What's
Old is New Again at the Napa River Inn
There's
nothing I love more than an immersive vacation experience-one
that transports you to a time and place that connects you with
the past in a palpable way while adhering to modern standards
and expectations. This is what I encountered during my stay
at the historic Napa River Inn in downtown Napa Valley. But,
don't let the quaintness of this locally-owned, antique-laden
boutique hotel fool you. This property is downtown Napa's highest
Michelin rated hotel, which also nailed a Four-Star rating in
the 2015 Forbes Travel Guide.
With
its plum location within the Historic Napa Mill situated right
on the Napa River, guests of this waterfront hotel are in walking
distance to a burgeoning urban renaissance scene replete with
restaurants, shopping and, of course, wine tasting. Lots and
lots of wine tasting.
Good
things come in hotel packages
Given the property's deep and rich past, with roots dating back
to 1884 courtesy of Captain Albert Hatt, I felt it would be
apropos for my stay at the property to embrace the spirt of
history this hotel embodies. To accomplish this I opted for
the Inn's "Wine Train" Package, which allowed me to
explore a few of Napa's most historic features: The Napa River
Inn and Napa Mill as well as the vintage Wine Train rail cars-some
100 years old. This one-night package for two includes the perfect
mix of activities for a fun-filled Napa getaway: luxury accommodations
in a historically authentic setting, a gourmet in-room breakfast
from the award-winning Sweetie Pies Bakery that's adjacent to
the property, two "Downtown Wine Tasting Cards" for
10-cent tastings at 12 Napa winery tasting rooms that are all
within walking distance, complimentary bicycle rentals and a
truly unforgettable gourmet lunch on the Napa Valley
Wine Train.
Historic
charm meets modern amenities
As was
my explicit intention, my visit to the Napa River Inn was a
true Victorian era throwback. From the moment I stepped into
the quaint marble-laden lobby where to the time I spent in my
"Historic Deluxe" room beautifully appointed with
King canopy bed, fireplace and clawfoot slipper tub, I could
vividly imagine the good times of yore this unique locale has
hosted. There are only sixty-six guest rooms here that are spread
out over three diverse buildings: the Plaza Building, the Embarcadero
Building and the main building above the Inn's lobby. As mentioned,
I stayed in the Historic Deluxe room-one of eight of the oldest
and most notable rooms that are all located within the main
Hatt Building. This building began as a two-story structure
with a U.S. government warehouse on the first floor and a roller
skating rink on the second floor. The roller rink was quite
popular for social events and was in use until 1930. However,
while the exposed white rock maple tongue-and-groove plank hardwood
floor of the skating rink exists even today, the modern incarnation
of the Hatt Building is home to a group of elite hotel rooms,
each boasting a King canopy bed, fireplace and slipper-backed
tub as well as a separate walk-in shower and comfy sitting area
with lounge chairs and a velvet ottoman that make these cozy
yet elegant rooms an ideal retro retreat.
Amenities
abound at the Napa River Inn. All rooms include a personalized
California breakfast delivered daily to your room, evening wine
tasting showcasing a featured winery, in-room gourmet coffee
and tea with Keurig coffee makers, and a refrigerator with complimentary
water and creamer. Enjoy a nice soak with a selection of "Napa
Valley Spa" bath products and lounge in a plush terry robe.
Down pillows, extra cotton blankets, non-allergenic pillows
and individual climate-control systems make for a great night's
sleep.
Not
only is every room stocked with top-quality linens and refreshments,
but also has all the technology you would expect from a modern
inn like a flat panel TV with pay-per-view and in-room check
out; complimentary Wireless high-speed Internet access; two
direct-dial telephones with voicemail and two-line data and
voice ports; and a CD clock radio and MP3 player with iPod docking
station. Guests enjoy a complimentary daily newspaper available
Monday through Friday. Of course there is also the requisite
iron, ironing board, hair dryer, nightlight and illuminated
make-up mirror.
I
spoke with Melodie Hilton, Director of Marketing and PR, about
what makes the rooms and the Napa River Inn special. "We
make sure our rooms have a blend of historic romance and modern
day accoutrements to make our guests feel at home. Also, since
Napa Valley is a romantic destination, we have a top concierge
that can book the most romantic experiences in Napa Valley."
