When you turn onto the driveway at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa, it’s hard not to get a little excited. Once a private estate, the signature white mansion, flanked with palm trees, has a wow factor that has stood the test of time.
Built in 1870, it was a private home for nearly a century, until 1967, when the property opened to the public as a golf resort. Today, along with two PGA championship golf courses, the historic property boasts 345 guest rooms and suites, 10 plexi-paved outdoor tennis courts, three swimming pools, a spa, and fitness center.
Check-in happens at the mansion, but after that, chances are you won’t spend much time there. The resort’s guestrooms and suites aren’t like traditional hotel lodging and are split between four neighborhoods: Mansion Estates is located at the center of the resort, Cottage Drive, The Grove, and the Oak Creek neighborhoods all offer golf course views and are a popular choice of golf enthusiasts.
I stayed in a King Suite in the Mansion Estates neighborhood. It’s a condominium complex. There’s no long interior hallways to navigate, and each suite has its own outdoor entrance.
Room 205 is located on the first floor of a two-story, multi-unit building just off of the parking lot, near the resort entrance. The bedroom with king bed was spacious, there was a well-stocked, full kitchen, dining table for four, and a small patio. The space was clean and comfortable, but a bit dated in style and décor. The room would be an ideal fit for a family or any traveler who values the convenience of a kitchen.
Though all accommodations in the Mansion Estates neighborhood are similar in layout and design, no two are identical. However, all units are equipped with a core list of amenities including a Keurig® coffee maker, in-room safe, iron, ironing board, bathrobes, and hairdryer.
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If you are a light-sleeper, I would recommend requesting accommodations on the second floor, as the movements of the guests above me were notable during my stay.
With more than 400 wineries, chances are good some of your time in Napa Valley will be spent wine tasting, but Silverado Resort is a mecca for golfers. It’s the only Napa Valley resort with 36 holes of championship golf. (It hosts the annual PGA Tour Fortinet Championship.) Rarely a moment goes by when you don’t see a golf cart buzzing around. In addition to large practice putting and chipping greens, there’s a full-length turf driving range, and pro shop. Lessons are available for all levels of players.
But if you’re not a golfer, you won’t feel left out at Silverado Resort. Tennis lessons and camps are offered throughout the year for both kids and adults. There are three outdoor pools, bocce ball courts, and a fitness center. The spa offers an assortment of treatments including massage, body wraps and facials, as well as salon services like manicures, pedicures and haircuts.
The Grill restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner alongside sweeping golf course views. Expect a range of options the likes of huevos rancheros to blueberry pancakes, and corned beef hash at breakfast, to a Crab Louie salad, filet mignon, and a classic burger, during dinner service. Both indoor and outdoor seating is available.
Silverado Market & Bakery features an impressive selection of grab-and-go options including: sandwiches, pastries, huge cookies, assorted coffee drinks, local wines, and beer. Forno Pizza, located steps outside the specialty market, offers a delicious selection of wood-fired pizzas. Enjoy it at a nearby outdoor table, or poolside on a warm, summer night.
Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport is the closest airport — plan on a bit more than an hour to make the trip. Set aside two hours to reach San Francisco International Airport.
Rates for a King Suite start at $499, plus a $30 daily resort fee that includes Wi-fi and parking. Complimentary electric car chargers are available. Book your stay at the hotel website, or go through an online booking site like Expedia or Booking.com where you might get a better rate.
Review and photos by San Francisco Bay Area travel writer and television correspondent Dana Rebmann. Her stay was organized by Silverado Resort and Spa, but as always her thoughts and opinions are her own.
