The City of St. Helena is at the heart of wine country in the Napa Valley. It is where Robert Louis Stevenson spent his two-month honeymoon in a mining camp on the slope of Mount St. Helena, immortalized in his novel The Silverado Squatters.
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The City of St. Helena is at the heart of wine country in the Napa Valley. It is where Robert Louis Stevenson spent his two-month honeymoon in a mining camp on the slope of Mount St. Helena, immortalized in his novel The Silverado Squatters.
St. Helena is five square miles in area and is right in the center of the wine-growing region of Napa County in the San Francisco Bay Area. Home to 5,814 residents (2010 U.S. Census), it's the place San Franciscans go on weekends to taste the latest wines and get pampered at one of the many luxury spas. With its world famous wineries, St. Helena also attracts visitors from all over the world. But living in St. Helena is so much better than being a visitor because you won't have to travel at all to enjoy everything it has to offer. You can still rent a limo when friends want to come over for a wine tasting trip!
Although the wineries operate year-round, there are certain times of the year when there are fewer tourists in the city. Winter and very early spring are the best times to begin your search for apartments in St. Helena, while the late spring and summer months will be busy with visitors. It will be much easier to find housing when there are fewer tourists around, especially if you are looking for a house to rent or townhouses for rent since some landlords may rent out rooms to vacationers on a short term basis.
Start Your Search
You may be dead set on setting yourself up right next to a winery so that you have easy access to your choice beverage, but let's get serious here. Do you really want to deal with all the tourists that will be parking in your driveway? Start your search by using an apartments locator to get a feel for where you can find the perfect apartment complex or duplex for rent. Whether you're looking for two bedroom apartments or studio apartments, searching online will help you narrow down the areas of the city best suited for your needs. If you have a dog or cat be sure to look specifically for pet friendly apartments as some won't allow pets.
Test the Waters
Once you've narrowed down your list to a few choices, go out and take a tour of each location. This is your chance to get a feel for the apartment as well as the landlord or apartment manager. Remember, you will have to deal with this person if any situation arises, so listen to your gut feeling during the meeting. If you are looking at 2 bedroom apartments, check the locations of the bedrooms within the unit. You may want both bedrooms to face away from the street or to be on opposite sides of the unit. Other things to consider are the location of the unit such as the floor it's on, whether it's close to a garbage chute, away from the pool area, or facing west. If a stunning view is on your must-have list, you'll find out if you can score the unit with the view during your tour.
Do the Paperwork
After you've taken the tours and have decided on the perfect apartment, you'll need to get some paperwork done. If other tenants are interested in the unit, you may need to fill out an application and be placed on a waiting list. You will also need to provide proof of income to show you can pay the monthly rent, as well as a list of personal references. Once you have passed the application process and are selected as the tenant, you will need to sign the rental agreement or contract. But before you do that, make sure you understand what is included in the monthly rent and what deposit is required up front. Most landowners will require first month's rent as well as a security deposit, which you should be prepared to pay on the day you sign the agreement. Congratulations, you are on your way to living in beautiful St. Helena!
St. Helena sits between Calistoga and Napa, with Highway 29 running through its center. It's divided almost equally into two major neighborhoods, City Center and Spring/Main Street. Housing can be found in both of these neighborhoods, but each has its own unique features.
City Center: This neighborhood runs from Deer Park Road to Spring Street and is home to Beringer Vineyards. There are several shops, restaurants and businesses serving this neighborhood along Main Street.
Spring/Main Street: This neighborhood is southeast of City Center and is more residential, with a few parks and schools tucked into the community. It is still within easy walking, biking or driving distance to the many businesses on Main Street/Highway 29.
Top Apartments
Grand View Apartments: Located on Main Street near Beringer, this apartment complex offers a variety of different options for new renters looking to move into the City Center area.
Stonebridge Apartments: On College Avenue, this complex is a five-acre apartment community offering one to four bedroom units, a community center, play structures, and a community fruit and vegetable garden.
Woodbridge Village Apartments: A smaller 50-unit property on Hunt Avenue.
Because of its relatively compact area, walking to and from shops and art galleries on Main Street is popular among the locals. If you don't feel like walking and don't have a car, you can use the super convenient St. Helena Shuttle operated by the VINE transit system. This on demand public transit service will pick you up and take you anywhere within the city limits for a $1.00 fare. Visit the Silverado Museum which houses a collection of books, papers and artifacts that shed light on Robert Louis Stevenson's life and works. Then head over to the Goose and Gander for some pub grub. To go farther afield, take the Calistoga Shuttle and head 15 minutes north to Calistoga for a spa treatment or take the Napa line south to splurge at the premium outlet stores. There is so much to do and see in and around St. Helena, you will never want to leave!
