St. Helena, California
There are a lot of excellent places to stay in Napa Valley, but Meadowood has been the veritable heart of this region for over 60 years, and it shows. In a nutshell, it feels marvelously, authentically, singularly Napa—from its 36 guest rooms and suites designed by locally based, globally renowned architect Howard Bracken, to its impressive wine center spotlighting the area’s best vineyards, and a spa that taps into the area’s centuries-old legacy as a wellness destination. The guest rooms and suites have a sort of chic barn feel. They aren’t at all rustic–clean lines, a sea of white and neutrals–but the wainscoting and high, beamed ceilings do give fancy farmhouse energy. Cottages and suites all have private porches, and though they are open-planned and airy, the fireplaces, soaking tubs, window seats and comfy sofas keep things cozy. The spa is a real highlight and should not be missed. The space is soothing—low-lit with a big fireplace and deep sofas in the entry area. The vibe is welcoming and a true continuation of the resort’s aesthetic (rather than some minimalist, antiseptic annex, which is often the case), with lots of neutrals and dark grays, olive-hued tones, and organic materials. As far as restaurants go, there’s the Terrace Café—alfresco and open only to guests of the resort and club members—that serves light, local fare. While I was there, I had an excellent ceviche-and-quinoa bowl at the all-day spot Forum. The menu is seasonally inspired (so menu items rotate), leans locally sourced, and has excellent vegetarian options as well as, not surprisingly, a stellar wine list. Like most places in this wildfire-prone part of the state, landscaping on-site is kept to mostly native or drought-tolerant plants that don’t require a huge amount of water (to help prevent fires, the property has sheep and goats to eat the growth). In the wake of the Glass Fire, the property has replanted 2,300 trees and has additional reforestation efforts planned. The resort leans into sourcing locally (wine, food, spa ingredients) and hiring locally. As such, the staff is warm, helpful, and knowledgeable. The quality of service is high but not so formal and fussy—it may be Napa, but this is, after all, California. —Rebecca Misner
