Home away from home for the holidays. In Napa Valley, the experience can be as cozy or as luxe as you wish and, depending on your idea of the quintessential idea of the holiday season, here in Napa Valley, there is a perfect spot to call home…away from home.
For many of us, planning a December-timed vacation is a break from the norm. Traditions, by their very nature, run deep and it can be a bit “out of the box” to consider breaking from your norm – not preparing your own holiday meal in your own home with your own family and friends. But, on the flip side of that, not doing any of those things can be quite liberating.
Check out this handy list of lodging and hotel properties which features a sampling of the range of options to satisfy your idea of home…away from home…for the holidays.
Downtown Napa
For a cozy and quaint and meticulously appointed homebase, book your holiday vacation at The McClelland House. Located in a historic, residential area of Downtown Napa, a stay at The McClelland House will certainly make you feel relaxed and comfortable…just like home, yet unexpectedly pampered. Someone else preparing the morning meal and squeezing freshly made orange juice AND doing the dishes? Yes, please! Within walking distance of the many attractions of Downtown Napa, such as world-class wine tasting experiences; uniquely curated, local boutiques; and a plethora of restaurants, The McClelland House serves as the perfect spot during the holidays. Plan to have your holiday at any number of these Downtown eateries and then walk “home” with a comfortably full tummy and heart, and have some warm Christmas cocoa, coffee, and cookies by the fireplace. Want the whole house to yourself or to throw a holiday party on-site? The McClelland House can do that for you, too.
Rutherford
Just the two of you? There is a perfect table for two, a spa treatment for two, and a deluxe room for two at Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford. This holiday home away from home is big on privacy and understated elegance for adults. Plan your private yuletide getaway with the Holiday Hideaway in Wine Country package and indulge in specialized spa and in-room treatments followed by dinner at the Michelin-starred Restaurant at Auberge, where the food is amazing, and the service is impeccable. During the holiday season, sip on holiday cocktails fireside at the Bistro and Bar and share a toast as you share your Christmas holiday for two.
Calistoga
Looking for a luxe and lavish holiday, head north…and we’re not talking about the North Pole. At the northern end of Napa Valley in the town of Calistoga, find two pristine spots to name as your homebase for the winter holiday – the Four Seasons Resort or Solage Calistoga.
At the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley, enjoy all the amenities and luxury creature comforts of home in the well-appointed rustic meets modern casitas. Want to go wine tasting? You won’t need to go far. On the resort grounds, you can explore the vineyard and Elusa Winery, and sip and sample delightful Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc.
And, at Solage Calistoga, Auberge Resorts Collection, indulge in world-class spa therapy; a grounded, serene feeling from the calming rooms; and mindful and masterfully prepared meals from Solbar, one of the two onsite restaurants. Everyone needs peace for the holiday season.
Napa
Planning to celebrate the holiday season with the whole gang? Great! The more the merrier. The Meritage Collection offers options to keep everyone busy, from the little kiddos to the big kids. From an ice-skating rink to mini bowling alley lanes, kids of all ages will be entertained. Or, while the kids are on the ice rink, the adults can get some spa therapy at Spa Terra, a unique spa housed in a wine cave! Browse the gift shops on property and pick up any last-minute stocking stuffers for those on your “nice” list or enjoy wine tasting at The Village at The Meritage. Plan a Christmas or New Year’s Day Brunch by the ice-skating rink for your group, or a New Year’s Eve dinner in the grand Estate Cave followed by a rocking party with band Pop Fiction. The Meritage Collection has your entire entourage covered – you never have to leave the resort!
During the holidays, Napa Valley can be everything you want for the holidays. And homebase can be just like home or nothing like home – it’s really all up to you. So, whatever your seasonal style might be, the holiday spirit in Napa Valley will be a highlight of your holiday wishes. And, who knows, it may even be the start of new holiday tradition. Cheers!
