Quieter and more relaxed than other towns in the Napa Valley, Calistoga is situated at the very top of the vineyard-lined Silverado Trail, one of the area’s two main thoroughfares. With a population of little more than 5,000 people, it has striven to preserve its small-town character and charm. But despite the pandemic, the last couple of years have witnessed a surprising amount of construction.

Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley

November 2021 saw the debut of the Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley. From outside, the resort resembles a sprawling suburban development, but inside we were impressed by its intimate feel. Despite the size of the 22-acre estate, the Four Seasons offers just 85 guest rooms and 20 privately owned residences, with sweeping vistas of vineyards and the Palisades.

Having been welcomed with glasses of sparkling wine, we were ushered to a golf cart already loaded with our bags. A cheerful employee drove us past the two-floor farmhouse-style structures — each housing four guest units — which are surrounded by gardens landscaped with native grasses and mature olive trees.