Calistoga Winter Getaway
By Tracia Barbieri
After the stress and hubbub of the holidays, a quick getaway may be just what the doctor ordered. Or perhaps you are one of the thousands of couples who have their wedding anniversary during the winter months, and would love to get away for a romantic weekend. The biggest hurdle, however, is finding a place to vacation for a day or two when the weather isn't on your side.
Luckily there's Calistoga, which is all about heat. Hot mud, hot mineral baths, hot tubs...plenty of choices to warm your bones. Plus in the wintertime, the room and spa treatment rates are lower, the crowds thinner, and the atmosphere more relaxing--and relaxing is the whole point of a vacation, isn't it?
A hot mud bath at this time of year can be immeasurably therapeutic, soothing tired muscles, warming the core body temperature, removing toxins, and relieving stress. A winter vacation in Calistoga always seems to help me avoid those seemingly inevitable wintertime colds.
The reason Calistoga has become my ideal anniversary getaway each February, however, is for more than just the hot mud. Our favorite pastime is relaxing in mineral jacuzzis--as part of a spa treatment, after a swim in a warm indoor mineral pool, or while kicking back watching TV in the privacy of our jacuzzi room at Golden Haven Hot Springs. Our bodies soak up the minerals as our muscles loosen and our minds relax. We return home with soft, supple skin, a rejuvenated body, and a clear, restored mind.
Even when it's raining, it's enjoyable to browse the downtown shops, listening to the raindrops trickle down the awnings while you remain safe and dry under the covered sidewalks. A game of darts and a drink at Calistoga Inn's Brewery Company is our staple proverbial dessert for our pleasant afternoon's stroll, and the proverbial cherry on top of our perfect winter getaway.
