Simply north of San Francisco, Napa Valley is one among 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 value visiting when exploring one of the best 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 can assist you get essentially the most out of your keep, I wished to share among the high locations in Napa Valley (and the encompassing space) that we love. This manner, you possibly can concentrate on the all-important wines, balloon flights and rambles that make this space so particular.
Have a look, beneath, at among 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? Effectively, 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 be sure to go to the Sattui Vineyard which has a historical past courting again to the 1800s. Visiting is among 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 achieve.
To make issues simple, guide this present day tour from San Francisco to expertise some beautiful vineyards in Napa Valley. You’ll get to a few 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, airplane excursions, culinary excursions, personal excursions, and lots of different sorts of excursions that can assist you know extra in regards to the place and discover them.
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2.) Yountville
Love a very good foodie expertise while on trip?
Then get your self over to Yountville in Napa Valley. Actually, it’s probably the greatest issues to do in Napa Valley for those who’re fancying a day away from the vineyards.
Beginning the day with a tremendous breakfast, you will need to head to Bouchon Bakery. The do-it-yourself pastries are so good, so catch them earlier than they promote out.
Should you miss them, head throughout the road for Mini Mannequin as a substitute. They’ve some tasty English muffins which can be so yummy.
Lastly, head over and guide a desk at The French Laundry. It’s one among 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 very good prepare journey… particularly if it contains award-wimming wines!
If that seems like enjoyable to you, head over for the Napa Valley Wine Practice that’s simply probably the greatest 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 guide on-line earlier than heading to Napa Valley. Areas are restricted and this may be very fashionable.
As you journey 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 strategy 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 probably the greatest 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 strategy 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, 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 an awesome 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.
Excellent for those who’re on the lookout for 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 possibly can 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, for those who’re something like me, you’ll love Oxbow Public Market. It’s probably the greatest 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 strive among the greatest farmers and native meals that make this space so particular. After all, you’ve bought the contemporary produce and bread however what makes Oxbow Public Market so particular is the opposite eating spots which can be 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, remember to guide in for a sizzling air balloon journey over Napa Valley at sundown. Now, remember to guide your journey earlier than you go to Napa Valley and at all times be ready for last-minute modifications to your sizzling air balloon journey. In spite of everything, it’s all climate dependent.
Now, there are a number of 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 an effective way to see Napa Valley from a special perspective.
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7.) Napa Artwork Stroll
Achieved 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 strategy to discover town.
Free maps on the Napa Artwork Stroll can be found in numerous areas like 600 Major Avenue, Napa River Inn, and Napa Valley Welcome Heart (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 training actions, Safari West has an awesome purpose to share data and empower folks to consider sustainability and what they will do to assist the setting, 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. Effectively 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 encompassing area, be certain to cease off at Ledson Vineyard.
Perched close to Santa Rosa, the property is completely lovely and it’s probably the greatest issues to do in Napa Valley as you’re round Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.
Learn extra: Greatest nationwide parks in California
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 properly 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 find it irresistible!
Additionally, don’t overlook, you’ve bought 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 among 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 simple strategy to go to, guide this guided tour to Castello di Amorosa which departs from San Francisco. It’s such a simple strategy 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 probably the greatest vineyards to go to in Napa Valley that you simply actually shouldn’t miss.
Simply remember to guide this tour upfront. Excursions refill quick at peak occasions in Napa Valley. Actually, photographs 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 properly value stopping by for those who’re within the Napa Valley space.
Open day by day, it’s probably the greatest issues to do in Napa Valley to see among the largest petrified redwood bushes. Over tens of millions of years, the bushes fossilised and, in flip, virtually seem like rocks.
As soon as right here, remember to try among 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 among the greatest issues to do in Napa Valley while after exploring Castello di Amorosa.
Right here, you’ll discover 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 can be held most weekends.
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