When it comes to vacationing with kids in Napa Valley, every year is a good year.

The thought of vacationing in Wine Country is always in season. What could be more appealing than lush greenery, rolling hillsides, and spectacular wine matched by equally as luxurious accommodations? Napa has always been synonymous with romance, yet vacationing families will find that the area has something for everyone. As luck would have it, the inclusive nature of several new properties allow families to experience the romance of Napa while their children revel in the magic and exhilaration of the Wine Country lifestyle. In recent years, new properties like Solange Calistoga and The Caneros Inn have emerged, luxurious accommodations that welcome kids as well as adults.

Grape Spots
Solange Calistoga is wonderfully well equipped when it comes to catering both to parents and children. The cottage-style property is contemporary and relaxed, with both rooms and “studio” suites available. The studios offer from 400 to 700 square feet of space, with private patios and stunning mountain views. There’s a casual bistro with indoor and outdoor dining. Takeout options are also available, perfect for when families want to relax in their rooms and unwind during a mealtime. Kids can play in the children’s pool, the outdoor play areas, and the hopscotch courts while moms get to experience a little R and R at the onsite spa, which features treatments by celebrity skincare consultant Kate Somerville. Moms, dads, and older children can workout in the gym or in one of the many fitness classes offered onsite. The property also offers water yoga, and kids can enjoy playing bocce ball, shuffleboard, and horseshoes.

The Caneros Inn is also ideal for vacationing families, with an enormous range of both onsite and offsite activities available. “The Inn is incredibly family friendly”, says Siobhan Dugan, the property’s Leisure Sales Manager. “There are plenty of activities on property and around the valley to make sure the whole family enjoys their stay.” The environment onsite is a social one, and the style of the hotel is hip, modern, and accessible. The Inn has two pool decks available—1 reserved for adults, and the other ideal for families with children of all ages. This one is called Otto’s pool, and it’s composed of an infinity lap pool, a hot tub, cabanas, a children’s pool, and a snack shack that is ideal for when the kids get the post-pool hunger pangs. For more onsite relaxation, the inn provides complimentary DVDs and games for families to use in their downtime. But when everyone’s got a little more energy, Siobhan recommends taking the kids to feed the neighboring horses and cows (cookies are provided at reception), taking one of the complimentary bikes on the property out for a spin or playing a game of croquet or bocce ball.

For families that want to experience the best Napa has to offer but would prefer to return home to a private space, Liza Graves, co-founder of Beautiful Places, has the answer. Specializing in properties in Napa and Sonoma Counties, the travel service offers a range of villa rentals—from rustic to Italian-inspired to modern—that are perfect for privacy-seeking parents. Renting a “Beautiful Place” and living in Napa like a local is also a great option for families wishing to stay up to several months. In terms of renting to families, “we to try to understand what their needs are so they can match them up to the right property,” says Liza. “Properties can have tennis courts, basketball courts, one property even has chickens and doves so the kids can go pick eggs. A lot of times families just really like to spend time together, and a villa is the most relaxing option.” Families can do as much or as little as they want on the property, and the travel service provides any and all kinds of amenities a family could desire. Picking up groceries, planning visits to private wineries, hiring private chefs—Beautiful Places does it all. Although cooking seems to be “less of a chore” on a vacation than at home, Liza recalls a multigenerational family that requested a private cooking class that would be fun for the whole family. The class was a resounding success, an experience that the kids and the grownups will always remember.

Of course the entire vacation can’t be spent at a hotel, no matter how luxurious and accommodating it may be. For some truly eye-opening insider suggestions, the Lead Concierge for The Caneros Inn, Anthony Burich, shared his top recommendations for family-friendly Napa Valley activities.


The Grape Escapes
When in Napa, families should take a stroll around Carolyn Parr Nature Center. It depicts animals and plants found in the County’s natural habitats. Kids can observe and touch a collection of skins, skulls, and bird’s nests in the Children’s Corner. The 12-acre Connolly Ranch is also ideal for kids, featuring an animal preserve where they can interact with horses, sheep, ducks, peacocks, roosters, and more. For parents hankering for a vineyard, Anthony Burich recommends the St. Supery Discovery Center in Rutherford. It’s a kid-friendly winery featuring topographical maps and an option to venture out into the vineyards, giving children the chance to become comfortable with one of the County’s biggest traditions.

The Grape Wide Open
Families can drive over to St. Helena and visit the Grist Mill State Historic Park, or they can head to Sonoma to visit the petting zoo or take a guided tour through Train Town. Featuring acres of landscaped parks and a petting zoo for the smaller kids, it’s a wonderful treat for the whole family. And the Cornerstone Festival of Gardens features 9 acres of changing garden designs from the world’s top landscape architects. It’s an exhibit that’s sure to inspire both older kids and parents alike. For those looking for a great family-friendly winery, Anthony Burich recommends heading to Glen Ellen and visiting the gorgeous Benziger Winery. Families can listen to the guide speak about the biodynamic farming practices, and picnic in the scenic gardens afterwards. While in Glen Ellen, families can visit the Jack London State Historic Park. Younger children will enjoy exploring the lovely grounds, while older ones can take a look around the museum, which displays a collection of London’s books, mementos, and articles.

Good Grapes, Charlie Brown
Parents with young children should pay a visit to the Charles Shultz Museum in nearby Santa Rosa. It’s the permanent home of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the whole crew. The museum shows daily screenings of Peanuts Cartoons, and features a “Snoopy Labyrinth” as well as rotating exhibits of all the characters. And to celebrate the kids’ love of real animals, head to Safari West, a private 240-acre wildlife preserve that houses 400 free-roaming birds and mammals like antelopes, gazelles, elands, and zebras. Lisa Graves also recommends this trip, saying that the African preserve is incredibly authentic.

No Sour Grapes
When the kids need to satisfy their sweet tooth, head to the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield. They can learn how the company creates its exotic and delicious flavors, with over 40,000,000 jellybeans being manufactured every day. And to work off some of the sugar rush, a visit to the Scandia Family Fun Center is the perfect icing on the cake. It features over 200 games that will keep everyone entertained, including batting cages, a Lil’ Indy Raceway, water bugs, and a miniature golf course.


Start packing your kids’ suitcases and get ready for a breathtaking, relaxing, and multifaceted adventure in Napa Valley. The activities available for traveling families are extensive and eye opening. . Both Solange Calistoga and The Caneros Inn are featured in the online family travel resource Ciao Bambino, at http://www.ciaobambino.com. Ciao Bambino reviews each one of its selected properties in terms of the features that make it family friendly. It is always clear in advance what amenities and services guests will receive. For longer vacations or multigenerational trips, contact Lisa Graves at BeautifulPlaces (http://www.beautiful-places.com). So if parents are longing for a vacation among the vineyard vines but are reluctant to leave their children at home, they can have it all in Napa.