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In December, the Napa Valley Wine Train becomes the Santa Wine Train.

This past Saturday, we watched the famous (in these parts anyway) Lighted Tractor Parade from the balcony at the Calistoga Inn.

With kiddo and her two little friends in tow, it was the perfect spot above the fray.

We sipped wine and hot cocoa, nibbled on holiday cookies and waved to friends passing by.

We delighted in the creative vehicles (not all were tractors), cheered for our favorites and cuddled with the little ones.

Small town holiday spirit at its best, indeed.

Today we headed over to the town of Guerneville, to Johnson’s Beach along the Russian River in Sonoma County for the 34th Annual Russian River Jazz & Blues Festival.

We’d never been to Guerneville nor are we rabid jazz fans (with the exception of Dave Brubeck and those other classic jazz types), but Tom won the tickets so we thought why the heck not check it out.

It turned out to be quite the serendipitous adventure.

Be prepared to park in town (there is no dedicated parking lot) and to walk in to the beach. The spot we found was about 1/2 mile away. And though we didn’t do much exploring in town, it’s cute and we’ll visit again to check it out more.

The river was beautiful. The festival was great—on the small side and mellow—but even better was the opportunity to expose Samantha to the experience of live music and to all the different types of people.

We had excellent “seats”–second row, center. But even the general admission seats looked fun. The word seats up there is in quotes as all seats are those low-back chairs. Ours, being gold-level & all, were supplied by the event company–but sure were rickety. Better than hauling our own though. But if you’re particular about your seats, I’d recommend hauling yours.

But wherever you sit, be prepared to be on gravel. We didn’t bring our picnic blanket and wished we had. I’d also recommend a small personal umbrella or such as all seating is in the full sun.

Blissfully, the river is but 15 steps away from all seats so it was easy to quickly cool off. Plus, Samantha was able to practice her newly-acquired swimming skills.

We brought our simple lunch of sandwiches and deli salads, but there were plenty of interesting food stands–including Indian, BBQ, and more. One vendor even had fried gator (which I swear I will try next time I get such an opportunity).

Alongside the food stands were several merchants offering a vibrant selection of textiles and other hand-made goods.

Bring cash.

We didn’t see a whole mess of other kids, but there were a few (all of whom were kiddo’s age or older). We felt no resistance though–no tight smiles, subtle shrugs, or muffled groans of “oh, there’s a kid.” As I mentioned earlier, the vibe was quite mellow, very easy-going. That said, we only smelled pot but once (and though we couldn’t see the source, it was coming from the canoes on the river. Or, perhaps, the band members back stage).

And we overheard less than a handful of curse words. And I think all of those were “damn!” & in response to a particular fervent guitar or drum solo. Fewer (and nicer) than our typical housecleaningyardwork days at home…

If you’re local, think about going next year. If you’re planning a visit to Wine Country and it falls during this time next year, think about going.

Who: Families with kids ~5 or older

What: A small, mellow live music festival–on a gravelly beach

Where: On the Russian River in the town of Guerneville, just off Hwy 101 in northern Sonoma County

When: Annually in mid-September

Why: To relax, listen to live music, swim in the river

One thing that is glaringly missing from the Family-Friendly Napa Valley content I post here for you is Family-Friendly lodging options.

I cover activities, restaurants, and wineries–but as I live here–I have never personally experienced staying at a hotel, B&B, or resort with my family.

This is where you come in, dear readers.

Whether you’re a family who has something to say about a particular experience, or you’re a lodging facility that considers itself to be family-friendly, I’d love to hear from you.

With the ideas provided by you, I will create a page with a list of recommendations. If you’re interested, I also invite guest bloggers to contribute posts.

Let’s talk.

You can reach me via Twitter or via email to jessica AT jezebelmedia DOT com.

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Just about every weekend here in the Napa Valley, there are many events and activities.

A particular type of event that occurs regularly is a “grand tasting.” In these tastings many local wineries, restaurants, and food artisans get together in a beautiful location and present their best to attendees.

