We just love the Napa Valley area…the food, the wineries and all the nearby places to explore. Our family owns a home in Napa and we are able to visit the area 2-3 times each year. We have been there in each of the different seasons and have even survived the wildfires (although the first home did not)!
This area of the country holds a special place in our hearts and I love to share our favorites with others. I highly recommend a visit to the Napa Valley area to experience the beauty, the wine, the amazing food and the abundance of outdoor activities that the Napa area has to offer.
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Time and length of trip
A trip to the Napa Valley is a great weekend or long weekend getaway. I believe you can get a good taste of the area on a 3-4 day trip. You will find that once you are there, almost everything is a short 20-30 minute drive (that can vary depending on traffic).
For instance, Calistoga is 20-30 minutes from Napa. So is St. Helena, Yountville and Rutherford. If you find wineries or restaurants that you want to go to in these towns, they are all a short drive away.
We often go for a week or 10 days in the summer and there is plenty to do and see for that amount of time. On a longer trip like this, we incorporate some of the nearby sites and attractions like a day in San Fransisco (1 hour drive) or a day at the beach (1 hour drive).
We usually spend most of our time there in the summer and fall, but have also been out for long weekends in the spring. The summer can get very warm with temperatures in the 90s but always cools off comfortably in the evening. I have been in the winter as well and usually January/February is the area’s rainy season. I recommend spring, summer or early fall as the best times to vacation there.
Type of vacation
Most people think of Napa Valley as an adult couples or friends destination due to the wineries. While that is probably the majority of visitors, this is also a great vacation spot for children and families. The area offers much more than wine tastings! Napa Valley is also a great destination for “foodies”, outdoor enthusiasts, golfers and those simply wanting a beautiful place to relax.
Wineries
Napa Valley is home to more than 400 wineries! Each winery has its own style, setting, history and offerings. These are just of few of our favorites that we recommend to first time visitorwines.
- Viansa – This winery is in Sonoma and has beautiful hill top views of the area.
- Castello Di Amorosa – This is a 13th century style castle winery in Calistoga. We consider this a must visit due to the amazing architecture, views and grounds. It is a real castle with animals, tunnels and even a torture chamber. They give a great tour and tasting experience and you will see lots of young children there too (one of the few wineries that allows children on tours). Be warned that it is always very crowded (especially on Saturdays) because it is a main tourist attraction of the area and you will need a reservation for the tour. Many movies have been filmed there.
- Sterling vineyards – This winery is across the street from Castello Di Amorosa in Calistoga. You take a tram ride to the top for tasting, great views, photos, etc. You do not need a reservation and this is also a nice option with children.
- V. Sattui – This winery in St. Helena is the most popular and most visited winery in Napa. The winery is much more casual and also has a fantastic market for food, an extensive gift shop and a family-friendly picnic spot. You can walk in and do a tasting at the bar for very little money and no reservation is needed. This is a highly recommended stop for great wine and a fun tasting experience.
- DelDotto – Del Dotto winery has multiple locations – a historic cave and tasting room in Napa, an estate in St. Helena and a grand Piazza in St. Helena. All locations offer wine tasting and cave tours by very educated guides. Tours include tastings out of the barrel and wonderful home-made food. I have visited 2 of the 3 locations and have been impressed every time. If you enjoy good red wines you will love the wine tastings here! This is often a favorite of our guests.
- Stag’s Leap Winery. This is a beautiful and historic estate winery in Napa’s Stag’s Leap district. It has been voted Napa Valley’s most romantic winery. They offer a fun tour in a beautiful setting and even bring bring you into the vineyards and let you taste the grapes and wine in the vineyard.
- I encourage you to drive along Hwy 29 and Silverado Trail and just stop in the wineries along the way. There are so many on both sides of the road. Although you may not be able to do a tour without a reservation, you can often visit the grounds or do a tasting at the counter. Some of our best times have been the trips where we just drive and stop at wineries along the way!
Restaurants
The restaurant offerings and culinary quality of food in the Napa area is astounding. Be prepared to spend some money (most are more expensive than what we are used to at home) but be sure to take advantage of the amazing offerings and talent in the area. Also, be sure to make reservations, even for lunch, well in advance.
