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, beautiful surroundings and cute little cities, it’s the kind of place that’s effectively price 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 can assist you get essentially the most out of your keep, I needed to share among the prime locations in Napa Valley (and the encircling space) that we love. This manner, you’ll be able to concentrate on the all-important wines, balloon flights and rambles that make this space so particular.
Have a look, under, at among 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 for those who’re not technically into your wines, or not sure of what you want, there are heaps of locations the place you’ll be able to excellent your expertise 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 among the finest issues to do in Napa Valley, particularly if you wish to go to a well-established and historic winery that’s straightforward to succeed in.
To make issues straightforward, e book at the present time tour from San Francisco to expertise some beautiful 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 may also do balloon excursions, bike excursions, strolling excursions, airplane excursions, culinary excursions, non-public excursions, and plenty of different forms of excursions that can assist 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. Truthfully, 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 will need to head to Bouchon Bakery. The home made pastries are so good, so catch them earlier than they promote out.
In case 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 e book 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 Practice
Look, we love a great prepare journey… particularly if it contains award-wimming wines!
If that appears 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 well worth the ticket value. Simply you’ll want to e book on-line earlier than heading to Napa Valley. Areas are restricted and this may be highly regarded.
As you experience the historic prepare, a number of meals and award-winning Napa Valley wines are served so that you can take pleasure in. Departing and ending in St. Helena, the roundtrip is over 30 miles and a stunning method 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 numerous 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 stunning method to break up the day for those who’re having slightly ‘winery fatigue’.
As soon as inside, you’ll get to see historic artefacts, images, 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.
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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 actual fact, it’s proper on town fringe of Napa itself.
Good 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 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 neglect, 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, 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 among the finest farmers and native meals that make this space so particular. After all, you’ve obtained the recent 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 (for those who’re not venturing into the valley itself).
Afterwards, you’ll want to e book in for a scorching air balloon experience over Napa Valley at sundown. Now, you’ll want to e book 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 any case, it’s all climate dependent.
Now, there are just a few firms to select from; among 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 unique perspective.
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7.) Napa Artwork Stroll
Achieved with all of the wine? How may you! Ha!
Jokes apart, for those who fancy slightly 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 method to discover town.
Free maps on the Napa Artwork Stroll can be found in numerous areas like 600 Important Avenue, Napa River Inn, and Napa Valley Welcome Heart (and on-line, clearly).
Plus, you may also 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 amazing 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 present dwelling in Safari West and even keep in a single day. Properly price slightly gander for those who’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 sure 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.
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9.) Palmaz Vineyards
One beautiful 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 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 neglect, you’ve obtained the Shadybrook Property Vineyard that’s simply down the highway, too. You may simply accomplice 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 needs to be Castello di Amorosa. With its fortress, you’ll be forgiven for pondering that you just’ve arrived within the rolling hills of Tuscany.
For a straightforward method to go to, e book this guided tour to Castello di Amorosa which departs from San Francisco. It’s such a straightforward method to go to and the wine excursions are simply out-of-this-world.
The entire historical past behind the fortress and the winder vineyards is simply unimaginable. In actual fact, I’d go so far as saying it’s the most effective vineyards to go to in Napa Valley that you just actually shouldn’t miss.
Simply you’ll want to e book this tour upfront. Excursions refill quick at peak instances in Napa Valley. Truthfully, images don’t do that winery justice.
Fancying slightly break from the vineyards (who’s ever mentioned that)? Then get your self over to the Petrified Forest. It’s completely straightforward to go to on a day journey from Sacramento or San Francisco and effectively price stopping by for those who’re within the Napa Valley space.
Open day by day, it’s the most effective issues to do in Napa Valley to see among the largest petrified redwood timber. Over thousands and thousands of years, the timber fossilised and, in flip, virtually appear like rocks.
As soon as right here, you’ll want to take a look at among the small hikes and rambles across the park. Some take round 20 minutes and are fairly straightforward 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 among 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 be taught extra, you’ll be able to head on historic excursions and milling demonstrations which are held most weekends.
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