This weekend we went to A Taste of Napa at the Calistoga Ranch, a part of the Festival de Sole.

While we decided to indulge in some much needed grown-up time and dropped kiddo off at her friend’s house, there were several families at the tasting.

I’d never been the the Calistoga Ranch before and it was a treat heading up the eastern hills.

While on the smaller end of the spectrum for events of this genre, it was mellow and manageable with about ten wineries and fifteen food artisans participating.

There was Chilled Avocado Soup from Panevino:

An incredible table from Raymond & Co Cheesemongers:

Spicy Hamachi from the resort’s restaurant:

And there was much more–including a spicy gazpacho from C Casa (now on our list to check out, watch for a feature here on this blog soon), olive oils from Olivier, and Glop.

We tasted wines from wineries we hadn’t heard of including Hunnicutt and Husic Vineyards. We particularly enjoyed the Riesling from Bouchaine and also found another new favorite white wine.

We enjoyed the pleasant people, the sun, and the view.

These events are such a great way to experience bits of Napa that you might not otherwise have the chance to appreciate. You should even consider planning your trip around one.

There are several tastings throughout the year; check calendars such as this, this or this. Of course, the grandest and most famous tasting is Taste Napa Valley, a part of the the premier event Auction Napa Valley.

Who: We didn’t take kiddo to this event, but we both agree we could have done so. There were families with infants, as well as those with ~10 years old. I do think it would be too much work to take the toddler to ~3 year old set.

What: A collection of fabulous wineries and food artisans.

Where: Throughout the valley; find one on any of the calendars above.

When: Usually spring, summer, and fall.

Why: A “one stop shop” if you will, and a lovely way to enjoy the unique experiences and offerings of many different purveyors.

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So maybe calling Tennessee Beach a Napa neighbor is a bit of a stretch, but it’s only about an hour drive from the town of Napa.

Located near Mill Valley over in Marin County, this spectacular beach offers a wonderful all-day experience for the entire family.

First, while driving through the cute Mill Valley downtown we stopped at the Mill Valley Market to pick up a simple lunch of sandwiches and fruit. We did not go for our usual feast of charcuterie, cheeses, salads, and baguettes as it is a 1.7 mile hike from the parking lot to the beach–and packing along our big picnic basket didn’t sound like fun.

The Tennessee Valley is just a short drive from downtown Mill Valley.

At the trailhead is a large, free parking lot with restroom facilities. The facilities are not the greatest though (think hole-in-the-ground toilets and no sinks). I longed for hand wipes and hand sanitizer.

Note: These are the only facilities but for one nasty portapotty located mid-way down the trail (so I probably don’t need to tell you to have everyone go before you hit the trail).

Then, the trail starts out as a paved road but quickly becomes a well-maintained gravel path. We saw many families with strollers and did end up wishing we’d brought ours.

Note: You will need a jogging stroller or one with air-filled tires, not an umbrella-type with the hard wheels. And wear hiking boots or good walking shoes.

The scenery is beautiful; you’ll see mountains, meadows, native plants, and wildlife.

Be sure to watch for this sign, located about half-way up the trail:

Here’s a close up:

Take the trail that’s immediately to the right of the sign above, not the trail to the far right of this sign–even though a sign over there says:

We found out the hard way that the trail to the immediate right (aka The Lower Trail) is much easier than the one to the far right. But if you are looking for a slightly more rigorous hike, by all means try it out.

Just as Samantha tired out–just before the trail reaches the beach, is a striking fresh water pond.

Then, a few hundred feet beyond the pond the trail finally opens onto the beach.

The beach is not fine sand, but rather dark pebbles that are a bit hard on the feet.

Note: Bring flip flops or water shoes.

There is a small creek running from the pond to the ocean. With its mellow waves, warmer temperatures, and smooth sea-tossed rocks, the creek is a wonderful spot for the kids to explore and play.

On the day of our visit, the weather was perfect. Later, upon returning home, we found out that it was 100 degrees in Napa.

