Is St. Helena Everything they say it is?
 

So today, the news channels are filled with reports of how the Pres will be staying nearby at St. Helena.

I have never been to St. Helena and only drove through sonoma once, so my knowledge of Napa is almost next to nil.

I do hear about St. Helena all the time....in commercials selling addiction rehab programs! Ha! No, I am not laughing at the need for such programs, but laughing at what I see St. Helena as when the place first comes to mind.

If anyone has been to St. Helena, what are the things you liked about it most? Is it generally overpriced and touristy, or is it more laid back?

Napoleon was exiled there. Why not President Bush? Oh, wrong St. Helena. Never mind.

When I think about St. Helena, I think of sitting in bumper to bumper traffic on 128/29 which runs through the heart of town. Nice shopping and restaurants though. There are many options, most not cheap, in lodging from some small B&Bs to luxury resorts such as Meadowood nestled outside the town in the hills with rooms starting at 450 a night. Some of the lodging closer to the town lacks the charm factor due to traffic noise and congestion. Personally, I prefer quieter, quainter towns in wine country.

When I think of St Helena I think of Martini House, Cindy's Backstreet, The Lovely Razzledazzles, Taylor's Refresher and <i>secret shorcuts</i> :$

We've only stopped in St. Helena once, although we've passed through many, many times. Cute shops, don't know about the food. <b>Bumper to bumper traffic</b>.

Go to Martini House, Tra Vigna for the pizza and pasta, Sunshine Market for all sorts of things, the farmers market in the spring and definitely learn the back roads.

Definitely take the bach roads, although I hear nobody's going anywhere this weekend cause of Bush's visit.Lots of roads closed, so it will be a tourist nightmare. So glad we got there early this year!!!

St. Helena has streets full of lovely period homes, as well as any number of good restaurants and shops. We love it.

I enjoy St. Helena.
<b> ALOT</b>.
I'm quite biased, however.
:S-
and the darling Kals' showed me even more <i>secret shortcuts</i>....
:$

((R)) ((R)) ((R))

R5

:-d :-d

When you're bike riding you don't look for long cuts! C:)

St. Helena's OK. There's really not much there, it has a bit of charm, you can see the little shops in an hour. Yes, there are some really good retaurants but if you're in the Napa Valley for the weekend you should stop by St. Helena. I wouldn't consider it a destination though.

I first visited St. Helena in 1972. My father lived (and died) there. It was very quaint at the time and I loved the weather. We visited a few wineries but there wasn't much going on. It was very nice then but now it is way too commercialized.

They have a very nice cemetary with one heck of a view of the valley. Reserve your plot now :)

Taylor's refresher? My kids stopped on the way from Calistoga, and we had a lunch there. Out of all places!

Anyway, to answer the OP question about the rehabs - I think there are very cleverly strategically placed in the heart of the Wine Country. Compare to all the visitors, and suddenly your addiction becomes just a hobby.

The nice thing we found about St. Helena is that it's a great central location. You can easily drive to Napa or Calistoga. Plus there are great restaurants you can walk to because the town is not too large. We enjoyed our stay there.