Simply north of San Francisco, Napa Valley is one in every of North America’s most famed (and awarded) wine areas. Fill with heaps of vineyards, beautiful surroundings and cute little cities, it’s the kind of place that’s properly price visiting when exploring the finest locations in California. Belief me, you’ll be spoilt for alternative with so most of the finest issues to do in Napa Valley.
It’s a beautiful space of California.
Now, that can assist you get probably the most out of your keep, I needed to share a number of the prime locations in Napa Valley (and the encompassing space) that we love. This fashion, you’ll be able to give attention to the all-important wines, balloon flights and rambles that make this space so particular.
Have a look, beneath, at a number of the finest issues to do in Napa Valley. Bottoms up!
1.) Sattui Vineyard, St. Helena
Now, everyone knows that Napa Valley is iconic for its scrumptious wines, proper? Properly, even when you’re not technically into your wines, or uncertain of what you want, there are heaps of locations the place you’ll be able to good your abilities with the assistance of in-house sommeliers.
For us, you’ll need to be sure to go to the Sattui Vineyard which has a historical past courting again to the 1800s. Visiting is likely one of the finest issues to do in Napa Valley, particularly if you wish to go to a well-established and historic winery that’s simple to achieve.
To make issues simple, ebook today tour from San Francisco to expertise some beautiful vineyards in Napa Valley. You’ll get to 3 of probably the most prestigious wine estates and even get to walk across the vineyards themselves.
Plus, you’ll have loads of time for a tipple, too.
In St Helena, you can too do balloon excursions, bike excursions, strolling excursions, aircraft excursions, culinary excursions, personal excursions, and lots of different sorts of excursions that can assist you know extra concerning the place and discover them.
Learn extra: Finest issues to do in California
2.) Yountville
Love a superb foodie expertise while on trip?
Then get your self over to Yountville in Napa Valley. Truthfully, it’s among the finest issues to do in Napa Valley when you’re fancying a day away from the vineyards.
Beginning the day with a tremendous breakfast, you have to head to Bouchon Bakery. The home made pastries are so good, so catch them earlier than they promote out.
In the event you miss them, head throughout the road for Mini Mannequin as a substitute. They’ve some tasty English muffins which are so yummy.
Lastly, head over and ebook a desk at The French Laundry. It’s one in every of Thomas Keller’s yummy, fine-dining, spots in Napa Valley. Go for the chef’s tasting menu and also you’ll be in for a deal with.
Learn extra: Finest issues to do in San Francisco
3.) Napa Valley Wine Prepare
Look, we love a superb prepare journey… particularly if it consists of award-wimming wines!
If that feels like enjoyable to you, head over for the Napa Valley Wine Prepare that’s simply among the finest issues to do in Napa Valley while within the area.
The expertise is so particular and properly definitely worth the ticket worth. Simply remember to ebook on-line earlier than heading to Napa Valley. Areas are restricted and this may be very fashionable.
As you experience the historic prepare, a number of meals and award-winning Napa Valley wines are served so that you can get pleasure from. Departing and ending in St. Helena, the roundtrip is over 30 miles and a stunning technique to see the broader space.
We love the ‘Legacy Expertise’ ticket they provide. You spend round 3 hours on the prepare and three hours in several wineries. Plus, it consists of your 4-course meal and oodles of wines to style.
Learn extra: Finest issues to do in California
4.) Napa Valley Museum
Now, I do know I’ve already talked about Yountville, however I needed to give the Napa Valley Museum a devoted level to go to. It’s such a particular place to see within the area and among the finest issues to do in Napa Valley if you wish to be taught extra about historic artefacts.
You see, this spot isn’t about wines and though small, it’s a stunning technique to break up the day when you’re having somewhat ‘winery fatigue’.
As soon as inside, you’ll get to see historic artefacts, pictures, and work from the broader area. Completely different exhibitions are featured within the museum, too, which showcase native, regional, and nationwide artists and personal collections. It’s an amazing little spot for 45 minutes.
Learn extra: Finest locations to go to on the Large Sur
5.) Skyline Wilderness Park, Napa
Within the picturesque foothills of Napa Valley, the Skyline Wilderness Park is one completely gorgeous place to go to while road-tripping the realm. In actual fact, it’s proper on town fringe of Napa itself.
Good when you’re in search of one thing aside from wine, the Skyline Wilderness Park is ideal for picnics, camps and trails, too. We cherished the Buckeye Path.
Belief me, with 800+ acres to discover, you’ll be able to simply spend a sunny afternoon rambling right here. You would possibly even spot a few of wild turkeys, geese and deer. So hold your eyes peeled!
Don’t overlook, there’s additionally an Archery Vary, Martha Walker Gardens, Lake Marie and the Caldwell Winery that’s simply shy of the park itself.
Learn extra: Finest locations to go to on a Californian street journey
6.) Oxbow Public Market, Napa
Okay, when you’re something like me, you’ll love Oxbow Public Market. It’s among the finest issues to do in Napa Valley, particularly when you’re spending a while within the metropolis of Napa.
