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 nicely price visiting when exploring the best places in California. Belief me, you’ll be spoilt for alternative with so most 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 wished to share a few of the prime locations in Napa Valley (and the encircling space) that we love. This manner, you possibly can deal with the all-important wines, balloon flights and rambles that make this space so particular.
Have a look, beneath, at a few 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? Properly, even if you happen to’re not technically into your wines, or not sure 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 you go to the Sattui Winery 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, book this 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 too do balloon excursions, bike excursions, strolling excursions, aircraft excursions, culinary excursions, personal excursions, and plenty of different varieties of excursions that can assist you know extra concerning the place and discover them.
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2.) Yountville
Love 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 if you happen to’re fancying a day away from the vineyards.
Beginning the day with an incredible breakfast, you will need to head to Bouchon Bakery. The selfmade 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 are so yummy.
Lastly, head over and e book 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 Practice
Look, we love prepare journey… particularly if it consists of award-wimming wines!
If that appears like enjoyable to you, head over for the Napa Valley Wine Train that’s simply the most effective issues to do in Napa Valley while within the area.
The expertise is so particular and nicely well worth the ticket worth. Simply you’ll want to e book 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 beautiful technique 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 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 beautiful technique to break up the day if you happen to’re having somewhat ‘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 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 gorgeous place to go to while road-tripping the realm. In truth, it’s proper on town fringe of Napa itself.
Excellent if you happen to’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 may 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, if you happen to’re something like me, you’ll love Oxbow Public Market. It’s the most effective 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 attempt a few of the finest farmers and native meals that make this space so particular. After all, you’ve acquired the recent produce and bread however what makes Oxbow Public Market so particular is the opposite eating spots which are so yummy.
You may get all the pieces from Sushi, wood-fired pizzas, and native honey and wine-tasting spots (if you happen to’re not venturing into the valley itself).
Afterwards, you’ll want to e book in for a scorching air balloon trip over Napa Valley at sundown. Now, you’ll want to e book your trip earlier than you go to Napa Valley and at all times be ready for last-minute modifications to your scorching air balloon trip. In any case, it’s all climate dependent.
Now, there are a couple of firms to select from; a few 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
Performed with all of the wine? How might you! Ha!
Jokes apart, if you happen to fancy somewhat 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 grew to become a biannual occasion that’s a completely nice technique to discover town.
Free maps on the Napa Artwork Stroll can be found in several areas like 600 Major Road, Napa River Inn, and Napa Valley Welcome Heart (and online, clearly).
Plus, you can too 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 an amazing intention to share information and empower folks to consider sustainability and what they’ll do to assist the atmosphere, proper within the coronary heart of Sonoma.
Round a thousand animals are at the moment dwelling in Safari West and even keep in a single day. Properly price somewhat gander if you happen to’re heading throughout with youthful family members. In any case, vineyards can solely be so attention-grabbing to youngsters!
Afterwards, and alongside your drive throughout Napa Valley and the encircling area, ensure to cease off at Ledson Vineyard.
Perched close to Santa Rosa, the property is completely lovely 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 nicely 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 adore it!
Additionally, don’t neglect, you’ve acquired 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, certainly one of my favorite wineries in Napa Valley needs to be Castello di Amorosa. With its citadel, you’ll be forgiven for pondering that you just’ve arrived within the rolling hills of Tuscany.
For a straightforward technique to go to, book this guided tour to Castello di Amorosa which departs from San Francisco. It’s such a straightforward technique 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 unimaginable. In truth, 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 book this tour in advance. Excursions replenish quick at peak instances in Napa Valley. Truthfully, photographs don’t do that winery justice.
Fancying somewhat 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 nicely price stopping by if you happen to’re within the Napa Valley space.
Open each day, it’s the most effective issues to do in Napa Valley to see a few of the largest petrified redwood bushes. Over hundreds of thousands of years, the bushes fossilised and, in flip, nearly seem like rocks.
As soon as right here, you’ll want to take a look at a few 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 finest issues to do in Napa Valley while after exploring Castello di Amorosa.
Right here, you will see 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 are held most weekends.
Read more: Best things to do in California
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