I wasn’t even of legal age when I first visited the famed Napa Valley with my aunts and uncle. They went wine tasting while I ate the breadsticks and roamed the vineyard.
I still didn’t drink alcohol the next time I visited Napa Valley. I came with friends and we walked around town and ate at Bouchon.
And I still wasn’t a drinker the next time I visited with my siblings and cousins and went on a winery tour and tasting. I got drunk at half a glass of wine.
Though I still don't consider myself an oenophile, it hasn't stopped me from visiting another half dozen times. It's because the place is just so beautiful and the food is so yummy. And really, there are other things to do, if you so desire. Like...
Things to Do
Wine Tasting Well, you are in wine country after all. I couldn't very well ignore that fact. There are other oenological experiences of course. There are vineyard tours, winery tours, wine tasting room hopping, etc. A lot of wine tasting experiences have more to offer than the wine itself too. A lot of times, I would choose a tasting room for the art or the architecture and not the wine. Sorry, not sorry :)
Biking
This is a great way to see the valley and burn off some calories at the same time. I like that you could go slow with a bike and savor the surroundings.
What could be more romantic than seeing vineyards from above?
There are many reasons this is cool: It's a train. It's a luxury train cars. In-car dining. Wine tasting is offered. You get to see the valley without driving. No designated driver necessary!
There are several art galleries in town. The local Arts Council also hosts several events throughout the year.
Points of Interest
This downtown Napa public market is large and spacious and is a great one-stop shop for quick dining that doesn’t sacrifice quality. There are restaurants, butcher shops, bakeries, provision stores, spice shops, book shops... you can shop for souvenirs and picnic food while waiting for your food order to be called.
Walk off all the food and wine you consumed and take photos for your IG feed at the Napa Riverwalk.
Culinary Experiences
You have to visit the Culinary Institute of America, right?!?! Aside from the birthplace of many past and future culinary icons and stars, the restaurant is great and the garden is beautiful.
I finally got to go to one of the restaurants of my favorite Iron Chef's. I very much enjoyed my meal here and items that I thought were good already tasted even better here.
Where to Stay
Elm House Inn used to be part of Best Western and I've stayed here multiple times. It's affordable and the vibe is very cozy. You can have wine at the "living room" in the afternoon in front of the fireplace while having one of their super yummy chocolate chip cookies. They serve really good breakfast too!
If you want to shell out a bit more, you could stay at either Carneros or Silverado Resorts. Both are bucket-list type luxury resorts that will sure to elevate your stay.
I've since learned, from when I first heard of "Napa", that the wine region is really comprised of Napa and Sonoma Valleys and there are dozens of towns to visit. In short - there are many reasons to return and explore this beautiful section of California. You might want to do it quick too, before the wildfires erase the region altogether. Seems like every year, the California fires are leaving an ever expanding scar on the earth.
Comments