1. Silverado Museum
City: St. Helena, CA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (707) 963-3757
Address: 1490 Library Lane
Description: A California museum devoted to a Scottish novelist might seem a bit strange, but, hey, Robert Louis Stevenson did help immortalize the area with his The Silverado Squatters. He also penned classics such as Treasure Island, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and others you’ll read all about at the museum. It has first editions, artifacts from the Stevenson home, personal letters and photographs, and a few original manuscripts (though most of those reside at Yale University). The museum is closed Monday but open the rest of the week from noon to 4:00 p.m.
City: St. Helena, CA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 2555 Main Street
3. Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park
City: St. Helena, CA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (707) 942-4575
Address: 3369 Highway 29
Description: The friendly miller will tell you how this park is a working reminder of the days when “milling” involved more than driving to Safeway for a bag of all-purpose flour. Dr. Edward Bale built the wood-frame mill in 1846, and it has been painstakingly refurbished. The park is open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, but the best times to visit are weekend days at 11:30 a.m. and 1:00, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m. That’s when the park cranks up the wooden, 36-foot waterwheel and gets those original quartz stones to grinding wheat or corn. Admission is $2 for adults; children under 16 free. From here you can hike to adjacent Bothe-Napa Valley State Park (see the Parks and Recreation chapter).
4. White Barn
City: St. Helena, CA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (707) 251-8715, (707) 963-3408
Address: 2727 Sulphur Springs Avenue
Description: Originally a carriage house built in 1872, it’s now a 75-seat theater for stage and musical performances, located in a rural setting. A Celtic musical group, Kith and Kin, is one musical act that appeared in 2008. Seats are not reserved, and tickets run about $25.
5. I. Wolk Gallery
City: St. Helena, CA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (707) 963-8800
Address: 1354 Main Street
Description: This gallery is known for tasteful art presented in lovely, immaculate spaces. Expect everything from paintings and works on paper to photography and sculpture. The gallery is open 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Monday. I. Wolk also operates galleries at the Auberge du Soleil and MacArthur Place spa resorts, and at Cliff Lede Vineyards (1473 Yountville Crossroad in Yountville.)
6. Art On Main
City: St. Helena, CA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (707) 963-3350
Address: 1359 Main Street
Description: As one of St. Helena’s most prominent and centrally located spaces, Art on Main focuses on, but is not limited to, images of vineyards and wine. It’s primarily a venue for Northern California artists working in traditional watercolors and oils. Gail Packer’s extensive series of multiplate etchings are featured, with frames designed by artist Hildy Henry. Other contributors include Garberville’s Josh Adam and Hopland’s Ray Voisard. Open daily 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.