Package
perfection
Speaking of romance, that brings me back to the hotel's Wine
Train package. After you've enjoyed a restful night at the Napa
River Inn and your sumptuous breakfast-in-bed courtesy of Sweetie
Pies Bakery-the smell of baking pastries from which deliciously
permeates the property throughout the day and night-it's time
to take the hotel's courtesy shuttle over to the Napa Valley
Wine Train. There you'll indulge in a 3-hour multi-course gourmet
lunch aboard a gorgeous antique train that meanders through
the Napa Valley countryside. The train's expertly refurbished
1915-1917 Pullman Cars create an atmosphere conducive to relaxation
and enjoyment. Meals, crafted by Executive Chef Kelly Macdonald,
are freshly prepared on the train using environmentally responsible
ingredients, humanely-raised, hormone-free meats and fresh,
line-caught fish. The excursion begins with a welcome taste
of wine to set just the right mood and prepare your palate for
the epicurean delights ahead.
Once
the train pulls back into the station and the Napa River Inn's
courtesy shuttle has whisked you back to the property, I highly
recommend booking a service at The Spa at Napa River, which
is known for using all organic, wild-harvested and hand-milled
products crafted locally. Each treatment is signature and exists
only at this spa location, and all are designed with a guest's
relaxation in mind. Also notable is that Inn guests enjoy discounted
pricing. After the uber-romantic train ride, a couple's massage
is a fantastic finish to the day.
Eat,
drink, shop and make merry
With its downtown riverfront location, the Napa River Inn provides
stellar access to an array of activities. The mill may have
been built in the 1800s, but today this waterfront space offers
visitors a variety of dining, entertainment and shopping options
including live music and microbrews at Silo's, art and theatre
at the Riverbend Performance Plaza, sandwiches and pastries
at Sweetie Pies, candy and confections at the Vintage Sweet
Shoppe, and local artisan goods at Amelia's and the Napa General
Store. Additional dining options include French cuisine at Angéle
and global comfort food at Celadon.
When
you're ready for some wine tasting, grab the two "Downtown
Wine Tasting Cards" that come with the Inn's package and
take a leisurely stroll to a dozen downtown wine tasting rooms
that'll ensure you've left no varietal stone unturned during
your visit to the valley. Each tasting costs just ten cents,
and some of the tasting rooms offer full, well-rounded flights
of up to six different kinds of white, rose and red wines. These
cards are a wonderful way to experience the diversity of wines
that Napa is famous for. And, with the Inn just a stone's throw
away, a designated driver need not be required (although the
courtesy shuttle would be happy to pick you up). Of course,
you can utilize the bicycles that also come with your package
as well to jaunt around downtown if you prefer.
Preserving
the past while thinking ahead
A more modern sensibility is the Napa River Inn's concerted
efforts to be eco-conscious. Hilton explains, "We are an
important adaptive-use development for downtown Napa-an effort
focused on saving and restoring buildings with historic significance.
We maintain environmentally healthy practices, including key
cards of wood instead of plastic, energy efficient lighting
and strong recycling policies. The bricks of the Hatt building
were made from the clay of the Napa River. We also provide free
EV charging for our customers."
As
my own stay drew to a close, I considered what Hilton indicated
was her favorite aspect of the property: its dedication to the
local community. The significance of this property and its preservation
practices cannot be underestimated as, without the Napa River
Inn's dedication to upholding its rich and storied past, downtown
Napa on the whole just wouldn't' be quite as remarkable.
Napa
River Inn
500 Main Street
Napa CA 94559
Toll-Free: (877) 251-8500
Tel: (707) 251-8500
Fax: (707) 251-8504
http://www.napariverinn.com/
By Merilee Kern, 'The Luxe List' Executive Editor
"The
Luxe List" Executive Editor Merilee Kern scours the luxury
marketplace for exemplary travel experiences, extraordinary
events, and notable products and services. Submissions are accepted
at www.LuxeListReviews.com.
Follow her on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/LuxeListEditor
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***Some
or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or
service(s) detailed above were provided at no cost to accommodate
this review, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of
Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way.***