Calistoga short loop

Today was a lovely Spring morning; lots of sun low 70’s and light cool breezes.  Randy and I, along with seven guests left Calistoga Ranch at 9:30am for a short loop ride around the area.  We took a quick ride up the Silverado Trail into town to Café Sarafornia and we all had breakfast.  From there we set out North to Tubbs Lane, back through town and  the Silverado Trail to Calistoga Ranch at 10:45am.  We stopped and took pictures along the way especially at Calistoga Springs in front of “The Truck” because everyone loves it who actually sees it!

The weather was perfect the company cordial and it was a nice lite start to the day; a little exercise, some sun, some beautiful sights and some conversation.  It was a good morning!

You can join us at Getaway Adventures for such a ride, or any of the other adventures we provide like a Velo & Vino day for serious cyclists where we take you on a ride first to warm you up for your wine tasting  afterwords, or a Sip-n-Cycle that includes winery stops along the cycling route.  We can also create any type of custom adventure that you would enjoy including activities that immerse you in the local culture as well as provide you with some fun & exercise.

Sean

Late April in Calistoga and we had perfect weather! 70 degrees and sunny.

I took out two couples, one from Chicago and one from Australia. We had a great time cycle around the back roads of Calistoga, dipping our fingers in the hot water coming to the surface in this very geothermal area. We took a quick stop in at the barrel factory were my guests looked at the way oak wine barrel are made, from the assembly of the staves to the toasting room to the fishing touches. It’s a Getaway exclusive and is always a big hit.

We then went and visited one of my favorite wineries, Château Mountelena. We toured Jade Lake which was quite full. The new pagoda is nearly finished. Mel told us there might some authentic Chinese tile out there soon.

On to Bennett Lane Winery and then lunch at Lava Vines. After lunch a quick visit to August Briggs, one of the few Pinot producers up valley, and then back after a great day. Traveled about 13 miles, all real flat and easy. Best part is the incredible scenery, lush and green.

Come on out and visit us! It’s a great time of year to ride out here

I think that today was the most beautiful day that we’ve had yet this year. The sky was brilliant blue and apple blossoms were in full bloom. The wine was excellent as well. We enjoyed the perks of tasting at a small winery with the winemaker giving out samples right from the barrel. Thanks to the rain we’ve got a full river and lush green everywhere.

Mary Carmen and Ken

Spring has come and gone: one of the nicest seasons for riding, but also one of the diciest (cold, rain, cold & rain). But now that we’ve moved in to early summer, the picture begins to change. Fields where mustard was dominating just a few weeks ago are now giving way to other wildflowers. I had a great day out on tour today in the Dry Creek with nice family from the Chicago area. Out in almost sunny California to enjoy Spring Break. A little friendly family competition mode for a fun afternoon. They rode a full 24 miles and tasted at 4 wineries! Nice riding conditions, though subject to short, light showers and intermittent sun,

With postcard perfect weather we kayaked around the mouth of the Russian River at Jenner. Up and down, we shared the river with flocks of cormorants, buffleheads and mallards. We even were treated to a diving osprey coming up with a silver fish. And the harbor seals were ever present, popping their heads and saying hello at regular intervals. We even had to pinch ourselves a couple times just to make sure we weren’t dreaming.

Ken

On Saturday morning, Randy and I picked up a private party at Auberge in Napa and headed over to Calistoga. On the east side of town we began our hike up Oat Hill Mine Road to Bald Hill. Above is a Lupine bush on top of Bald Hill looking out on the Calistoga Valley. We were treated to a phenomenal wildflower show that included Indian Warrior, Shooting Stars, Hounds Tongue, and Milk Maids. The sun shone brightly as we walked up Pallisades Ridge, through dense chapparal and open meadows. Out of town guests are always captivated by Manzanita shrubs, with their striking burnt umber bark and gnarled branches, and I tell them how the Indians used to make cider out of the berries. After 3 miles of steady ascent, we reached Bald Hill, where we did a bit of cross country to reach the top direct. The top of this hill was blanketed in flowers and offered spectacular views of the Pallisades and Mt. St Helena. Follow the link below to read a blog about a longer version of this hike.

http://www.adampaul.com/hiking/palisades05.shtml

Check out my website for blogs about other great hikes in the area:
www.milomitchel.com

We pedaled up, down and around Calistoga and were surrounded by beauty on all sides. The sky was a brillant blue, the grass emerald green, the mustard yellow, the wild calendula orange, the plums white and pink. But how did we like our wines today? RED! Spring is here and we enjoyed the heck out of our day today.

Hello everyone

Wine Tasting at Chateau Mtelena

I just finished a great tour with some nice folks from Sacramento. It was a glorious Sunday with lot of sunshine, mustard grass in full bloom in the vineyard. We visited Château Mtelena, Bennett Lane, Lava Vines and had a cave tour at Clos Pegase.

The cooler weather and near empty wineries make this a great time to visit!

Be sure to visit our Hotels and Inns Page for special package and preferred rates for Getaway guests

PS thank you Château de Vie for the great referral

More Photos here!

Winter has arrived in Wine Country, but there are still great ways to take advantage of the beauty of  of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.  Check out our Hidden Wineries Van Tour, where you will have a private guide chaffeur you to the best small hidden wineries.  Your guide will customize the route and wineries to your specific tastes.

Winter is also an exciting time for us here at Getaway Adventures because we know the beautiful spring season is ahead, and we know the Russian River will be ready for our fun and adventurous kayaking tours!

Keep checking back online for new tours as well as great deals and discounts throughout the year.  We hope to see you on tour with us soon!

Getting ready to solve Traffic Jam as a group

We were lucky to work with a great group staying at the Villagio Inn & Spa doing some teambuilding activities on December 1 & 2.

On the first day we did Group Juggle, working on group communication, thinking outside of the box, and finding team leaders.  The group had a great time being outside and letting loose for a little while in between meetings.  It was incredible, because each group came up with a unique solution to the problem, and each group had a fun time doing it.

On our second day of team building we did an activity called Traffic Jam.  We stayed inside because of the brisk weather (the first cold day of the year…yesterday was sunny and beautiufl!) and today’s challenge focused on thinking about patterns, working together, and trying different methods of coming up with a solution.  Some groups used trial and error, some worked out the problem on paper before trying it live, and some groups discussed different methods.

Overall all of the participants had a great time and were able to learn about their own communication and problem-solving styles as well as the most effective ways for the group to interact as a unit.  The facilitators had a great time too!