Just 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 price visiting when exploring the finest locations in California. Trust 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 high locations in Napa Valley (and the encompassing space) that we love. This manner, you may concentrate on the all-important wines, balloon flights and rambles that make this space so particular.
Take a glance, beneath, at a number of the finest issues to do in Napa Valley. Bottoms up!
1.) Sattui Winery, St. Helena
Now, everyone knows that Napa Valley is iconic for its scrumptious wines, proper? Well, even when you’re not technically into your wines, or uncertain of what you want, there are heaps of locations the place you may good your abilities with the assistance of in-house sommeliers.
For us, you’ll wish to be sure you go to the Sattui Winery which has a historical past relationship again to the 1800s. Visiting is without doubt 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 today 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 too can do balloon excursions, bike excursions, strolling excursions, aircraft excursions, culinary excursions, non-public excursions, and lots of different forms of excursions that can assist you know extra in regards to the place and discover them.
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2.) Yountville
Love an excellent foodie expertise while on trip?
Then get your self over to Yountville in Napa Valley. Honestly, it’s among the best issues to do in Napa Valley when you’re fancying a day away from the vineyards.
Starting the day with an incredible breakfast, you have to head to Bouchon Bakery. The selfmade pastries are so good, so catch them earlier than they promote out.
If you miss them, head throughout the road for Mini Model as an alternative. They have some tasty English muffins which are so yummy.
Finally, 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. Opt for the chef’s tasting menu and also you’ll be in for a deal with.
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3.) Napa Valley Wine Train
Look, we love an excellent practice journey… particularly if it consists of award-wimming wines!
If that seems like enjoyable to you, head over for the Napa Valley Wine Train that’s simply among the best issues to do in Napa Valley while within the area.
The expertise is so particular and effectively well worth the ticket value. Just remember to ebook on-line earlier than heading to Napa Valley. Spaces are restricted and this may be very talked-about.
As you journey the historic practice, 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 approach to see the broader space.
We love the ‘Legacy Experience’ ticket they provide. You spend round 3 hours on the practice 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 approach to break up the day when you’re having slightly ‘vineyard fatigue’.
Once inside, you’ll get to see historic artefacts, photographs, and work from the broader area. Different exhibitions are featured within the museum, too, which showcase native, regional, and nationwide artists and personal collections. It’s an ideal little spot for 45 minutes.
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5.) Skyline Wilderness Park, Napa
In the picturesque foothills of Napa Valley, the Skyline Wilderness Park is one completely beautiful place to go to while road-tripping the realm. In truth, it’s proper on town fringe of Napa itself.
Perfect when you’re searching for one thing aside from wine, the Skyline Wilderness Park is ideal for picnics, camps and trails, too. We liked the Buckeye Trail.
Trust me, with 800+ acres to discover, you may simply spend a sunny afternoon rambling right here. You may even spot a few of wild turkeys, geese and deer. So preserve your eyes peeled!
Don’t neglect, there’s additionally an Archery Range, Martha Walker Gardens, Lake Marie and the Caldwell Vineyard that’s simply shy of the park itself.
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6.) Oxbow Public Market, Napa
Okay, when you’re something like me, you’ll love Oxbow Public Market. It’s among the best issues to do in Napa Valley, particularly when you’re spending a while within the metropolis of Napa.
Once right here, you’ll get to attempt a number of the finest farmers and native meals that make this space so particular. Of course, you’ve acquired the contemporary produce and bread however what makes Oxbow Public Market so particular is the opposite eating spots which are so yummy.
You can get every little thing 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 journey over Napa Valley at sundown. Now, remember to ebook your journey earlier than you go to Napa Valley and all the time be ready for last-minute modifications in your scorching air balloon journey. After all, it’s all climate dependent.
Now, there are just a few corporations 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 Art Walk
Done with all of the wine? How may you! Ha!
Jokes apart, when you fancy slightly time away from the grape varieties, head over and ramble the Napa Art Walk.
In 2009, the primary Napa Art Walk exhibition began, and it turned a biannual occasion that’s a completely nice approach to discover town.
Free maps on the Napa Art Walk can be found in several areas like 600 Main Street, Napa River Inn, and Napa Valley Welcome Center (and on-line, clearly).
Plus, you too can expertise the Napa Art Walk audio tour which was recorded by the artists themselves.
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8.) Safari West
Promoting conservation and environmental training actions, Safari West has an ideal intention to share information and empower individuals to consider sustainability and what they will do to assist the setting, proper within the coronary heart of Sonoma.
Around a thousand animals are at present dwelling in Safari West and even keep in a single day. Well price slightly gander when you’re heading throughout with youthful family members. After all, vineyards can solely be so fascinating to youngsters!
Afterwards, and alongside your drive throughout Napa Valley and the encompassing area, be certain to cease off at Ledson Winery.
Perched close to Santa Rosa, the property is completely lovely 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 price 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 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 like it!
Also, don’t neglect, you’ve acquired the Shadybrook Estate Winery that’s simply down the street, too. You can simply accomplice 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 just’ve arrived within the rolling hills of Tuscany.
For a simple approach to go to, ebook this guided tour to Castello di Amorosa which departs from San Francisco. It’s such a simple approach to go to and the wine excursions are simply out-of-this-world.
The complete historical past behind the citadel and the winder vineyards is simply unimaginable. In truth, I’d go so far as saying it’s among the best vineyards to go to in Napa Valley that you just actually shouldn’t miss.
Just remember to ebook this tour prematurely. Tours refill quick at peak instances in Napa Valley. Honestly, photographs don’t do that winery justice.
Fancying slightly 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 price stopping by when you’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 timber. Over thousands and thousands of years, the timber fossilised and, in flip, nearly seem like rocks.
Once 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.
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11.) Bale Grist Mill and Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
Oh, and don’t neglect, simply shy of Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, Bale Grist Mill State Park is without doubt one of the finest issues to do in Napa Valley while after exploring Castello di Amorosa.
Here, you will see the 36-foot water wheel and grist mill which was initially constructed again within the 1800s. Long in the past, 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 are held most weekends.
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