Top 15 Things to Do in Napa Valley USA
Napa Valley is a haven for wine lovers in California, United States. Regarded as one of the world’s premier wine regions, its long history with wine dates back to the nineteenth century.
Surrounded by the Mayacamas mountain range and the Vaca Mountains, good wine isn’t hard to find in the county, especially with endless vineyards and thriving wineries.
Forget artisanal cheeses and delicious dishes to complement your wine; the real deal is Napa’s wonderful blending of wine with art and nature – just as it’s supposed to be. Here is a list of the top 15 things to do in Napa Valley to start your spectacular journey:
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Cruise through Napa Valley in a Limousine
Beau Wine Tours & Limousine Service will relieve those not fortunate enough to drive around the county in the comfort of their car.
Get ready to delight in traveling through endless vineyards and rolling hills to a tapestry of intimate and exclusive winery estates offering private chauffeur service in Napa Valley.
From tasting rare vintages to creating your blend of wine, the tour is customized according to your tastes and wine preferences.
Driver services are also provided to your hotel, airport, and attraction transfers, along with the friendly wine-tasting tour. Talk about full service!
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Board the Napa Valley Wine Trolley for a 6-hour wine-tasting tour
Want to taste the county’s wines with a local flavor? The Napa Valley Wine Trolley will make you happy with it.
Hop aboard a motorized, authentic replica of the late 1890s San Francisco Cable Car that’s a hit with nostalgic locals and curious travelers alike.
Taking pride in showing you the best areas of Napa Valley, the tour is wonderfully paced and shows you every detail, from the look of the grapes to the aroma of the wine.
The tour ends at Oxbow Market or V-Marketplace, so feel free to enjoy a little souvenir shopping before heading back.
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Bicycling in Vine County with Napa Valley Bike Tours & Rentals
Featuring routes suited for every cyclist and budget, Napa Valley Bike Tours gives you an adventurous experience of travel and wine.
Choose to join one of their guided bike tours with a knowledgeable and informative tour guide for access to the county’s unrivaled best views and wineries. Alternatively, self-guided tours are available if you prefer to set your own pace in travel.
Keeping in mind that it can be a hassle to get your bottle of wine back on the bike, staff members are always on hand to arrange to pick up your wine purchases for you, and they can even set up a wine cellar at the winery for your convenience.
Also, offer brilliant boxed picnic lunches. Also, don’t hesitate to ask for a custom route map and some helpful expert advice when renting a bike from the store.
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Take the Aerial Tram to Sterling Vineyards
Take an aerial tram ride up the hill and into the winery, located 300 feet (91 m) above downtown Calistoga.
The only winery to offer this experience, Sterling Vineyards certainly takes pleasure in making wine more romantic.
Take in the beautiful landscapes of Napa Valley and the nearby majestic Mayacamas and Vaca mountain ranges while you have a glass in hand.
Offering a remarkable collection including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Merlot, a visit to Sterling Vineyards will surely satisfy your craving for great wine and scenery.
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Picnic on the lawn with pizza and wine
Here’s a selection of wine connoisseurs ready to ditch the fancy (and expensive) options that are simple but equally fulfilling.
It’s hard to go wrong with pizza in one hand and wine in the other! Charles Krug Winery certainly does not disappoint.
Serving fresh-made pizzas topped with gourmet cheeses, Napa Valley’s oldest winery and a National Historic Monument certainly knows what food goes best with its brand of wine. Relax for the day as you picnic on the lawn with relaxing chatter and fun.
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See a Show at Uptown Theater Napa
Eye-catching with its Art Deco-style building, the Uptown Theater is a haven for Napa show junkies. First opened to the public in 1937, the theater has become one of the most popular concerts and entertainment venues.
Noted for not having a single bad seat in the house, the last row of seats is only 98 feet (29.9 m) from the stage.
With a whimsical ambiance and absolute comfort, Uptown Theater Napa also features a top-notch sound system and an intimate setting. With a bar in the lobby and a restaurant attached, this is the perfect place to bring your date!
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Revisit County History at the Napa Valley Museum
Well worth the admission fee, the local museum delights you with three galleries dedicated to local history, world-class art exhibitions, and a showcase space for local artists.
Make time for the Recology exhibit featuring art from Napa Valley’s garbage dumps, including clothing made from Styrofoam and black garbage bags and even a unique umbrella made from meat grinder parts.
Also, check out the museum’s permanent exhibit, “The Land and People of Napa Valley.” It is a nostalgic tale of the county’s history.
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Jam to live music at Silo’s in Napa
Looking for something to do at night? Silo’s Music Room will be your best choice, without any doubt!
This up-close and personal entertainment provides an intimate and relaxed atmosphere where you will find yourself digging into the food and the music.
Light-up menus add fun to choosing from delectable small plates, inspired cocktails, craft beers, and your favorite Napa Valley wines.
But leave it to the live music to bring out the venue’s energy. From groovy jazz to soulful acoustics, a medley of local singers and tribute bands will win you over with the elemental charm of the music.
