatraz is a great visit. You may want to book ahead of time on line as tickets may be at a premium.

The aquarium at Monterey is really an interesting place. Well done and set up as an educational experience. I recommend this if you have a half a day.

The cable car museum in SF is also quite interesting. All of the cables for the 4 routes in the city are powered at this site. No fee and doesn't take a lot of time to view.

[Jamie Buxton]

If you're willing to drive outside of Napa valley, there's a nice day trip over to Mendocino. You drive CA128 through Sonoma county (also great wineries), through the Anderson Valley (ditto), and finally get to Mendocino. It is a charming little town which has quite a few good galleries. The whole north coast area is saturated with woodworkers who trained with James Krenov at the College of the Redwoods. Many of them display in those galleries in Mendocino.

[Matt Ocel]

Ahhhh Napa in the Holidays.:p

Wait a minute, I'll be home shoveling snow.:(

Lifes not fair.;)

[Chris Kennedy]

Don't expect Napa to be overly sedate at Christmas. Apparently, Napa is second only to Disneyland for tourism in California. The last couple of times I was there, it was hard to turn across traffic on the main drag through St. Helena (where a fair chunk of the wineries are).

I can't suggest much in the way of woodworking stuff to see -- I have mostly been interested in the wine when I have been there. On the other hand:

1. Mondavi always used to be a good tour (don't know if it still is since the family sold off).

2. Beringer is also decent.

3. Sonoma has some very good wineries as well (Ravenswood!), and tends to be a little less crowded. In particular, to cross from one to the other, go over the Oakville Grade. It is a very nice drive over the ridge for the passengers (the driver has to pay close attention to the road). Sonoma also has some good history and some "crafts" type stuff. Can't guarantee it, but I wouldn't be surprised if you could find some local woodworking in Sonoma.

4. If you can make it out to the Russian River valley, there are some good wineries out there as well. In particular, the Korbel Champagnerie is out there, which I would really recommend. It has a good tour, the grounds are nice with space for kids to play, they have a nice deli for lunch, and a small microbrewery as well. Really, just can't go wrong.

Have fun,

Chris

[Bob Moyer]

We have to go SOMEWHERE for Christmas this year (it's the only vacation we're going to get). So LOML and I picked Napa. Neither of us has been. We'll probably drive to Napa, drive to various spots around Napa for a week, and then go to Carmel via a short stay in SF and return home sometime in early January.

I know what I want to do in SF (mangia!) and Carmel (watch the ocean). But Napa for X-mas is a puzzle. I haven't found much information on what's happening there.

I'll naturally try to get reservations at the French Laundry. I'll also try to find a winery or two that still gives tours in the winter.

I'm sure LOML will indulge me a "wood" day or two. Are there any "can't miss" places that are open in late December?

EDIT - I mean, "can't miss" woodworking places. You know, furniture shops that have Krenov's. David Marks' Tung Oil Emporium, The Gallery of Super Rare Tools that you'll never own. That sort of thing. In December, naturally.

If any locals would drop me a PM, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!

Eric

If you have not booked a room; this is a fantastic B&B

http://www.labelleepoque.com/

[Eric Larsen]

I was really hoping that being the rainy season, cold, windy, etc., it would be "sedate."

I live at the corner of "harried" and "manic" -- so I could use some sedate. But if nothing else, Yountsville and Sonoma sound like my kind of places.


Don't expect Napa to be overly sedate at Christmas. Apparently, Napa is second only to Disneyland for tourism in California. The last couple of times I was there, it was hard to turn across traffic on the main drag through St. Helena (where a fair chunk of the wineries are).


Chris

[Jamie Buxton]

Here's an off-the-beaten-trail suggestion. In Sonoma County, just to the west of Napa, is a place called Safari West. They have a big chunk of countryside which they use to breed and display exotic animals. You get to see elands and ostriches and gnus and such wandering around the California hills. You can stay overnight there, too. http://www.safariwest.com/ The woodworking angle is that Peter Lang, who runs Safari West, also runs a mill and drying facility specializing in local hardwoods. http://www.peterlanghardwoods.com/ You can find yourself buying lumber while a giraffe peers over your shoulder.

[Mark Singer]

In Headlsburg there is a store called "Dovetail collection" and they carry a lot of handmade furniture by good crafstman

http://www.dovetailcollection.com/

[Chris Weishaar]

I would second the Muir Woods. Awesome place as a kid and the wife and I went back a few years ago and it was nice. I don't know much about woodworking out there, I am always visiting the grandparents and loading up on wine.

Our favorite wineries are Cakebread Cellars and Stags Leap, not for tours but for good wine. Sterling is a fun tour, I am sure they will be up and running. You take a chairlift up to the top of a hill. Great views down the valley. Wine is so/so. And for a neat building check out Frank Lloyd Wrights Marin County Civic Center. When I was there a couple of years ago they were finishing up a major restoration. It should be done now and is pretty cool.

Chris

[Roger Myers]

Mark's suggestion of the dovetailcollection is good, and it is right next door to a wonderful eating establishment (can't remember the name, but right adjacent)...
Also, find time to head to Mendocino - 2 great galleries, both featuring outstanding work, and then head to Fort Bragg and stop in and say hi at the college of the redwoods (not the main campus, the woodworking school) - I found them to be incredibly hospitable...showed me all around and was great...of course there are many students actively working and you need to resepct their space, but I found several anxious to share with me what they were doing.

For wineries...the choices are all over the map in Napa and Sonoma...every year I go and check out new places... If you are a wine history buff at all...then check out Stags Leap Wine Cellars and Chateau Montelena... these are the two featured in the very interesting book "Judgement of Paris" which deals with the early days and Napa's coming of age in the world of wine....

So many great places and things too see!!!

also, with respect to Mondavi...if you are into wine, go to the Reserve Tasting room, not the main one, and do a flight of their reserve and be sure to taste the Tokalon... you won't get this out of CA as far as I know, and I loved it....

[Eric Larsen]

I don't see how I'm going to be able to fit Ft. Bragg or College of the Redwoods into my trip. But the other suggestions are first-rate, and I really appreciate them.

I think I have enough info to get started. As usual, I'll simply chat up the residents for more information.

Thanks everyone!

E