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Foodie Guide to Yountville

When Thomas Keller chose tiny Yountville for The French Laundry, foodies the world over had to study maps even to figure out where it was. That was a long time ago. Today Yountville is a pilgrimage destination of sorts for fans of farm-fresh locally sourced food. And with Bistro Jeanty, Ad Hoc, Bouchon, and now the Bardessono Hotel's new restaurant, there are more destination dinners to be had in Yountville than most long weekends will accommodate. What to do? Make lunch a centerpiece meal as well, so you can fit in more stops. Here's how I do it; I pick up a quick cafe breakfast at Bouchon -- a scone or morning bun, perhaps, and a big steaming to-go cup of the best coffee anywhere. Then I head out on a bike ride or short hike, to work up plenty of appetite for lunch. Another hike or wine tasting breaks up the afternoon; it's also important to make time for a spa treatment, soak or swim. Then a fashionably late dinner, European-style, and a night of deep, restful sleep, before setting out to eat my way across town again tomorrow.

Green Travel Guide to Napa

Known the world over for wine making and grape growing, Napa isn’t as environmentally enlightened as you might think. Growing grapes requires a great deal of water and -- unless they're organic -- quite a lot of pesticides, too. And Napa Valley culture, influenced by generations-old family farming dynasties, can be slow to change and accept new ways. For these reasons, green travel has come late to the party in Napa. But now that it’s here, the Napa Valley boasts some of the greenest hotels in the country. The three-year-old Gaia Hotel, for example, was the first LEED-certified gold property in the U.S., and newer resorts like Solage and the Silverado Resort have put in place all sorts of environmentally friendly initiatives. (At Solage, for example, room service requests are fulfilled by staff members on bicycles.) The latest arrival on the Napa Valley scene, Bardessono Hotel, isn't so much catching up, as surpassing rival properties. One of only a handful of hotels in the U.S. reaching for platinum LEEDS status, Bardessono is green through and through, from the rammed-earth walls and recycled materials it's built from to its state-of-the-art energy system, fed by 900 solar panels and 82 geothermal wells, that produces so much energy last year they had to sell some of it back to PG&E. Developer Phil Sherburne, who grew up on an Oregon dairy farm and was a semi-famous student organizer in the 1960s, has earned plenty of green cred for his efforts. Robert Redford was one of the first celebrity guests, and Toyota used the hotel's conference facilities to launch the new redesigned Prius.But the main reason to come to Bardessono is that it's just plain gorgeous. Built on and taking its name from one of Yountville's prime agricultural homesteads, the ranch farmed for generations by the sprawling Bardessono family, this luxury boutique hotel and spa is laid out in such a way that guests spend almost every waking moment outdoors. The rooms, which are clustered in separate pod-like buildings, are designed for almost complete privacy; you honestly don't have to see your fellow guests if you'd prefer not to. (A lure for celebs, I'm sure.) And the gardens are laid out in an airy, pseudo-Zen fashion with rock-tiled paths meandering between stone-lined streambeds. Among the many water features is a Stonehenge-like fountain that's eerily breathtaking at night.The restaurant, which serves a surprisingly reasonable prix-fixe four-course dinner on Sundays that's attracting locals as well as guests, does farm-to-table cuisine with all the attention to freshness and herb-infused flavor it deserves. And the spa -- all I can say is, it's worth it to pay a little extra for the vinotherapie massage, which features light, aromatic Chardonnay grapeseed oil and leaves you limp as a rag but greaseless enough to hop straight in the pool. Which, with its enormous enclosed, pillow-strewn cabanas reminiscent of a seventies Middle Eastern-themed restaurant, is phenomenal, by the way. Napa Valley foodie towns like Yountville have long been famous for name-brand restaurants like The French Laundry, but what’s less well known is the leadership Napa Valley chefs have played in what’s now being called “farm to fork” cuisine. What this means is that the heirloom tomatoes in your caprese salad were grown in the restaurant’s own garden, the sheep’s milk cheese that tops them is from the dairy down the road, the oysters on the grill were harvested from nearby Tomales Bay. Bardessono’s restaurant uses herbs grown in an aromatic kitchen garden right on the property, while a bigger garden producing the bulk of the produce is located on land loaned by a nearby winery. While this garden isn’t open for viewing, right next to it is The French Laundry’s enormous and fruitful garden (both gardens are across the street from The French Laundry on Washington street) careful labeling makes it possible to see exactly what the exotic eggplants, peppers, squash, and berries featured in Thomas Keller’s iconic recipes look like while they’re still on the bush.

Business Traveler's Guide to Napa

Only an hour north of San Francisco, but worlds away in terms of pace and style, Napa has become an increasingly popular destination for business travelers lured by the appeal of big city culture with the breathing space of country air. In recent years downtown Napa has ceased being so sleepy, and now offers several hip spots for out of town visitors to find someone to talk to. Try the Napa Valley Grille for a lively Friday or Saturday night scene, or the Boon Fly Cafe at the Carneros Inn if you want to meet some locals. Finding something to do is, of course, not a problem in Napa. After all, when all else fails, there are hundreds of tasting rooms all waiting to introduce you to the art of fine wine. To connect with coworkers or chat up the boss, head for Chardonnay Golf Club, a premiere 18-hole course. Or take in the perfect combination of nature and culture at the di Rosa Preserve, an elegant outdoor sculpture garden.Whether you're in town on solo business or attending a conference or retreat, you won't find your stay "all business" in the Napa Valley.

Napa Launch Tasting Tour

Honeymooning in Napa

If you're looking for a honey moon that doesn't skimp on luxury, Napa Valley is the perfect destination. The Meadowood is known for its hospitality. Choose to stay in a cottage complete with a fireplace and tub, with the option of ordering in breakfast or dinner one night to eat in privacy. Aside from secluded lodging, the Meadowood also offers magnificent spa treatments, tennis courts, hiking trails and award winning food. Plus, the friendly staff can recommend other activities in the area. While you're there, start the relaxation and romance off with a massage at the Meadowood Spa or a treatment at the Bathhouse in Calistoga. Napa has numerous award winning restaurants from which to choose, most offering a romantic setting and extensive wine lists. I've included some of my favorites in here, but there are also more recommended restaurants in the unscheduled items list. During your stay you should most definitely take advantage of the magnificent chefs at the Meadowood and dine in the restaurant. Depending if you want your honeymoon to be more or less active, Napa has a variety of activities. You can choose to either stay within the Meadowood, enjoy your cottage, the tennis courts, swimming pool and hiking trails within the compound, or you can venture out to do some picnicking in nearby Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, see the valley in the morning light on a hot air balloon ride or visit some of the numerous wineries in the valley. Napa Valley has a lot to offer but no matter what you choose, you can be assured that your visit will be tranquil and romantic. Enjoy! Photo courtesy of star5112 / Creative Commons