Napa Valley, California
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St. Helena Sightseeing & RecreationVenerable old wineries, state parks, museums, historic landmarks. There's much more to St. Helena than just wine and food. |
|
Napa Valley, California
|
St. Helena Sightseeing & RecreationVenerable old wineries, state parks, museums, historic landmarks. There's much more to St. Helena than just wine and food. |
Cameo Cinema
1340 Main Street
St. Helena CA 94574
707.963.9779
A beautifully renovated single-screen movie theater located in downtown St. Helena. Currently it's the only place in the valley to see quality new release films.
Nimbus Arts
St. Helena Marketplace, Suite 1B
St. Helena CA 94574
707.963.5278
Art classes and workshops for all ages.
Napa Valley Today
The webcam of award-winning Napa Valley photographer Charles O'Rear shows a St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard. O'Rear's latest book is Napa Valley, The Land, The Wine, The People.
White Barn
2727 Sulphur Springs Avenue
St. Helena CA 94574
707.251.8715
Theatrical and musical performances held throughout the year in an 75-seat theater that was originally a carriage house built in 1872. All proceeds go to charity. A labor of love for founder/artistic director Nancy Garden and her family.
Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park
3369 North Saint Helena Highway (Highway 29)
St. Helena, CA 94574
707.963.2236
Three miles north of St. Helena Hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=482
Bale Grist Mill—still working after 150 years.
Open daily throughout the year except New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Built in 1846 by Edward Bale, the mill has been restored to operating condition complete with its 36-foot wooden waterwheel and big millstones. On weekends, you can watch the mill in action, grinding grain to produce stone ground flour. Schedule your visit in October for Old Mill Days or December for Pioneer Christmas.
The "Bears" who were involved in the Bear Flag Revolt at Sonoma (when Yankees living in California caused it to split off from Mexico and join the United States) gathered here beforehand. A fun and educational experience for the kids and parents, too. Limited picnic facilities.
The story behind the Bear Flag Revolt. Buy Bear Flag Rising: The Conquest of California, 1846
In addition to scheduled tours and demonstrations at the mill on weekends at 11:30 a.m., 1:00 and 2:30 p.m., groups may schedule visits for Tuesdays or Wednesdays by calling the park at least 30 days in advance.
Flour for sale at the Bale Grist Mill.
You can even buy flour to take home for your own baking. A fun and educational experience for the kids—and parents, too.
For state parks in the Napa Valley and throughout California, buy California State Parks : A Complete Recreation Guide
Hiking in the valley—and everywhere. Buy California's State Parks: A Day Hiker's Guide
Beringer Vineyards
1000 Pratt Avenue
St. Helena CA 94574
707.963.4812
The historic Rhine House—symbol of Beringer Vineyards. (Photo courtesy of the winery.)
Built in 1876, the winery has been operating continuously ever since. It is now owned by Foster's Group, known for Australia's Foster's Beer. The famous "Rhine House" contains the visitors' center. This classic Napa Valley winery is a good place to stop for photographs.
The winery has been offering tours since 1934, so they've got it down right. The $5 tour includes tasting and a trip inside their hand-dug wine caves. The gardens are so beautiful that they're worth the trip on their own. Beringer produces more than 14 different varietals.
Culinary Institute of America at Greystone
2555 Main Street
St. Helena, CA 94574
707.967.1100
A majestic building that's a favorite for photographers.
The historic Greystone. Once Christian Brothers Winery, now the West Coast home of the Culinary Institute of America. (Photo courtesy of CIA).
Formerly Christian Brothers Winery. Literally filled with kitchens, as well the outstanding Wine Spectator Restaurant, demonstration theaters and the Spice Island Marketplace shop. The West Coast branch of the renowned New York State cooking school, referred to by locals as the "CIA." Cooking demonstrations are open to the public daily; $12.50 charge. For reservations call 707.967.2328. These are a great bargain and we highly recommend them. We've gone to many of them ourselves and found them very enjoyable and useful. You'll be able to take the recipe they give you, go home and replicate the same dish you saw created at the demonstration.
Construction of Greystone winery in the 1800s. (Photo courtesy of Napa County Historical Society.)
