A visit to the wine country would not be complete without a trip to the historic town of Calistoga. This is California's original spa town. Visitor's flocked to the the resorts in Calistoga to enjoy its hot springs and warm climate since 1862, when Sam Brannan opened his first resort here. Not much has changed nearly 150 years later - people still come to enjoy Calistoga's hot springs resorts, mud baths and mineral pools.

Another pioneer, John "Doc" Wilkinson created the modern spa industry with his first resort , Dr. Wilkinson's Hot Springs featuring a clinical approach to providing mud and mineral bath services in 1952.

Calistoga was named one of the Top Ten destinations for relaxation and spa by Trip Advisor's 2010 Travelers Choice Destinations Awards. In addition to having a large number of spas, Calistoga has great restaurants and wine. Recently given its own Napa Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area) Calistoga is home to many wineries. Many of the hot air balloons launched in the Napa and Sonoma Valley are launched here. Whether you come to visit for the day or a week, one thing is certain, you will be back.

With more than two dozen spas it would be impossible to profile them all, so I have chosen just a few, each providing a distinct spa experience.

Dr. Wilkinson's Hot Springs Resort: is located on Lincoln Avenue with an iconic retro sign, this is the original modern day spa. They specialize in Mud Baths, Mineral Water Whirlpool Tubs, Mineral Steam Rooms, Blanket Wraps and Massages of varied styles. Services are provided in adjacent men and woman's bathing areas. My favorite is "The Works" with a massage, which lasts up to 2 or 2.5 hours depending on the length of the massage. You will feel relaxed and pampered at the end of the treatment. This is a fun buddy activity since you can go through the treatment at the same time. And when you are lying in the mud bath, its fun to have someone you know in the adjacent bath. You can stay at Dr. Wilkinson's Resort and enjoy their three mineral pools available to hotel guests. Don't take my word for it, NFL football coach  Dick Vermeil has been coming here for over 50 years.

Roman Spa Hot Springs Resort: is family owned and operated and has been providing spa services since 1975. Their clients love coming here so much that they are on the third generation of  their original customer's. Consistently ranked in the Top 3 Calistoga Spas by Trip Advisor, this is a great place to experience their mineral or mud baths. Should you decide to stay at the resort, you can enjoy their three mineral pools all at different temperatures, filled with natural geothermal mineral water directly from the source.

Indian Springs Resort and Spa: founded in 1861, is California’s oldest continuously operating pool and spa facility. Four thermal geysers on the 16-acre property produce bountiful supplies of hot, rich mineral water. Treat yourself to a mud bath with their own pure volcanic ash and you will experience a long- practiced ritual. Immerse yourself in the mineral pool and you’ll enjoy the waters just as generations before did. It is easy to relax in this beautiful resort with amazing pools and spas and comfortable accommodations. You can stay in the historic cabins or the lodge, all come with luxurious amenities to make your stay most enjoyable.

Solage Calistoga Resort: Calistoga's newest resort with 89 eco-friendly studio accommodations, this is an upscale resort and spa property. Recent awards include Spa Solage voted #1 Best Spa in the Americas and the Caribbean by Condé Nast Traveller, and Michelin Star rated Solbar, named "Best New Restaurant" in Napa Valley by Napa/Sonoma Magazine, you'll find countless ways to relax, refresh and enjoy. Rejuvenate yourself with a soak in their geo-thermal mineral waters at the Bathhouse. While in Calistoga, you must indulge in the the historic mud and healing water traditions that made Calistoga famous. The resort provides complimentary cruiser bicycles to get into town, a short ride away.

These spas represent a cross section of the variety of spa services and accommodations. Click here for a longer list of Calistoga Spas you might also want to visit. Stay tuned -- Calistoga has lots to do including wine tasting, music and events to be discussed in my next article.

See My Slideshow: Taking the Waters at Calistoga Spas

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