As soon as right here, you’ll get to attempt a number of the finest farmers and native meals that make this space so particular. After all, you’ve obtained the contemporary produce and bread however what makes Oxbow Public Market so particular is the opposite eating spots which are so yummy.
You will get all the things from Sushi, wood-fired pizzas, and native honey and wine-tasting spots (when you’re not venturing into the valley itself).
Afterwards, remember to ebook in for a scorching air balloon experience over Napa Valley at sundown. Now, remember to ebook your experience earlier than you go to Napa Valley and all the time be ready for last-minute adjustments to your scorching air balloon experience. In spite of everything, it’s all climate dependent.
Now, there are just a few firms to select from; a number of the hottest and dependable are; Napa Valley Aloft, Balloons Above the Valley or Napa Valley Balloons, Inc.
All organise seasonal balloon flights and it’s an effective way to see Napa Valley from a distinct perspective.
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7.) Napa Artwork Stroll
Performed with all of the wine? How may you! Ha!
Jokes apart, when you fancy somewhat time away from the grape varieties, head over and ramble the Napa Artwork Stroll.
In 2009, the primary Napa Artwork Stroll exhibition began, and it turned a biannual occasion that’s a completely nice technique to discover town.
Free maps on the Napa Artwork Stroll can be found in several places like 600 Principal Road, Napa River Inn, and Napa Valley Welcome Middle (and on-line, clearly).
Plus, you can too expertise the Napa Artwork Stroll audio tour which was recorded by the artists themselves.
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8.) Safari West
Selling conservation and environmental schooling actions, Safari West has an amazing intention to share data and empower individuals to consider sustainability and what they’ll do to assist the surroundings, proper within the coronary heart of Sonoma.
Round a thousand animals are presently residing in Safari West and even keep in a single day. Properly price somewhat gander when you’re heading throughout with youthful family members. In spite of everything, vineyards can solely be so fascinating to youngsters!
Afterwards, and alongside your drive throughout Napa Valley and the encompassing area, ensure that to cease off at Ledson Vineyard.
Perched close to Santa Rosa, the property is completely lovely and it’s among the finest issues to do in Napa Valley as you’re round Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.
Learn extra: Finest nationwide parks in California
9.) Palmaz Vineyards
One pretty vineyard in Napa Valley is the Palmaz Vineyards. Not solely that, they serve up some tasty Cabernet Sauvignon and it’s properly price visiting while within the valley.
With over 50 acres of land, it’s a reasonably expansive however cosy vineyard that has some tasty wines to attempt in your route round Napa Valley’s prime spots.
Not solely that, Palmaz Vineyards has a cool (and sensible) subterranean wine cave. The spectacular underground dome is used for fermentation and the wine-making course of that’s completely distinctive to Pamaz. We like it!
Additionally, don’t overlook, you’ve obtained the Shadybrook Property Vineyard that’s simply down the street, too. You may simply associate each (or extra) in a single go to.
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10.) Castello di Amorosa
Now, one in every of my favorite wineries in Napa Valley must be Castello di Amorosa. With its citadel, you’ll be forgiven for considering that you simply’ve arrived within the rolling hills of Tuscany.
For a straightforward technique to go to, ebook this guided tour to Castello di Amorosa which departs from San Francisco. It’s such a straightforward technique to go to and the wine excursions are simply out-of-this-world.
The entire historical past behind the citadel and the winder vineyards is simply unimaginable. In actual fact, I’d go so far as saying it’s among the finest vineyards to go to in Napa Valley that you simply actually shouldn’t miss.
Simply remember to ebook this tour upfront. Excursions replenish quick at peak instances in Napa Valley. Truthfully, pictures don’t do that winery justice.
Fancying somewhat break from the vineyards (who’s ever stated that)? Then get your self over to the Petrified Forest. It’s completely simple to go to on a day journey from Sacramento or San Francisco and properly price stopping by when you’re within the Napa Valley space.
Open each day, it’s among the finest issues to do in Napa Valley to see a number of the largest petrified redwood bushes. Over thousands and thousands of years, the bushes fossilised and, in flip, nearly appear to be rocks.
As soon as right here, remember to try a number of the small hikes and rambles across the park. Some take round 20 minutes and are fairly simple for households.
Learn extra: Finest issues to do in California
11.) Bale Grist Mill and Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
Oh, and don’t overlook, simply shy of Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, Bale Grist Mill State Park is likely one of the finest issues to do in Napa Valley while after exploring Castello di Amorosa.
Right here, one can find the 36-foot water wheel and grist mill which was initially constructed again within the 1800s. Way back, earlier than the wine arrived in Napa Valley, the mill was used to assist grind native corn and wheat crops for the flourishing space of California.
To be taught extra, you’ll be able to head on historic excursions and milling demonstrations which are held most weekends.
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