• Article
• Nov 19, 2015

Each week, travel writer Katie Morell will detail how to spend 50 hours in a different San Francisco Bay Area city for the Super Bowl 50 Host Committee’s #Perfect50 Hour Series.

Picture a place where hills are rolling and covered with vineyards, high-end resorts are approachable and cozy, wineries are welcoming and always serving the finest varietals, where restaurants are so tasty that celebrities wait in line to get in, and independent boutiques line the downtown. That place is the town of St. Helena. Housing just 6,000 permanent residents, the 5-square-mile town is a quick 60-mile drive north of San Francisco.

Those who travel this way are in for a real treat. Here, we detail the perfect way to spend a 50-hour getaway in St. Helena.

Day 1

8:30 a.m. – Wake up inside the ultra-luxurious, 2,140-square-foot Estate Suite at Meadowood Napa Valley, a five-star resort on 250-acres. Slip on a robe, pour yourself a cup of coffee and walk out to onto your expansive patio overlooking a picturesque valley. If the weather is chilly, turn on the fireplace and relax—there is a reason this place was ranked onTravel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards List for 2015.

Put on some stylish yet comfortable workout clothing (sneakers are a must), bring a hat and sunscreen and then head out.

9:30 a.m. – Set your GPS for 1429 Main Street and less than eight minutes later settle into a seat at Archetype, an airy and bright restaurant that serves to-die-for breakfast on the weekends (it opens at 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays through Fridays). Ask your server for an order of the lemon-ricotta pancakes and summer squash omelet and don’t forget to get a side of cinnamon walnut rolls (calories don’t matter on vacation). Wash it down with another hot cup of coffee.

10:30 a.m. – Just a block down the street, bop into St. Helena Cyclery and pick up your main mode of transportation for the day. Rent a hybrid ($45 per person for the day) or road bike (from $85/day), and then start pedaling. Your first stop will be Duckhorn Vineyards, a legacy winery that has been part of St. Helena for almost 40 years. Known for its Bordeaux varietals, make sure to try the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot while you are there. Walk out onto the patio of the quaint wine tasting house for a picture perfect view of the surrounding vineyard.

12:30 p.m. – Lunch will happen a little later today. Instead of eating, follow Silverado Trail south for a while until you hit Zinfandel Lane, take a right and another right on St. Helena Highway. A little more than six miles after you left Duckhorn, stop your bikes at Hall Wines, an exceptionally beautiful winery with floor to ceiling windows and more than 35 pieces of contemporary art on display. Spend the next few hours strolling the property and tasting the wine in this incredible setting.

2:30 p.m. – Likely famished by now, walk your bike across the street and tie it up outside V. Sattui Winery, a spot that has been around since 1885. Instead of doing a tasting here, walk in and buy a bottle in your favorite varietal. Then, get in line for the deli and order a heaping lunch of goodies, including bread and every kind of cheese you can imagine. Afterward, spread out under the trees outside for an alfresco picnic straight out of Under The Tuscan Sun.

4:00 p.m. – Once finished (remember to drink lots of water—you will be driving soon), ride your bikes 1.5 miles north to St. Helena Cyclery, drop them off and get back in your car. Then drive back to Meadowood and take a shower. Next up: spa time!

You are in luck because Meadowood Spa is brand new (opened in early November 2015) and it is exquisite. Settle in for the Essential Journey, a 90-minute experience that includes a massage, body treatment or facial.

6:30 p.m. – Blissed out, return to your room and put on some fancy clothes for dinner. Leave your car where it is—you are eating on property tonight. When you are ready, walk over to The Restaurant at Meadowood. Relax for the next several hours as Chef Christopher Kostow prepares dishes native to Napa Valley (menu changes frequently depending on what is in season).

Day 2

9:00 – Wake up this morning and put on some casual clothes (no need for workout wear today, but you still want to be comfortable). Drive two miles south into downtown St. Helena and grab a seat at the gorgeous outdoor café at Farmsted at Long Meadow Ranch at 738 Main Street. Sit on the outdoor patio and enjoy coffee, pastries and oatmeal while recounting the insane meal you ate last night.

10:30 a.m. – Leave your car parked and—coffee in hand—spend the next few hours peaking into the adorable boutiques along Main Street. Make sure to check out Pearl Wonderful Clothing, Amelia Claire and Vintage Home.

12:30 p.m. – After some refreshing retail therapy, grab a seat at Market, an American restaurant with a cozy atmosphere that features exposed brick. True to the Napa farm-to-table style, this place has its own organic garden, so order the Green Goddess Iceberg Wedge Salad and the Heirloom Tomato and Watermelon Salad. Also excellent is the organic fried chicken and IPA beer battered tiger prawns.

2:00 p.m. – Time for some culture! From Market, walk up to Adams Street and take a right. Two blocks down make a left on Library Lane and walk into the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum. The museum pays homage to the 19th century author who spent time in the Napa Valley during his short life (he died at 44 years old). The museum is free to the public and open between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

4:00 p.m. – A day in St. Helena isn’t complete without a visit to at least one winery; get your fill with a six-block walk over to Clif Family Winery, a super casual yet beautiful decorated spot owned by the founders of Clif Bar. Enjoy chatting with the wine makers and savoring several varietals before heading out.

5:30 p.m. – Still on your feet (and most likely a little hungry by now), walk to dinner (about a half-mile away) to Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen, known for its delicious grub. Start with the grilled calamari and stuffed Piquillo peppers, and then move on to the seasonal soup and the rabbit tostada. If you really loved the food, grab a cookbook written by the chef (Cindy Pawlcyn) on your way out. Mustards Grill Napa Valley is especially great—it won the James Beard Award for best American cookbook in 2002.

Day 3

9:30 a.m. – Wake up late this morning and relax for a while before checking out. Once you are ready to go, swing by Model Bakery at 1357 Main Street. This is one of the best places in the St. Helena to get a breakfast sandwich (order with a house-made English muffin) and granola (comes with cranberries and golden raisins). Be sure to purchase a heap of cookies for the road (and a sandwich for lunch). This is the best way to end a 50-hour getaway in St. Helena.

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Katie Morell is an independent journalist based in San Francisco who writes about travel, business and social justice issues. Her work has appeared in Hemispheres, Fast Company, USA Today, Diversity Woman, BBC Travel and others. Read more of her work at www.katiemorell.com