Greystone also displays a famous collection of over 1,500 corkscrews, gathered over a period of 40 years by former Christian Brothers cellarmaster Brother Timothy.
A cooking demonstration and tasting at the Culinary Institute of America.
For a special experience, try Greystone's A Very Special Afternoon in the Napa Valley, held Monday through Thursday. The $25 charge includes a cooking demo, glass of wine and Today's Temptations (spectacular culinary tastings) in the restaurant. It also includes shopping time and a free Napa Valley food gift in Greystone's food and kitchenware shop which features over 2,000 cookbooks.
Buy these books from the CIA:
CIA's Gourmet Meals in Minutes
Culinary Boot Camp: Five Days of Basic Training at the CIA
More Cooking Secrets of the CIA
The Professional Chef's Knife Kit
Weight Watchers Great Cooking Every Day
Napa Valley Wine Library
St. Helena Public Library
1492 Library Lane
St. Helena CA 94574
707.963.5145
A vast collection of books, magazines, interviews, clippings and other materials devoted to enology, viticulture and wine lore, with a focus on the Napa Valley.
Silverado Museum
PO Box 409 1490 Library Lane
St. Helena CA 94574
707.963.3757 Fax: 707.963.0917
Housed in a wing of the St. Helena Public Library. Open daily except Monday and holidays from noon to 4 p.m. Free admission.
Devoted to Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of such classics as Treasure Island, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and A Child's Garden of Verses.In 1880, Stevenson spent his honeymoon in an abandoned bunkhouse at the old Silverado Mine on the slope of Mount St. Helena. The Silverado Squatters is his account of his stay there. The museum works at all levels, for eager six-year-olds as well as bibliophiles and scholars. Includes original letters, manuscripts, first and variant editions, paintings, sculptures, photographs and memorabilia.
St. Helena Parks and Recreation
707.963.5706
Crane Park
On Crane Avenue 500 ft south of the intersection of Crane Avenue and Grayson Ave.
Ten acres with six lighted tennis courts, six lighted bocce ball courts, two Little League baseball fields, horse shoe pits, childrenšs play ground and individual and group picnic areas and two restrooms. Group picnic areas must be reserved during peak use months of April through October. Crane Park is the home of the St. Helena Farmers Market which is open from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. every Friday May through October.
Lyman Park
1300 block of Main St. between Pine and Adams Streets.
A one-acre park with individual picnic tables, grassy areas, a childrenšs play area and historic gazebo. The gazebo may be rented for events such as weddings and birthday parties. Lyman Park is host to the Summer Band Concerts on Thursday evenings during July and August. This is a passive park and no active game playing is allowed. One restroom.
Meadowood Resort
900 Meadowood Lane
St. Helena CA 94574
707.963.3646 800.458.8080
9-hole, par 31. 2,014 yards. A walking course.
Courtesy of the Office of Historic Preservation - California Department of Parks and Recreation http://ohp.parks.ca.gov
Old Bale Mill (No. 359)
This historic gristmill was erected by Dr. E.T. Bale, grantee of Carne Humana Rancho, in 1846. The mill, with surrounding land, was deeded to the Native Sons of the Golden West by Mrs. W. W. Lyman, and was restored through the efforts of the Native Son Parlors of Napa County.
Location: Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park, Hwy 29, 3369 N St. Helena Hwy, 3 mi NW of St. Helena
Charles Krug Winery (No. 563)
Founded in 1861 by Charles Krug (1825-1892), this is the oldest operating winery in Napa Valley. The pioneer winemaker of this world-famous region, Krug made the first commercial wine in Napa County at Napa in 1858.
Location: Krug Ranch, 2800 Main St, St. Helena
Beringer Brothers Winery (No. 814)
Built by Frederick and Jacob Beringer, natives of Mainz, Germany, this winery has the unique distinction of never having ceased operations since its founding in 1876. Here, in the European tradition, were dug underground wine tunnels hundreds of feet in length. These maintain a constant temperature of 58 degrees, a factor considered necessary in the maturing and aging of fine wines.
Location: 2000 Main St, St. Helena
