Calistoga, Spa resort town in Napa Valley, United States
Calistoga is a small city at the northern end of Napa Valley in California, built around a cluster of natural geothermal hot springs and surrounded by vineyards on the lower slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains. The downtown area runs along a single main street, with spa facilities, wine tasting rooms, and local businesses grouped within easy walking distance of each other.
Sam Brannan founded Calistoga in the 1860s after acquiring land around the hot springs and developing a resort meant to attract visitors from across California. The town grew steadily around this original vision, and the spa industry he started has continued in various forms ever since.
Lincoln Avenue is the main street of Calistoga, lined with small shops, tasting rooms, and restaurants serving food and wine from the surrounding valley. On weekends, a farmers market brings local growers together in the town center, giving the street a relaxed, neighborhood feel.
The town center is easy to cover on foot since nearly everything sits along or just off the main street. Spa visits generally work best with a booking made ahead of time, especially on weekends when demand tends to be higher.
The name Calistoga was invented by Sam Brannan by combining the words California and Saratoga, referencing the famous spa town of Saratoga Springs in New York. Just outside the city limits, Old Faithful Geyser shoots water into the air at regular intervals, making it one of only a handful of predictable geysers in the world.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
