Field Trip: Napa's Silverado Resort And Spa

Silverado is a pristine resort ideally situated in the heart of wine country, within driving distance of over 200 wineries and accessible to an array of shops and restaurants. At 1200 acres, it houses the largest private resort spa in Napa Valley, 2 championship 18-hole golf courses, 10 swimming pools, 13 tennis courts, and over 400 private cottage suites. The golf courses, which were redesigned by PGA Hall of Famer Johnny Miller, have hosted several PGA Tour events throughout the years. The mansion, which was built in the 1870's is a California landmark. It offers 12,00 square feet of indoor space and has hosted meetings, conferences, galas, and receptions.

The Silverado Resort and Spa was named Best Destination Resort and Best Hotel by Northern California Metings + Events and is a premier destination for visitors to the area. It offers all of the conveniences of a luxury hotel in a quaint, serene setting. The rooms feature plush king-sized beds dressed with Egyptian cotton bedding, private balconies or patios, a private entrance and unique decor.

One thing of note is the variety of activities that are offered at the resort. The nightly resort fee includes access to the fitness studio, complimentary tennis (including a weekly Monday morning clinic), live music on Thursday evenings, wine tasting on Friday and Saturday afternoons, and a weekly putting clinic held on Sunday mornings.

The Spa

As the single largest private resort spa in the Valley, the Roman-inspired spa has much to offer for those seeking relaxation and bliss. The Spa at Silverado was chosen as Best for Affordability in the SpaFinder Readers' Choice Awards. Despite it's size, the spa is quite and tranquil, and offers a variety of resources to help you achieve your health and wellness goals. Highlights include 17 private treatment rooms, outdoor treatment cabanas, separate lounges and facilities for men and women including saunas, steam rooms, and whirlpools, a spacious fitness studio, a four-lane swimming pool, and a full service salon. The nightly resort fee includes access to the fitness studio, including the classes offered each week.

Food

With three on-premise restaurants, you don't technically need to leave the resort for an authentic dining experience. Of the three restaurants, The Main Lounge is your go-to for cocktails and casual fare. Menu items include local artisan cheeses, soups, salads, shellfish, and more.

With stunning views overlooking the resort's golf courses and fresh, local, sustainable cuisine, The Grill at Silverado is an ideal setting for both casual and formal dining experiences. The restaurant serves cuisine characteristic of the area and offers outdoor dining on the deck. Be sure to check out their prix fixe menu, which focuses on the chef's choice of sustainable seafood, offered every Tuesday. On Thursday evenings, you can explore your foodie side as the restaurant offers an internationally themed pix fixe four-course meal.

For an upscale dining experience, visit the Royal Oak at Silverado Resort. The restaurant has an established reputation for offering premium steaks but has recently focused on offering it's guests sustainable food options. Rest assured that you'll still find Certified Angus Beef steaks as well as grilled seafood on the menu. The restaurant will open for the season in February.

Spa Getaway Package

The resort offers a number of packages that add value to your stay. The Spa Getaway Package includes overnight accommodations in a fireplace suite, one 50-minute treatment per person, full use of the spa and it's facilities, discounts on additional spa services and products, a food and beverage credit for each guest, and a pass for complimentary wine tasting at a local Napa vineyard. Midweek rates begin at $225 and weekend rates begin at $240.

Located just minutes from the resort, the equestrian center turned Black Stallion Winery is listed amongst the most prestigious collection of wineries in the Napa Valley. The winery handcrafts and carefully blends their wines from small vineyard lots, each of which is fermented and aged separately. Their signature red wines include three different cabernet sauvignon blends and a Malbec. Of note, the winery offers pairings of individual gourmet flatbread pizzas and a glass of wine on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The winery is open daily for tastings and tours or guests have the option to book a private tour, tasting, lunch and/or dinner. For more information or pricing and special events, visit their website.

Located in the city of St. Helena, Markham Winery is one of the oldest operating wineries in the Napa Valley. The property does not house a vineyard, rather, the winery selects grapes from a several vineyards in the area to develop their wines. Of note, each year the winery produces two limited production estate wines. The tasting room is open to the public daily and tours (which include a wine tasting flight) are available by appointment only. What's unique about their visitor center is the small art gallery housed on the second level. Bonus: Admission is free.

A visit to the region is not complete without a stop at one of the world's most unique campuses for culinary education. The property itself is picturesque and rich in history. If you're looking for a food experience like no other, stop by the restaurant where chefs and the institute's senior students cook in open teaching kitchens. Here is where you'll learn about food and wine, engage in premium olive tasting, and eat some of the most amazing food in the valley.