Simply north of San Francisco, Napa Valley is one in all North America’s most famed (and awarded) wine areas. Fill with heaps of vineyards, attractive surroundings and cute little cities, it’s the kind of place that’s effectively value visiting when exploring the finest locations in California. Belief me, you’ll be spoilt for alternative with so lots of the finest issues to do in Napa Valley.
It’s a stunning space of California.
Now, that will help you get essentially the most out of your keep, I needed to share a number of the high locations in Napa Valley (and the encircling space) that we love. This fashion, you may deal with 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? Nicely, even if you happen to’re not technically into your wines, or uncertain of what you want, there are heaps of locations the place you may good your expertise with the assistance of in-house sommeliers.
For us, you’ll wish to be sure you 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 succeed in.
To make issues simple, ebook this present day tour from San Francisco to expertise some attractive vineyards in Napa Valley. You’ll get to 3 of essentially 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 even do balloon excursions, bike excursions, strolling excursions, aircraft excursions, culinary excursions, non-public excursions, and plenty of different varieties of excursions that will help you know extra concerning the place and discover them.
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2.) Yountville
Love a great foodie expertise while on trip?
Then get your self over to Yountville in Napa Valley. Actually, it’s among the best issues to do in Napa Valley if you happen to’re fancying a day away from the vineyards.
Beginning the day with an incredible breakfast, you could head to Bouchon Bakery. The do-it-yourself pastries are so good, so catch them earlier than they promote out.
For those who miss them, head throughout the road for Mini Mannequin as a substitute. They’ve some tasty English muffins which might be so yummy.
Lastly, head over and ebook a desk at The French Laundry. It’s one in all 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.
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3.) Napa Valley Wine Prepare
Look, we love a great prepare journey… particularly if it consists of award-wimming wines!
If that appears like enjoyable to you, head over for the Napa Valley Wine Prepare that’s simply among the best issues to do in Napa Valley while within the area.
The expertise is so particular and effectively definitely worth the ticket value. Simply be sure you ebook on-line earlier than heading to Napa Valley. Areas are restricted and this may be extremely popular.
As you trip 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 option 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.
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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 among the best issues to do in Napa Valley if you wish to study extra about historic artefacts.
You see, this spot isn’t about wines and though small, it’s a stunning option to break up the day if you happen to’re having a bit ‘winery fatigue’.
As soon as inside, you’ll get to see historic artefacts, photographs, and work from the broader area. Totally different exhibitions are featured within the museum, too, which showcase native, regional, and nationwide artists and personal collections. It’s a fantastic little spot for 45 minutes.
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5.) Skyline Wilderness Park, Napa
Within the picturesque foothills of Napa Valley, the Skyline Wilderness Park is one completely beautiful place to go to while road-tripping the world. In truth, it’s proper on town fringe of Napa itself.
Good if you happen to’re in search of one thing apart 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 may simply spend a sunny afternoon rambling right here. You would possibly even spot a few of wild turkeys, geese and deer. So preserve 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.
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6.) Oxbow Public Market, Napa
Okay, if you happen to’re something like me, you’ll love Oxbow Public Market. It’s among the best issues to do in Napa Valley, particularly if you happen to’re spending a while within the metropolis of Napa.
As soon as right here, you’ll get to strive a number of the finest farmers and native meals that make this space so particular. After all, you’ve bought the recent produce and bread however what makes Oxbow Public Market so particular is the opposite eating spots which might be so yummy.
You may get every part from Sushi, wood-fired pizzas, and native honey and wine-tasting spots (if you happen to’re not venturing into the valley itself).
Afterwards, be sure you ebook in for a scorching air balloon trip over Napa Valley at sundown. Now, be sure you ebook your trip earlier than you go to Napa Valley and at all times be ready for last-minute adjustments on your scorching air balloon trip. In any case, it’s all climate dependent.
Now, there are a couple 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 a good way to see Napa Valley from a special perspective.
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7.) Napa Artwork Stroll
Accomplished with all of the wine? How might you! Ha!
Jokes apart, if you happen to fancy a 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 turned a biannual occasion that’s a very nice option to discover town.
Free maps on the Napa Artwork Stroll can be found in several areas like 600 Essential Road, Napa River Inn, and Napa Valley Welcome Middle (and on-line, clearly).
Plus, you can even 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 a fantastic intention to share data and empower folks to consider sustainability and what they will 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. Nicely value a bit gander if you happen to’re heading throughout with youthful family members. In any case, 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 among the best issues to do in Napa Valley as you’re round Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.
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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 reasonably expansive however cosy vineyard that has some tasty wines to strive in your route round Napa Valley’s high 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 bought the Shadybrook Property Vineyard that’s simply down the street, too. You may simply companion each (or extra) in a single go to.
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10.) Castello di Amorosa
Now, one in all 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 simple option to go to, ebook this guided tour to Castello di Amorosa which departs from San Francisco. It’s such a simple option 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. In truth, I’d go so far as saying it’s among the best vineyards to go to in Napa Valley that you simply actually shouldn’t miss.
Simply be sure you ebook this tour upfront. Excursions replenish quick at peak occasions in Napa Valley. Actually, photographs don’t do that winery justice.
Fancying a bit 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 effectively value stopping by if you happen to’re within the Napa Valley space.
Open every day, it’s among the best issues to do in Napa Valley to see a number of the largest petrified redwood bushes. Over hundreds of thousands of years, the bushes fossilised and, in flip, virtually appear to be rocks.
As soon as right here, be sure you try a number of the small hikes and rambles across the park. Some take round 20 minutes and are fairly simple for households.
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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, you will see that 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 study extra, you may head on historic excursions and milling demonstrations which might be held most weekends.
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