The Carneros Inn resort, a Plumpjack resort, is actually a small village of 80+ cottages built into miniature neighborhoods.  The resort owners advertise the design as “California Farm”.   To my wife and I it felt more like a Restoration Hardware catalog.  If you like that look, you will love this resort much like we did.   The basic garden “cottages” are small pre-fabricated 420 square foot suites that have a front porch and 420 Sq. feet of living space as well as a spacious bathroom with heated floors.  In addition to the room is approximately another 420 sq. ft. outdoor living area you can walk out onto via your french doors. or through your outdoor shower.  Yes, your outdoor shower.  Our room came equipped with a king size bed, fireplace (with duraflame log), flatscreen TV, DVD player, soaking tub, a deck with chaise lounges, heating lamp and the aforementioned and signature indoor/outdoor shower.  Some of these outdoor showers have a cutout so you can overlook the vineyards as you lather up.

All together the “farm” feel seemed like a luxurious alternative to our city digs just 35 minutes south of us.  A great way to just get away mid-week to celebrate our anniversary, the Carneros Inn took us far away from our normal every day life even if it was just for 24 hours.  We couldn’t have been further from home while still have the modern and local luxuries that we enjoy every day.

Although they know that you will most likely leave the premises, the Carneros Inn gave us plenty of reasons to never leave.  The spa is a great retreat for locals and we found many women there for a “spa day”.  There are 3 restaurants.  The Boon Fly Cafe for a casual meal (hamburgers, donuts, etc.), the Farm, a high end restaurant featuring locally grown organic and sustainablly raised dishes, with homemade breads, pastries and Artesian charcuteries, and the Hilltop restaurant located near the adult pool.  There is also a small grocery where you can pick up deli items for a picnic.  Additional amenities include free bicycles which allow you bike the back roads to the local wineries where you can do some wine tasting, a large workout and fitness center, and two pool areas.  One pool area has a baby wading pool complete with baby Adirondack chairs.  The Hilltop infinite pool is for adults (over 14 only) and also includes an outdoor hot tub.  There is a great pool staff waiting to help you with your umbrella, towel and drink orders.  The resort has complimentary wi-fi as well as a complimentary stocked mini-bar.

 

Situated off of highway 121 between the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, you are are conveniently situated for winetasting in either direction.  You are only a 5 minute drive to the Napa Outlets and downtown Napa.  You are here for the aura of  Northern California.  Surrounded my vineyards, the only sounds you will hear at night are barking dogsfrom the local kennel, and the occasional scnet of cows and horses.  The resort is literally walled off from the highway so it is easy to miss, but if you are looking for the sheet metal walls, you can’t miss it.

 The closest Sonoma/Napa resort to San Francisco, the resort makes the perfect little getaway if you want to pamper yourself and get a little quiet and relaxation.

One of the great advantages of living in the San Francisco Bay Area is that we are so close to some of the most naturally beautiful places in the world.  Just 45 minutes north of San Francisco is the Napa and Sonoma Valley Wine country.  While there aren’t many discounts with this resort we took advantage of a mid week one night stay without an early checkout.    The Carneros Inn is a sister company to the Plumpjack Resort located in Lake Tahoe and and is related to the Plumjack Winery as well as the now defunct Jack Falstaff eatery formerly located in  San Francisco’s SOMA  area.

All around the grounds are small apple trees with real apples.  Do not pick them.  Apples are placed in your room daily.  The Bath products are made by Red Flower of New York.  Amazingly for the price of the room, they do want to charge you $30 if you take the bath products home.  A little cheap in my opinion given that the mini-bar and the wi-fi are complementary.