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 effectively value visiting when exploring the greatest locations in California. Belief me, you’ll be spoilt for selection with so lots of the greatest issues to do in Napa Valley.
It’s a beautiful space of California.
Now, that will help you get probably the most out of your keep, I wished to share a number of the prime locations in Napa Valley (and the encircling space) that we love. This fashion, you possibly can give attention to the all-important wines, balloon flights and rambles that make this space so particular.
Have a look, under, at a number of the greatest 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? Nicely, even for those who’re not technically into your wines, or uncertain of what you want, there are heaps of locations the place you possibly can good your abilities with the assistance of in-house sommeliers.
For us, you’ll wish to ensure you go to the Sattui Vineyard which has a historical past courting again to the 1800s. Visiting is without doubt one of the greatest issues to do in Napa Valley, particularly if you wish to go to a well-established and historic winery that’s simple to succeed in.
To make issues simple, e-book at the present time tour from San Francisco to expertise some beautiful vineyards in Napa Valley. You’ll get to a few 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, non-public excursions, and lots of different kinds of excursions that will help you know extra in regards to the place and discover them.
Learn extra: Finest issues to do in California
2.) Yountville
Love an excellent foodie expertise while on trip?
Then get your self over to Yountville in Napa Valley. Actually, it’s the most effective issues to do in Napa Valley for those who’re fancying a day away from the vineyards.
Beginning the day with an incredible breakfast, you have to head to Bouchon Bakery. The home made pastries are so good, so catch them earlier than they promote out.
Should you miss them, head throughout the road for Mini Mannequin as an alternative. They’ve some tasty English muffins which might be so yummy.
Lastly, head over and e-book 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 Practice
Look, we love an excellent prepare journey… particularly if it contains award-wimming wines!
If that feels like enjoyable to you, head over for the Napa Valley Wine Practice that’s simply the most effective issues to do in Napa Valley while within the area.
The expertise is so particular and effectively definitely worth the ticket value. Simply make sure to e-book on-line earlier than heading to Napa Valley. Areas are restricted and this may be very talked-about.
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 beautiful solution 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 contains your 4-course meal and oodles of wines to style.
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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 the most effective 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 beautiful solution to break up the day for those who’re having a little bit ‘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 excellent 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. The truth is, it’s proper on town fringe of Napa itself.
Excellent for those who’re on the lookout for one thing aside from wine, the Skyline Wilderness Park is ideal for picnics, camps and trails, too. We liked the Buckeye Path.
Belief me, with 800+ acres to discover, you possibly can simply spend a sunny afternoon rambling right here. You may 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, for those who’re something like me, you’ll love Oxbow Public Market. It’s the most effective issues to do in Napa Valley, particularly for those who’re spending a while within the metropolis of Napa.
As soon as right here, you’ll get to attempt a number of the greatest farmers and native meals that make this space so particular. In fact, you’ve obtained the recent produce and bread however what makes Oxbow Public Market so particular is the opposite eating spots which might be so yummy.
You will get all the pieces from Sushi, wood-fired pizzas, and native honey and wine-tasting spots (for those who’re not venturing into the valley itself).
Afterwards, make sure to e-book in for a sizzling air balloon experience over Napa Valley at sundown. Now, make sure to e-book your experience earlier than you go to Napa Valley and all the time be ready for last-minute adjustments on your sizzling air balloon experience. In spite of everything, it’s all climate dependent.
Now, there are a number of 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 unique perspective.
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7.) Napa Artwork Stroll
Accomplished with all of the wine? How might you! Ha!
Jokes apart, for those who fancy a little bit 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 grew to become a biannual occasion that’s a completely nice solution to discover town.
Free maps on the Napa Artwork Stroll can be found in several places like 600 Most important Avenue, 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 training actions, Safari West has an excellent purpose to share data and empower individuals to consider sustainability and what they will do to assist the atmosphere, proper within the coronary heart of Sonoma.
Round a thousand animals are at the moment dwelling in Safari West and even keep in a single day. Nicely value a little bit gander for those who’re heading throughout with youthful family members. In spite of everything, vineyards can solely be so attention-grabbing to children!
Afterwards, and alongside your drive throughout Napa Valley and the encircling area, be certain that to cease off at Ledson Vineyard.
Perched close to Santa Rosa, the property is completely stunning and it’s the most effective 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 effectively value visiting while within the valley.
With over 50 acres of land, it’s a fairly 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 adore it!
Additionally, don’t overlook, you’ve obtained the Shadybrook Property Vineyard that’s simply down the street, too. You’ll be able to simply companion 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 pondering that you simply’ve arrived within the rolling hills of Tuscany.
For a straightforward solution to go to, e-book this guided tour to Castello di Amorosa which departs from San Francisco. It’s such a straightforward solution 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 unbelievable. The truth is, I’d go so far as saying it’s the most effective vineyards to go to in Napa Valley that you simply actually shouldn’t miss.
Simply make sure to e-book this tour prematurely. Excursions refill quick at peak occasions in Napa Valley. Actually, pictures don’t do that winery justice.
Fancying a little bit break from the vineyards (who’s ever mentioned 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 effectively value stopping by for those who’re within the Napa Valley space.
Open each day, it’s the most effective 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, virtually appear like rocks.
As soon as right here, make sure 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 without doubt one of the greatest 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 possibly can head on historic excursions and milling demonstrations which might be held most weekends.
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