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9 Most Popular Things To Do When In St. Helena

9 Most Popular Things To Do When In St. Helena (2024)

A Bright and Sunny land in California, St. Helena, is all that you need for a chilled-out day trip. St. Helena is basically a small town in Napa Valley known for its rolling vineyards, contemporary art galleries, historic preservations, and abundance of outdoor recreation. From exploring the four closed walls to hiking over the parks or exploring the waters, there’s never any shortage of fun, activities, and entertainment when you are in the town of St. Helena.

St. Helena is home to about 416 vineyards encompassing 6,800 acres of land. The wine scenes of the city are absolutely top-notch, and no single sip here will ever disappoint you. Further, moving forward on the other side, the city offers a completely different supply of water bodies like lakes and reservoirs. Also, considering it is a hub for travelers, the city even boosts in critically acclaimed restaurants that are all worth dining at.

9 Most Popular Things To Do When In St. Helena

Of all the wonders the city offers, here is a list of 9 fun and exciting things to do in St. Helena. Have a look:

1. Visit the Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park

A quick 5 minutes escape from downtown St. Helena takes you to the beautiful Bale Grist Mill state historic park. The Park is nestled somewhere between St. Helena and Calistoga and is home to an 1846 water-powered grist mill. The mill is known to have one of the largest waterwheels in the country, and the old school method still makes it a point of interest amongst both needful and travelers alike. When in the city, one can explore this historic site and learn about the evolution of grain milling, monitor the process closely, and can even take back cornmeal, polenta, or Organic wheat flour. The historic Park is indeed an interesting and unique place for the ones who want to learn and know about how life was in the past.Visit the Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park, St. Helena Image source

2. Explore the Off-Beat Elmshaven Historic House Museum

Elmshaven, a historic house museum, is one of the frequently visited sites in the rural-residential area of downtown St. Helena. The museum served as a residence to the founder of Seventh-day Adventist Church and one of the most authored women in American history, Ellen G. White. After her death in 1915, it continued serving as a museum and National Historic landmark of the United States. The museum today is operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church organization and is open for public tours all throughout the week. Here one can learn about Ellen’s life, her spiritual journey, her writings and explore her exquisitely preserved Victorian home. For a restful and peaceful morning, it is indeed one of the best sites you can visit in St. Helena.

Explore the Off-Beat Elmshaven Historic House Museum, St. Helena

Image Source

3. Dine Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch

If you happen to be in the city of St. Helena ever, there’s no better place to dine than the Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch. It is basically a restaurant located over 650-acre of historic ranch and winery, known for its executive farm-to-tables serves. The main chef at Farmstead, Chef Stephen Barber, definitely has magic in his hands and skills in his experience that makes every single bite in the plate an absolute delight. This culinary epicenter in Napa Valley brings a unique experience for the food enthusiasts where they can taste wild-caught petrale sole with pole beans, Yukon potato gnocchi, smoked ham sandwiches, grass-fed lamb and beef, and whatnot. Also, considering it can be reached right in downtown St. Helena, what’s a better coincidence than that?

4. Admire the Artwork at The Christopher Hill Gallery

The Christopher Hill Gallery is the Oldest Contemporary Fine Art Gallery of the town standing here since the year 2002. It can be reached in downtown St. Helena, on the second floor of its building, presenting a range of contemporary paintings and prints from the 20th and 21st centuries. Here you can find artwork of both regional and national artists from a diversity of styles to mediums, and every single piece here will make you want to include them in your collection. One can even buy paintings from the Gallery, though mind it, the beautiful collection here will cost a lot to your pocket. The Christopher Hill Gallery in St. Helena definitely houses a hidden art treasure, and if you are someone who is keen on art and its diversity, then the Gallery is definitely must have an entry on your itinerary.

Admire the Artwork at The Christopher Hill Gallery, St. Helena

Image Source Photo Courtesy The Christopher Hill Gallery From FB

5. Spend Some Time Around The Lake Berryessa

Lake Berryessa is a spot where one can find natural beauty, tranquillity, and peace altogether. It is situated half an hour away from St. Helena, crossing an absolute scenic route. Lake Berryessa is also one of the largest human-made lakes in Northern California, with about 165 miles of shoreline and 20,000 acres of surface area. It is an ideal place for swimming, boating, picnicking, camping, or a leisurely drive. The temperature here stays nearly 30 degrees Celsius throughout the day though light water breeze, ample shades, and pretty views around make it quite comforting to be around. Unless you aren’t here during National or regional holidays, you can find absolute empty and peaceful lakeside that will make you stay here all across the day.

6. Moore Creek Park

An off-beat path, 1,600 acres of rugged terrain, the Moore Creek Park in St. Helena is plentiful of everything one can expect for an outdoor recreational spot. The Park is home to miles of trails, all ideal for hiking, cycling, and horse riding, offering shaded pathways and beautiful views of the canyon below. Before you begin, you can park at the south unit of Lake Hennessy and get quick access to the Chiles Creek Trail. This particular unit offers stunning views of Lake Hennessy and its watershed that indeed are prepossessing. While exploring the Park, hikers can come across Oak woodlands, Douglas Fir & Madrone Forest, grasslands, chaparral, and plenty of wildlife. From large mammals like mountain lions, bobcat, black bears and coyote to small ones like deer and rabbits, you can spot multiple of them on your way. Make sure you carry plenty of water along as there isn’t any resource inside the Park.

7. Plan a Peaceful Picnic at the V. Sattui Winery

V. Sattui Winery is a 38 acres family-owned winery plus vineyard located at the White Lane along Highway 29 in St. Helena. It is open for public visits from Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm, offering more than 60 wine varietals (their own make) and stunning views of Napa Valley. This stunning site in St. Helena was found in 1885 and had been offering award-winning white and red wines on their menu. The winery also provides a picnic in an area where visitors can bring along their food and buy a glass or bottle of wine from the site itself. The picnic site here is settled amidst ancient Valley Oak trees and tri-level terraces that provide views of lush vineyards and well-manicured beautiful gardens.

8. Explore the Beringer Vineyards

Beringer Vineyards is the oldest continuously operating winery in the Napa Valley operating since the year 1876. It is also registered under Californian Historic landmark, and National Register of Historic Places and is known to be the one offering the first public vineyard tours in the Napa Valley. The entire property includes 12 buildings, 2 of which are not in operations now; however, the other ten is still contributing. Rhine House is one of the most prominent buildings, amongst them designed by Albert Schroepfer, known for its elaborate interiors and magnificent exteriors. Being here, you can tour the stunning vineyards, century-old estate buildings, old wineries, wine caves, and stunning gardens.

9. Visit the Sutter Home Winery

One of the largest family-run independent wineries in the United States and the second-largest in the world, the Sutter Home Winery is definitely a gem to explore. It is known for its famous sweet rose wine, White Zinfandel, along with 21 other wine varietals, including some specials like White Merlot, Chenin blanc, Red Bland, Moscato Sangria, and the Pink Moscato. Wine production has drastically increased from 25,000 cases in the year 1981 to about 10 million cases in the year 2020. When here, make sure you explore their lush vineyards, beautifully maintained gardens (Especially the rose garden), and other execute exhibits. Sutter Home offers complimentary wines to all its visitors along with paid tasting tours thereafter.

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