30th Birthday Weekend in Napa
What better way to spend your birthday than with a weekend getaway in Wine Country? It's a quick trip for me we do often living in the Bay Area but I knew it would still be a special place to celebrate my 30th. Whether you want to relax and pamper or dine and drink wine, Napa Valley has everything you need to make your birthday (or any getaway) a celebration.
If you’re planning a trip, (whether it’s your 30th or not), or simply hoping to schedule your weekend activities with ease, I highly recommend using Visit Napa Valley. You can utilize their planning guides and pre-planned itineraries or even reach out to their concierge service to create your own complimentary itinerary. At the very least, it's a great way to see all Wine Country has to offer in one place—from hotels to wineries to activities.
I had my mind set on relaxation and since I've done a lot of wine tasting in Napa Valley, knew I also wanted to find a winery or excursion with a little something extra. We ended up staying at Silverado Resort and Spa for the weekend and when I mentioned we'd have a large group on Saturday, Visit Napa Valley recommended Sterling Vineyards. For a few more of my past favorite wineries, see this post. Below is a breakdown of our Friday-Sunday itinerary with details to follow.
The weekend itinerary:
Friday:
4:00 pm: Check in at Silverado Resort and Spa, Napa
6:30 pm: Dinner at The Grill at Silverado Resort
Saturday:
12:00 pm: Tasting at Sterling Vineyards, Calistoga
2:30 pm: Lunch at Brix, St. Helena Highway
5:00 pm: Drinks on the Patio Terrace Bar at Silverado Resort
9:00 pm: Late dinner at The Grill at Silverado
Sunday (the birthday):
9:00 am: In-room breakfast at Silverado Resort
10:00 am: Pool time + Cabana at Silverado Resort
12:00 pm: Facial at The Spa at Silverado Resort
The Hotel
I knew I wanted somewhere with a little bit of everything to offer, somewhere we could enjoy ourselves without even needing to leave, and Silverado Resort and Spa truly exceeded my expectations. If you’re looking for something charming yet grand, elegant and tranquil, luxurious yet retreat-like, it really covers all the bases. Driving up to the resort was a dream. Nestled in the rolling hills of Wine Country, the resort is spread across acres of gorgeous greenery. Whether you're a golfer, prefer to be pampered or want to wine taste into the weekend, there's something to suit you. Prepare to be greeted at the Mansion before checking into one of their distinct neighborhoods.
We stayed at the Mansion Estates, which felt tucked away and intimate but was still central and made it easy to get around. It felt like we were staying in our own little 1-bedroom bungalow. With a full kitchen and our own side and back patio, it was light and bright and had everything we could need for the weekend.
After settling into our room, we meandered out to discover the layout of the resort. We were located right near one of their 10 pools, a quick hop away from their tennis courts, and right to the side of their Wedding Suite and services. Sidenote: The Mansion Garden was breathtaking and if you're looking for a scenic space in Wine Country for your big day, I highly recommend taking a look.
We popped into their nearby Marketplace and Café which was perfect for grabbing snacks and anything extra we needed. After stocking up on wine, cheese & crackers and salami, we enjoyed our self-made charcuterie plate and a quick drink on our patio overlooking the lush landscape. Truly the perfect way to set the weekend. After that, we had dinner at their restaurant, The Grill. I highly recommend the mussels and grilled artichoke. The restaurant overlooks the golf course and, while I am no golfer, I was told this is *the* place to do it. We ended the evening exploring the gardens and finished with chocolate covered strawberries and in bed and if that's not the perfect day, I don't know what is.
The Tasting
Saturday morning we had a tasting reservation at Sterling Vineyards in Calistoga. Friends and family met at Silverado and we took a Lyft up to the winery, about half an hour away, but you could just as easily book transportation for a larger group. In the past, I've loved Beau Wine Tours for a bachelorette weekend. As I mentioned, Sterling was the perfect way to wine taste with a little "something extra." When you get to the winery, you start with an aerial tram up to the tasting rooms and overlook. We booked their Silver Experience, which included a seated tasting and self-guided tour. Tip: Give yourself extra time than the allotted 1-hour tour to take in the view.
After our tasting, we headed back down to Napa for lunch at Brix. This was the perfect setting for an outdoor lunch with an expansive view. The gardens and vineyard here were stunning and we sat at a large picnic table on the patio overlooking the orchard. This is a great place to do any gift-giving or to simply sit and relax outdoors for a while.
After lunch, we returned to Silverado Resort to freshen up before drinks at the Mansion Bar. They have the perfect patio that overlooks the golf course. We ended up heading back to our room afterward for another charcuterie plate and chatted into the evening before another late dinner back at The Grill. The resort is so serene and really conducive to meandering from here to there, with easy little indoor/outdoor settings everywhere. You can even enjoy some bocce ball or cornhole.
The Birthday
With Sunday being my actual birthday, I knew I wanted to wake up refreshed and ready to enjoy a relaxing day. Silverado Resort has a plethora of pools to choose from, which we took advantage of. I think having multiple resort pools created a more peaceful experience, as it wasn't overcrowded on a 90-degree weekend. Whether you take advantage of their cabana or not, there was plenty of room to have your own little private space.
After the pool, I headed to my facial at The Spa. In my opinion, a little self-pampering can go a long way and is a must for any special event or occasion like your birthday. Their spa was the most peaceful setting and they offer plenty of space to relax, whether you book a skin service, massage or spa package. Stop by to enjoy their steam room, garden setting or private pool. Their Signature Facial was both relaxing and rejuvenating and my esthetician was personable, knowledgeable and professional. She took all my notes into account and gave me personal recommendations after the treatment.
While I was enjoying my facial, my boyfriend enjoyed their driving range, which he said was very affordable and I was told the green at Silverado is "like ice." Needless to say, we both finished off the weekend with something we loved that left us feeling renewed and refreshed.
Whether you're headed to Wine Country for a birthday weekend, anniversary, girls trip or any getaway, I highly recommend a stay at Silverado Resort and letting Visit Napa Valley help plan your stay, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy yourself.
As always, thank you for reading and don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Tyler
The outfits:
This post is in collaboration with Silverado Resort and Visit Napa Valley. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.