6 Must-do Things if You’re Visiting Napa Valley

6 Must-do Things if You’re Visiting Napa Valley

What comes to your mind when you hear the words ‘Napa Valley?’ A land that’s widely known for vines and wines. It also has a lot of history. These together make Napa Valley an excellent tourist place.

Have you been planning to visit Napa Valley? Then you need to make a list of all their attractions. To help you with that, we have discussed a few must-do things and must-visit places when visiting Napa Valley.

1. Ride the Napa Valley Wine Train

If you want to experience romance from the past centuries, then you must ride on Napa Valley Wine Train. The restored centuries-old train cars feature mahogany paneling, plush seating, etched glass partitions, dining rooms, and lounges.

Besides these, they also act as a restaurant, serving excellent gourmet meals paired with various local wines.

2. Napa River Food and Wine Tour

You can book a wine-and-dine tour on the Napa River for a unique experience. An experienced guide will take you to restaurants surrounding the river, where you will taste food and wine while learning about Napa’s rich history.

While on this tour, you can try out kayaking. You’ll find kayak rentals in Napa Valley with experienced tour guides who will take you through the serene waters and tell you about the rich history and unique tales of Napa.

3. Visit Wineries

The biggest attractions of Napa Valley, besides vineyards, are the wineries. There are two must-visit wineries you must check out when in Napa Valley.

Robert Mondavi Winery

It’s not just a beautiful place for a wine-tasting tour. You can also  fine-dine here, see their art collections, and enjoy musical performances.

Jarvis Estate

Caves are considered the ideal place for making wine due to their constant temperature and humidity. This is why Jarvis Estate makes their wines in an engineered cave. On the wine-tasting tour, you can see the wine chambers and the rest of the cave.

Silver Oak Winery

The only winery in North America to operate in an American oak cooperage, Silver Oak Winery operates following sustainable winegrowing principles. One of their best wines is the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

They give a complimentary Silver Oak Winery glass during their wine tasting tour, which you can take home as a souvenir.

4. Visit Vineyards

If you want to know about the sourcing of grapes for wine, you must visit the sprawling vineyards.

Schramsberg Vineyards

With a rich history of over 150 years, Schramsberg vineyards still produce vines full of the finest grapes for delectable wines that they make in their winery.

As one of the most romantic vineyards in Napa Valley, they produce their wines in winery caverns carved in the 19th century, which can hold approximately 2.5 million bottles of wine.

Rombauer Vineyards

Rombauer Vineyards, established in 1980, produce excellent quality grapes for their St Helena Winery. The winery makes their award-winning Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, and Sauvignon Blanc from those stunning grapes.

5. Visit Historical Locations

Art galleries, museums, and parks are places rich with histories. Here are the must-visit historical locations in Napa Valley.

Castello di Amorosa

Wineries are boring for children, and some don’t even allow kids inside. But that’s not the case for Castello di Amorosa. They’re a recreation of the 13th-century Tuscan castle with a wine-tasting tour. The building is a complete representation of a fairytale castle that mesmerizes people of all ages.

The Hess Collection Winery and Art Museum

If you’re a fan of contemporary art, you must visit The Hess Collection Art Museum, as it has the most important private collection of contemporary art. The whole environment is picturesque, and you can enjoy wine tasting and vineyard tours on their beautiful grounds.

Bale Gristmill State Historical Park

It’s the perfect place for you if you want to experience the rich rural heritage of Napa Valley. You will find the first church ever built in Napa Valley and the Pioneer Cemetery here.

Their vintage mill, which used to be a great place for gathering, is still operational, and you can see the original set of millstones and water wheel still in action.

di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art

Another great place for contemporary art lovers, the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, has a number of galleries, a sculpture park, and a huge lake. They also offer a range of educational programs for adults and children. This place is also ideal if you want a break from the wine tours.

6. Visit Top-Tier Food Places

Is it even possible to visit such a lovely place and not try food from their top-tier places? Napa Valley is home to a handful of Michelin-starred restaurants, so better not miss out on them!

Auberge du Soleil

Auberge du Soleil is the perfect place for those who love a relaxing and enjoyable stay-cation. It has a Michelin-starred restaurant, spa, an exquisite view of a vineyard, an outdoor sculpture garden, and fitness centers.

Woodhouse Chocolate

Are you a fan of chocolates? Then, Woodhouse Chocolate is the perfect place for you! It’s one of the best places for chocolate bars and barks with an assortment of delectable chocolates of various shapes and sizes that come wrapped in beautiful boxes. They also carry party gifts and favors.

Gott’s Roadside

Gott’s Roadside is a landmark of Napa Valley with a ‘50s style design, where travelers stop to have delicious food in a pleasant ambiance.

Oxbow Public Market

Oxbow Public Market allows its guests to taste local drinks, food, Napa Valley Distiller’s spirits, and even shop to their heart’s content. They also offer original brands from California.

Final Thoughts

A perfect place for wine lovers, Napa Valley will surely make your wine-loving heart go crazy. From fantastic wine-tasting tours to visiting beautiful historical locations to experiencing delicious food, Napa Valley is the perfect place for an eventful vacation.

We hope you like this article and consider doing these six things mentioned when you’re visiting Napa Valley.