Simply north of San Francisco, Napa Valley is certainly one 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 best places in California. Belief me, you’ll be spoilt for alternative with so most of the greatest issues to do in Napa Valley.
It’s a stunning space of California.
Now, that can assist you get probably the most out of your keep, I needed to share a number of the prime 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, 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 when you’re not technically into your wines, or not sure of what you want, there are heaps of locations the place you possibly can excellent your expertise with the assistance of in-house sommeliers.
For us, you’ll wish to be sure to go to the Sattui Winery 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 straightforward to achieve.
To make issues straightforward, book this day tour from San Francisco to expertise some beautiful vineyards in Napa Valley. You’ll get to 3 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, airplane excursions, culinary excursions, non-public excursions, and plenty 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 a great foodie expertise while on trip?
Then get your self over to Yountville in Napa Valley. Truthfully, it’s among the best issues to do in Napa Valley when you’re fancying a day away from the vineyards.
Beginning the day with an incredible breakfast, you need to head to Bouchon Bakery. The selfmade pastries are so good, so catch them earlier than they promote out.
In the event 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 guide a desk at The French Laundry. It’s certainly one 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.
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3.) Napa Valley Wine Prepare
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 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. Simply you should definitely guide on-line earlier than heading to Napa Valley. Areas are restricted and this may be very talked-about.
As you journey 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 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.
Read more: Best things to do in California
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 solution to break up the day when you’re having just a little ‘winery fatigue’.
As soon as inside, you’ll get to see historic artefacts, photographs, 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 a terrific 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 gorgeous place to go to while road-tripping the realm. In reality, it’s proper on town fringe of Napa itself.
Good when you’re on the lookout for one thing apart from wine, the Skyline Wilderness Park is ideal for picnics, camps and trails, too. We beloved 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 neglect, there’s additionally an Archery Vary, Martha Walker Gardens, Lake Marie and the Caldwell Winery that’s simply shy of the park itself.
Read more: Best places to visit on a Californian road trip
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.
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 received the contemporary produce and bread however what makes Oxbow Public Market so particular is the opposite eating spots which might be so yummy.
You may get the whole lot from Sushi, wood-fired pizzas, and native honey and wine-tasting spots (when you’re not venturing into the valley itself).
Afterwards, you should definitely guide in for a scorching air balloon journey over Napa Valley at sundown. Now, you should definitely guide your journey earlier than you go to Napa Valley and at all times be ready for last-minute adjustments on your scorching air balloon journey. In spite of everything, it’s all climate dependent.
Now, there are a couple of 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 distinct perspective.
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7.) Napa Artwork Stroll
Accomplished with all of the wine? How may you! Ha!
Jokes apart, when you fancy just a little time away from the grape varieties, head over and ramble the Napa Art Walk.
In 2009, the primary Napa Artwork Stroll exhibition began, and it turned a biannual occasion that’s a very nice solution to discover town.
Free maps on the Napa Artwork Stroll can be found in several areas like 600 Principal Road, Napa River Inn, and Napa Valley Welcome Middle (and online, clearly).
Plus, you too can 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 terrific intention to share data and empower folks to consider sustainability and what they’ll do to assist the surroundings, proper within the coronary heart of Sonoma.
Round a thousand animals are at the moment residing in Safari West and even keep in a single day. Nicely price just a little gander when you’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 sure 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 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 find it irresistible!
Additionally, don’t neglect, you’ve received the Shadybrook Property Vineyard that’s simply down the street, too. You may simply associate each (or extra) in a single go to.
Read more: Best things to do in California
10.) Castello di Amorosa
Now, certainly one of 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 solution to go to, 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 fortress and the winder vineyards is simply unbelievable. In reality, 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.
Simply you should definitely book this tour in advance. Excursions refill quick at peak instances in Napa Valley. Truthfully, photographs don’t do that winery justice.
Fancying just a little 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 when you’re within the Napa Valley space.
Open each day, it’s among the best issues to do in Napa Valley to see a number of the largest petrified redwood timber. Over hundreds of thousands of years, the timber fossilised and, in flip, nearly appear like rocks.
As soon as right here, you should definitely take a look at a number of 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 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 study extra, you possibly can head on historic excursions and milling demonstrations which might be held most weekends.
Read more: Best things to do in California
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