Visitors Lodging Wineries Spas Wine Tours Activities Restaurants Real Estate Specials Spas & Lodging Activities Art Galleries Attractions Bicycling Balloon Rides Entertainment Events Golf Gift Shops Massage Recreation Shopping Wine Tours Everyday Living Florist Health & Fitness Professional Accounting Business Services Catering Computers Education Employment Financial Health Care Internet Insurance Marketing Photographers Real Estate Community Demographics Education History Organizations Resouces B.B.I.N.V. Napa Valley | Calistoga | Activities | Attractions Old Faithful Geyser of California - Come visit a grand old show, a spectacular, nature- directed performance. The stage, walled by thick bamboo and plumed pampas grass, appears as an innocent pool of shallow water until time for the major attraction. Uprising steam and bubbling hot water announce the geyser. Then, while Mount Saint Helena and the craggy Palisades mountains stand silent as backdrops, Old Faithful Geyser of California throws a tower of thousands of gallons of water skyward. Sharpsteen Museum - The Sharpsteen Museum's permanent exhibits are designed to present the history of the upper Napa Valley from its pre-history to post World War I with an emphasis on people and changes brought by the period of U.S. emigration and development. In addition to its many historical exhibits, the Museum uses unique and extraordinarily extensive dioramas to depict Calistoga during its period as the elegant 1860s Hot Springs resort developed by pioneer, promoter, publisher, entrepreneur, and California's first millionaire, Sam Brannan. The Museum was a project of Ben and Bernice Sharpsteen, who retired to a ranch near Calistoga which had been acquired by Ben's grandmother in the 1800s and which today remains in their family. Ben was an Academy Award-winning animator, producer and director for Walt Disney Studios, working on many famous Disney projects. Memorabilia of his career (including one of his Oscars), his hobby (antique autos) and family history are displayed in the founders room of the Museum. Calpine Geothermal Visitor Center - In the Mayacamas Mountains, located 72 miles north of San Francisco, naturally occurring steam field reservoirs below the earth's surface are being harnessed by Calpine to make clean, green, renewable energy for homes and businesses across Northern California. The Geysers, comprising 30 square miles along the Sonoma and Lake County border, is the largest complex of geothermal power plants in the world. Calpine owns and operates 19 of the 21 power plants at The Geysers with a net generating capacity of about 750 megawatts of electricity - enough to power 750,000 homes, or a city the size of San Francisco.The Geysers satisfies nearly 60 percent of the average electricity demand in the North Coast region from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border. The Geysers is one of the most reliable energy sources in California delivering extremely high availability and on-line performance and accounts for one-fourth of the green power produced in California. Bothe-Napa Valley State Park - Located in the heart of the beautiful Napa Valley wine country, the Park offers camping, picnicking, swimming, and hiking trails that go through stands of coastal redwoods as well as forests of Douglas-fir, tanoak, and madrone. Daytime visitors can enjoy a leisurely stroll in Ritchey Canyon on the Redwood Trail to view the delicate ferns and listen to the water splashing down the rocky creekbed. Bring your wine and cheese and picnic under the towering Douglas Firs. On hot summer days, grab a swimsuit and towel and come enjoy a dip in the park's swimming pool open on weekends, beginning on Memorial Day weekend through mid-June, then daily through Labor Day, from 12- 6 p.m. There is an additional fee for the use of the swimming pool, to be paid at the park entrance. Bale Grist Mill - The park is the site of a water-powered grist mill that was built in 1846. It was once the center of social activity as Napa Valley settlers gathered to have their corn and wheat ground into meal or flour. The owner of the mill was Dr. Edward Turner Bale. He received the property in a land grant from the Mexican government and lived near the site until his death in 1849. The mill remained in use until the early 1900s. The mill and its 36-foot water wheel are protected as a state historic landmark and have been partially restored. A trail connects the historic park to Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. Additionally, the park includes the site of the first church in the Napa Valley as well as the Pioneer Cemetery. Visitors can hike from the mill on the historic trail to Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, which features extensive picnic facilities and a number of trails. The round trip hike from Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park to Bothe-Napa Valley State Park is approximately two miles. Petrified Forest - Step back in Time, over 3 million years, and follow the trail of majestic petrified redwood giants arrayed before you in a fascinating grove in beautiful California wine country. Take a guided walking tour of the Petrified Forest's spectacular upper meadow with Naturalist David Storck. During the 1/2 mile round trip tour, David will explain the volcanic activity and petrification of the forest. Guests will see a 100 foot-high Ash Fall which contains deposits of volcanic material, such as tuff, pumice, iron, petrified wood chunks and obsidian. Guests will also see rare native wildflowers, live oaks, madrone and manzanita trees, and a scenic overview of Mt. St. Helena. Calistoga Depot - Built in 1868, the second oldest depot in California. Listed under the National Register for historic buildings. Now includes six restored railcars housing historical exhibits and retail shops. In town at 1458 Lincoln Avenue. Sam Brannon Cottage - The only cottage still on its orginal site, at 106 Wapoo Avenue. Architecture differs from other two cottages in Calistoga (at Sharpsteen Museum and on Cedar Street) with wrap-around porch. Huge palm in front was planted when the house was first built. Robert Louis Stevenson State Park - Inspiration for Stevenson's "The Silverado Squatters," the story of his stay in Calistoga in 1880. Trail to the top of Mount St. Helena provides unsurpassed views of the Napa Valley. No facilities. Eight miles north off Highway 29 to Lake County. 707-942-4575.

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