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Look for Contemporary Art at De Rosa
Including three separate galleries, a sculpture park, a 35-acre (14-hectare) lake, and a wildlife preserve, De Rosa offers visitors the experience of viewing Northern California contemporary art in an idyllic retreat.
Amidst the museum’s glorious flora and fauna, you might even spot some of De Rosa’s peacocks roaming the open spaces if you’re lucky.
Housing nearly 2,000 works of art by 800 artists, De Rosa is hailed as the most important holding of Bay Area art in the world.
Delightful collections include modern and contemporary paintings, drawings, sculptures, and photographs from well-known Bay Area artists, a 1/3-mile (536-meter) trail of large-scale outdoor sculptures, and a collection spanning 125 years.
Winery-turned-residence that features more works of art. Visitors can look forward to an arts festival with views of the winery’s lake and Napa Valley’s rolling vineyards.
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Dine on the Napa Valley Wine Train
Running 25 miles (40 kilometers) between Napa and St. Helena, California, relive their past glory aboard reclaimed Pullman cars from the early 20th century with classic mahogany paneling, brass accents, glass partitions, and plush armchairs completed.
Transport yourself back in time to luxury rail travel as you enjoy the comfort and opulence of a carriage as you travel through the beautiful Napa Valley with its endless wineries and vineyards.
No less than a fine dining establishment, expect a Californian menu freshly prepared and served in one of three onboard dining areas with friendly service and sparkling wine. Depart in the early evening and watch the sunset for the ultimate experience.
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Visit Artesa Vineyards & Winery, a Winery Like an Art Museum
With its sleek, elegant decor, Artesa Vineyards & Winery has easily considered an art museum if you’re looking for a stop between Sonoma and Napa.
Built on top of a hill, the winery seamlessly blends architecture, artistry, and wine into a complete experience for the visitors.
You don’t have to be a wine connoisseur to enjoy the state-of-the-art winery and its panoramas of Napa Valley and San Francisco Bay.
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Proceed to Olive Oil and Vinegar Tasting at Round Pond Estate
As a nice break from all the wine-tasting, Round Pond Estate delights visitors with a special guided tour to sample some of their finest olive oils and delicious red wine vinegar.
Go behind the scenes of the meticulous process as you view a careful selection of hand-harvested olives processed using Pieralisi machines.
The family-owned and operated estate also offers tastings of their own gourmet red wine vinegar made from Round Pond Estate’s homegrown grapes.
Save lunch while you feast on lettuce, tomato, fruit, bread, and cheese, topped with a delicious olive oil and vinegar sauce.
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Marvel at the winery and castle – Castello di Amorosa
Both winery and palace, Castello di Amoroso delights you with its extensive collection of wine set in the splendor of a 13th-century-inspired Tuscan castle.
While it boasts a wide selection of hand-crafted white, rosé, red and sweet wines, it should be no surprise that the real deal-maker is the spectacular castle itself.
Borrowing architectural influences from the 12th and 13th centuries, the 8-story castle has a moat, a drawbridge, defensive towers, an inner courtyard, a torture chamber, a chapel, and a knight’s chamber.
The great hall has a 22-foot-high (6.7-metre-high) coffered ceiling, which contains murals that took about a year and a half to paint, and a 500-year-old fireplace. Apart from the wine here, you will be surprised to see a lot more.
For parents traveling with kids, the kid-friendly winery offers grape juice tastings and plenty of space for your little ones to run around.
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Go on an adventure on Lake Berryessa
Napa Valley’s largest lake, Lake Berryessa, is a paradise for adventurers. Nestled in the Vaca Mountains, it offers popular activities from water skiing to wildlife watching and is as scenic as it is exciting.
A popular swimming and water-skiing site, the narrow part of the reservoir also fills with enthusiastic boaters during the weekend, so be prepared for quite a crowd during peak season.
You can also indulge in the simple pleasures of exploring the area along Oak Shores and Smittle Creek, which offer much to see.
If you are looking for comfortable accommodation to stay the night, there are many resorts along the marina along the lake.
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Check “Take a Glider Ride” Off Your Bucket List
After a round of wine tasting, you’ll probably be craving something new… so why take your trip to the next level with a glider ride? Family-owned Crazy Creek Air Adventures offers glider rides ranging from mild to wild.
Choose a cool glider ride and view the beautiful volcanoes, geysers, lakes, and of course, the vineyards of Napa Valley.
Alternatively, get your heart racing with the roller-coaster-esque ride. It’s a great way to celebrate a birthday or any special occasion; Join the ride of your life!
The experienced pilots will be sure to calm your pre-flight nerves with their friendliness and years of flying experience under their belts.
In addition, the support staff is on hand to take photos for you at no extra cost and will email them to you immediately after the ride is over.
Wine never tasted so good
Drinking wine is one thing, but savoring every sip in the glory of Napa Valley is another.
Filled with wonderful moments for wine-tasting, art tours, and nature exploration, a trip to Napa Valley is sure to blow your mind.
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