- Bottega – Bottega is a great Italian/Californian restaurant in the charming town of Yountville. They offer excellent food and wine and is great for a nice night out.
- Bistro Don Giovanni – Bistro Don Giovvani is an Italian restaurant in Napa popular with the locals. We go here on every trip to Napa because it is one of our favorites. I especially recommend the homemade ravioli with lemon creme sauce.
- Gotts Roadside – Gott’s Roadside is an iconic burger joint with two locations in the Napa area: downtown Napa by Oxbow market and St. Helena. They have excellent burgers and garlic fries and are a great option for lunch or dinner. The restaurant is owned by Joel Gott who makes one of our favorite wines in the area.
- Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch – This restaurant located in St. Helena is one of our all-time favorites. We visit at least once on each of our trips to Napa. They have amazing farm-fresh food, great seating areas inside and out, live music on weekend evenings and a small building on the property that offers wine and whiskey tastings. We highly recommend the grilled artichokes when they are in season.
- Restoration Hardware – This new restaurant in Yountville is a sight to behold. The dining room and patios are decorated with live olive trees, amazing crystal chandeliers and comfortable couches. In addition to all the photo-worthy offerings, the restaurant has a fantastic menu. If you don’t go for the food, at least stop in for a coffee or dessert. It is worth it!
Places to Stay
Most of our trips to Napa Valley have been to our family’s home in the Silverado Resort. We have also rented a beautiful VRBO up in the hills between Santa Rosa and Napa. The rest of the recommendations are based on popularity and what we know of the area.
- Silverado Resort and Spa – We are obviously biased recommending this but it is truly a unique and wonderful place to stay in Napa. On the Silverado resort grounds you can stay in rooms, small cottages or VRBO condos. The resort has restaurants, 2 18-hole golf courses (home to the Safeway PGA event), an extensive spa, bikes to rent, a market with food and coffee and is close to everything.
- Carneros Resort – This is a highly rated luxury resort and spa in the area.
- The Meritage – This is a larger conference hotel and facility. They have restaurants, a spa and beautiful hillside vineyard views. The Meritage is on the outskirts of town but still an easy drive to area attractions and wineries.
- Hotel Yountville – This is a boutique luxury hotel in downtown Yountville. Yountville is a great little town with a charming main street and close to everything in Napa Valley. This town is where the famous French Laundry restaurant is and the Restoration Hardware.
- Solage Resort – This is a very popular and trendy spot place to stay in Calistoga. It is on the pricey side but it is highly recommended. They have a spa, a popular restaurant (Solage) and a popular bar/lounge called the Solbar.
Things to do
- Walk around the downtown Napa water front
- Visit the Oxbow Public Market in Napa (great food, tastings, shopping,etc.)
- Catch the Calistoga Farmer’s market on Saturday mornings. It is a great area to walk around in the morning, get coffee and breakfast too.
- Play golf, tennis, lounge by the pool or visit a spa at one of the many resorts in the area.
- Take a day trip to Bodega Bay or Dillon’s beach for some time at the beach.
- Hike Mt. Tamalpais in Marin for great views above the clouds and overlooking the San Francisco bay.
- Stroll through the redwoods at Muir Woods National Monument
- Visit Safari West in Santa Rosa for a fun family experience. You can take a tour on a safari vehicle and be in the enclosures with the animals, stay overnight in a luxury “glamping” tent and enjoy a family-style safari meal.
- Enjoy the area from above with a hot air balloon ride. You will see amazing views of the entire valley and even out to the bay on clear days.
Planning resources
I recommend the following resources for planning your trip to the Napa Valley area. For other general vacation planning resources that I suggest, see my main page on vacation planning (found here).
Visit Napa Valley – a great and comprehensive website. They also have a fun and inspiring Instagram account full of ideas for your visit.
Book, “From Napa with Love” by Alexis Swanson Traina. This is a wonderful book to help you plan your trip or to take with you on your visit. Alexis includes many insider tips and interesting trivia of Napa Valley and some residents there.
I’d Love to Hear From You!
Comments or questions about Napa? I’d love to give you my input and help you have a memorable trip to Napa Valley. I also love to hear about your travel experiences. Drop me a note!