If you’re not familiar with summertime California weather patterns, it’s generally quite cool (to cold!) along the coast, particularly as you get closer to San Francisco. Of course the hotter it is inland, the hotter it is at the coast. In general, plan for the coastal temperatures to be anywhere from 10-15 degrees cooler than inland.

Note: Due to these variable temperatures, bring layers.

As the waves are too powerful–and the water too cold–there is no swimming. But it is fun to dip your toes into the surf. Be careful as the tide can be a bit unpredictable. As the saying goes, never turn your back on the ocean.

On the hike back, we found the entrance to The Lower Trail. You can see below how much easier it is than the trail we took heading in.

Here’s a recap of what we didn’t bring that we wish we had:

• Flip flops/water shoes for the beach
• Stroller
• Hand wipes and sanitizer
• Backpacks–not handle bags like we had
• Cool water in the car for the return trip

Of course, bring all the usual items for a hike and a day at the beach including good shoes, sunscreen, hats, blankets, towels, buckets, lunch, snacks, bag for trash, etc.

Who: All ages

What: A family day at the beach

Where:
From the North:
South on highway 101
Take the Mill Valley/Stinson Beach/Hwy 1 exit
Follow Shoreline Hwy until you see the Tennessee Valley Road sign (the turn off will be on the left )

When: Particularly wonderful during those hot, hot days we get in Napa/inland Bay Area, but the coast is amazing anytime of year

Why: To see the ocean, to get outdoors, to exercise, and to spend time together

Note: No dogs.

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Did you know that The Old Faithful Geyser of California in Calistoga is one of only three geysers in the world with the designation “old faithful”? To achieve that designation the geyser must perform at regular intervals.

And this one does.
And it’s pretty cool.

We were told that the timing of the performance is dependent upon the time of year and the amount of rain we had the prior winter. When we visited, it erupted about every 10 minutes or so.

Open 7 days a week, including holidays, from 9am-5pm in the winter and 9am-6pm in the summer, it’s a place where the family can spend the day. There is a nice picnic area. We brought our usual provisions from Sunshine along with a nice bottle of wine.

From our table, we watched the geyser:

After lunch, we headed over to the petting zoo (bring quarters for the food dispensers) and checked out the Tennessee Fainting Goats and Jacob’s Four-Horn Sheep:

And a llama checked us out:

Then we explored the bamboo forest that surrounds the entire area:

Who: All ages

What: An easy, casual, affordable, and interesting place where you can picnic and the kids can run around and explore nature

Where: 1299 Tubbs Lane, Calistoga

When: According to the website they’re open every day of the year, but I’d avoid rainy days as everything is outdoors

Why: A totally unique experience, unlike anything else in the Napa Valley

Admissions:
Adult: $10
Senior: $7
Children 6-12: $3
Children under 6: Free

Check out the website for coupons.

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It’s hard to believe that another Fourth of July weekend is winding down. Has an entire year really gone by?

This year, with Samantha going on five, has been much different than last.
Last year she was still more of a toddler; this year, she is surely a little girl.
She has opinions on what to do, how to do it, and when to do it.

So this year, we started with bocce on Thursday night.
There were friendly conversations, high fives, and fireworks on the courts.

This year, we went to the farmers market.
There were beautiful flowers, fruits, and vegetables.

This year, we went swimming with friends.
There were girly giggles, squabbles, and hugs.

This year, we went to Cheers! St Helena.
There were ladybug bracelets, music, and wine.

This year, we relaxed and we did chores.
We shopped and we napped.
We made ribs, corn on the cob, and salad.

This year, we went to the parade in Calistoga.
There were horses with flags…

dancing horses…

…even a unicorn.

There were patriotic headbands.

There were firetrucks.
Old-fashioned…

and new.

There were dancing ladies.

There were antique cars…

and modern motorcycles.

And of course, there was the high school band…

and ice cream.

Through it all, we’ve remembered that the Fourth of July is not only about pool parties, BBQs, and days off work.

It’s about independence, freedom, and gratitude for all those who have fought and are fighting to make our country the best in the world.

We hope you had a happy Fourth of July too.

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