70 miles N of San Francisco
The town of Yountville was founded by the first white American to settle in the valley, George Calvert Yount. While it lacks the small-town charm of neighboring St. Helena and Calistoga -- primarily because its main street is rather sprawling and sprinkled with shops and restaurants rather than sites -- it does serve as a good base for exploring the valley. And it's home to a handful of excellent wineries, inns, boutiques, and a small stretch of fabulous restaurants, including the world-renowned French Laundry.