By Brittany Terry
The Napa Valley is a great place to go for a romantic getaway where you can go wine tasting and escape from reality. What you may not know is that the Napa Valley is also a wonderful place to take a family vacation. There are many places you can go together to have fun, learn interesting things, and relax. No matter what the season, you can always find something fun to do with your children.
One amazing adventure you can take while visiting the Napa Valley is an animal safari. That’s right! Just 20 minutes out of Calistoga is Safari West, a place that lets you experience things you could only find in Africa. You can take a tour through the safari seeing all of the exotic animals and their habitats you can even get face to face with a giraffe. It is excellent place for a family to spend their day or even the night. They serve lunch and dinner so you don’t even need to bring anything but a camera.
On your way to Safari West there is another place that you must see, the Petrified Forest. You can learn all about the history of Calistoga and how petrified wood is created as well as take a nice walk through the meadow. It is a nice peaceful place to spend your day. Your kids will love it.
Another place just outside of the Napa Valley is the Lake Sonoma Fish Hatchery. They have a tour so you can see all of the steps of the fish hatchery and how it works. When you are visiting Lake Sonoma you should go explore the hiking trails and stop to have a picnic along the way. Not to mention that you can take a swim in the lake if you have your swimsuits with you.
Back in the Napa Valley, the Bothe Park is a beautiful place where the whole family can go together and have fun. There is something there for everyone. There is a large swimming pool under the trees perfect to splash around in, numerous hiking trails, and even horseback riding. This is a great place where you and your kids can run around, play games, and have fun. The Bothe State Park is just minutes out of Calistoga yet it feels like you’re a million miles away.
A great way to tour the Wine Country and keep your kids happy and entertained is by taking a cruise around the valley by bike. Together as a family you can enjoy the view and fresh air. Calistoga Bikeshop provides numerous different types of bike rentals and if your child is too small to ride a bike alone they have a tag-along trailer for them to ride in. You can take a long leisurely ride or climb mountains whatever you would enjoy the most.
Let’s not forget about our famous Old Faithful Geyser. When you visit the geyser you get to witness the spectacular geyser erupt about every half hour it is absolutely gorgeous. They even have a petting zoo where you and your family can get up close and personal with a variety of different animals. At the geyser they have a picnic area where you all can sit together and have a nice lunch, that you can pick up from any restaurant or deli in Calistoga. And this is just for starters there is much much more that you and your family can experience together.
So, if you are planning a trip to Napa Valley, don’t hesitate to bring your children with you. There are plenty of attractions to keep them occupied, and if you plan it just right, you might even find time for some wine tasting and spa treatments for the adults!