Meadowood
Hotel Name: Meadowood Resort Napa Valley
Number of Rooms: 85
Location: Approximately 90 minutes from both San Francisco and Sacramento Airports; 40 minutes from Napa County Airport.
Founded as a private club back in 1960, Meadowood’s vibe is classic, all-American luxury. White clapboard cottages, each with special features like cozy window seats and crackling fireplaces, are tucked into 250 acres of rolling green land. Tennis courts, croquet lawns, and a nine-hole golf course are encircled by hiking trails, and the sun-dappled private desk and homey, low-key atmosphere makes guests feel as if they are visiting the summer house that they’ve been going to for years. Don’t miss out on Meadowood’s wine tours, picnics, and highly acclaimed, three-Michelin-starred restaurant.
What We Loved: We’re suckers for a beamed ceiling, and many of Meadowood’s airy suites and bungalows are vaulted and beamed; we’re also basically obsessed with the wrap-around windows and private decks that offer soothing views onto the property’s epic oaks and redwoods.
What We Didn’t Love: Linens and couches are light, bright neutral, so make sure you don’t knock over your liberal pour of cab sauv.
Right For: Foodies (book several months in advance for a table at the succinctly named The Restaurant), girls’ trips, mini-mooners. Every stop on the Hamptons Wine Trail wants to grow up to be Meadowood.
Wrong For: The grounds at Meadowood are quite hilly in places, so make sure you take location into account when choosing a room.
Best Time to Visit: Napa is beautiful from March to November; August-October is harvest season, the busiest time of year. If weather isn’t your focus, visit in January and chow down at the Truffle Festival.
TLF Tip: Make sure to bring your sporty whites if you want to play on one of the property’s two croquet lawns.