It only took us a little over an hour to get to Calistoga. We stayed at Solage, a spa that was rated #1 in Conde Nast for the Americas/Caribbean and #2 in Travel + Leisure magazine for U.S. & Canada. Their restaurant/bar, Solbar, even has a Michelin star. The service was great - the people who work there are super friendly and service oriented. They even gave us some hot chai to drink when we checked in. :) The rooms were awesome - they had concrete floors and were like their own little cabin-like buildings. The layout was open and spacious and the room had a sliding glass door that opened out to a covered patio. The rooms come with a pair of bikes parked outside so you can ride around the property on them. They also recommend you use them to ride into town (stores are two blocks away). Their spa, restaurant, etc. all have bike racks in front for you to park your bikes. Rooms for us were $320/night.
Saturday lunch we ate at Solbar. The food was pretty awesome all around. We ordered (it probably changes a bit daily):
- winter squash velouté - with crispy sage leaves and granny smith apples
- some creamy soup with chorizo that's not on their online menu
- spicy shrimp lettuce wraps - glass noodles, nam pla dipping sauce, avocado and pickled carrots
- salad of asian pears and winter greens - bibb lettuce, red cabbage, hosui pears, toasted cashews and chili-lime vinaigrette
- freshly baked sea salt flatbread - romesco sauce, salsa verde and white bean purée with pimentón de le vera
- LUCKY PIG - slow-roasted shoulder of long and bailey duroc pork, black sesame crepes, pickled pineapple, mongolian peanuts, lettuce cups and more
- meyer lemon pudding cake - meyer lemon caramel, blood orange granita, honey tuile
After lunch, we rode in to town and walked down the main street to shop around a bit. We then went back to Solage and decided to soak in the geothermal heated pools before our scheduled mud treatment. There was a big pool and separated walled clothing-optional pools that were much hotter. There was also a steam room heavy with a eucalyptus scent. Sonny and I went to the clothing-optional pool but I chickened out of going nekkid. It was a little weird at first but ultimately I regretted not taking full advantage of the experience. 7pm was our appointment for their signature "Mudslide for Two" treatment. It was 3 parts - mud slathering/baking in a heated room and then rinse; a mineral bath in their footed tubs; and finally a relaxing twenty minutes in a reclined cushy chair, wrapped up in a luscious down comforter, with headphones that play new agey spa music. It was verrrrry relaxing! I loved the whole experience! Well, except for one thing. They need to replace those Bose headphones. BOO BOSE! We had tried to get the full spa package, but they were already booked (grrr at the last minute planning). Even so, just the mudslide was pretty awesome. Even Lawrence was able to unwind. Next time I go to a spa, I'd like to try out some facial/skin treatments.
We ate dinner in the lounge area of Solbar where they serve you from a changing menu of small plates. We loved the food...they had some really good dishes and the surprising thing was how affordable the prices were. I should have written them down or at least taken photos of the menu. :[
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