Simply north of San Francisco, Napa Valley is considered one of North America’s most famed (and awarded) wine areas. Fill with heaps of vineyards, attractive surroundings and cute little cities, it’s the kind of place that’s nicely value 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 beautiful space of California.
Now, that will help you get essentially the most out of your keep, I wished to share among the high locations in Napa Valley (and the encircling space) that we love. This fashion, you’ll be able to deal with 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? Nicely, even when you’re not technically into your wines, or uncertain of what you want, there are heaps of locations the place you’ll be able to excellent your abilities with the assistance of in-house sommeliers.
For us, you’ll need to ensure you go to the Sattui Vineyard which has a historical past courting 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 straightforward to achieve.
To make issues straightforward, guide this present day tour from San Francisco to expertise some attractive 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 too can do balloon excursions, bike excursions, strolling excursions, aircraft excursions, culinary excursions, personal excursions, and lots of different varieties of excursions that will help you know extra concerning the place and discover them.
Learn extra: Finest issues to do in California
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, it’s essential to head to Bouchon Bakery. The selfmade 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 might be so yummy.
Lastly, head over and guide a desk at The French Laundry. It’s considered 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.
Learn extra: Finest issues to do in San Francisco
3.) Napa Valley Wine Practice
Look, we love a great prepare journey… particularly if it consists of award-wimming wines!
If that appears like enjoyable to you, head over for the Napa Valley Wine Practice that’s simply among the best issues to do in Napa Valley while within the area.
The expertise is so particular and nicely definitely worth the ticket worth. Simply be sure you guide on-line earlier than heading to Napa Valley. Areas are restricted and this may be very fashionable.
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 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 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 when you’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 important little spot for 45 minutes.
Learn extra: Finest locations to go to on the Huge Sur
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. The truth is, it’s proper on the town fringe of Napa itself.
Excellent 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 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 maintain 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.
Learn extra: Finest locations to go to on a Californian highway journey
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 among the finest farmers and native meals that make this space so particular. After all, you’ve bought the recent produce and bread however what makes Oxbow Public Market so particular is the opposite eating spots which might be so yummy.
You may get all the things from Sushi, wood-fired pizzas, and native honey and wine-tasting spots (when you’re not venturing into the valley itself).
Afterwards, be sure you guide in for a sizzling air balloon experience over Napa Valley at sundown. Now, be sure you guide your experience earlier than you go to Napa Valley and at all times be ready for last-minute adjustments in your sizzling air balloon experience. In spite of everything, 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 an effective way to see Napa Valley from a distinct perspective.
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7.) Napa Artwork Stroll
Executed with all of the wine? How might you! Ha!
Jokes apart, when you 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 method to discover the town.
Free maps on the Napa Artwork Stroll can be found in numerous places like 600 Important Road, Napa River Inn, and Napa Valley Welcome Middle (and on-line, 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 training actions, Safari West has an important goal to share data and empower individuals 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 present dwelling in Safari West and even keep in a single day. Nicely value a little bit gander when you’re heading throughout with youthful family members. In spite of everything, vineyards can solely be so attention-grabbing to youngsters!
Afterwards, and alongside your drive throughout Napa Valley and the encircling area, make certain to cease off at Ledson Vineyard.
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.
Learn extra: Finest nationwide parks in California
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 nicely value 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 find it irresistible!
Additionally, don’t overlook, you’ve bought the Shadybrook Property Vineyard that’s simply down the highway, too. You’ll be able to simply accomplice each (or extra) in a single go to.
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10.) Castello di Amorosa
Now, considered 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 simple method to go to, guide this guided tour to Castello di Amorosa which departs from San Francisco. It’s such a simple method 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. The truth is, 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 be sure you guide this tour prematurely. Excursions refill quick at peak instances in Napa Valley. Truthfully, photographs don’t do that winery justice.
Fancying a little bit break from the vineyards (who’s ever stated 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 value 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 among the largest petrified redwood timber. Over tens of millions of years, the timber fossilised and, in flip, virtually seem like rocks.
As soon as right here, be sure you try 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 overlook, 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.
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 might be held most weekends.
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