10 Best Things to Do in Napa

Napa Valley is home to close to 500 different wineries, with notable ones spread far and wide between Downtown Napa and the town of Calistoga. They’re among the main reasons people visit Wine Country, rewarding one’s search for fine Californian wines with the bonus of lush rolling hills and beautiful countryside.

No need to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices, though. Most Napa Valley winery and vineyard tours take you to prime locations offering wine education and tastings as part of the package. Surely to impress are the splendid French-inspired chateaus like Domaine Carneros, the hilltop Rutherford Hill Winery, the Italian castle-like Castello di Amorosa, and Stag's Leap Winery and Chateau Montelena of ‘The Paris Wine Tasting of 1976’ fame.

Hop on the Napa Valley Wine Train and travel back in time and through Wine Country for a truly memorable journey. The train and the railroad that it chugs along date back to 1864. It runs between Napa and St. Helena, passing the gorgeous countryside with lush vineyards and wineries along the way as well as the towns of Yountville, Rutherford and Oakville.

As a passenger, you can choose to enjoy lunch or dinner packages as well as wine tour options. The vintage railcars are fitted with elegant interiors that offer a touch of nostalgia. This is further complemented by special ‘murder mystery’ dinners with whodunit setups right out of an Agatha Christie book.

Oxbow Public Market is a great place in Napa for stocking up on picnic supplies before heading out to enjoy the Napa Valley outdoors. Locals frequent the market for their olives and cheeses, and simply for the many eateries. Stalls range from cake shops and bakeries to those serving steaks and sushi. There’s a riverside deck where you have ample space to sit, chat and enjoy your pizza with coffee, wine or beer by the Napa River.

The market is livelier in the summer, with live music to keep you entertained as you browse from stall to stall inside before heading outside to enjoy your snacks and ice cream.

The Napa River winds through the namesake valley and county, serving as a backdrop to many exciting experiences you can have in Wine Country. These include cruising on catamarans with meals and wines courtesy of prominent Napa wineries served on board, stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking to explore wetlands and forests, and simply hiking along the many different trails along the river with native wildlife sightings along the way.

Some Napa River cruises pass downtown Napa, allowing you to take in the city from a different perspective. For beating the summer heat, head to Napa River Ecological Reserve in Yountville, 14 minutes’ drive north of Napa, for its great series of swimming holes set against lush nature.

Lake Berryessa is the largest lake in Napa and offers plenty of options for outdoor fun. The lake was formed as a manmade reservoir in the Vaca Mountains when the Monticello Dam was built back in the 1950s. It’s now a popular weekend spot where families go camping, picnicking or swimming in the calm waters.

You can boat out on a fishing trip – the lake is known for its native rainbow trout as well as salmon and bass – or go kayaking and take in the lake from different perspectives. Thrillseekers can enjoy exciting water sports such as water-skiing and wakeboarding. Monticello Dam, at the eastern edge of Berryessa, is a highlight spot – check out the ‘Glory Hole’ before the dam, a spillway that forms a gigantic whirlpool when the water’s high.

Hot-air balloon rides over Napa Valley promise you an adventure of a lifetime, taking in the lush region’s valleys and rolling hills, together with glimpses of the Pacific coastline. Several hot-air balloon operators around Napa can take you up in the air, such as Napa Valley Balloons, Inc., Balloons Above the Valley, and Napa Valley Drifters, to name just a few.

The hot-air balloon companies all have one thing in common: they set out just after daybreak. There are several good reasons for this, including the fact that they need to ensure calm winds and cool air for the tranquil ride. As a bonus, you catch the breathtaking first light of day as it shines across the scenic valley. The memorable moments are perfect for popping the big question.

Connolly Ranch in Napa is an educational farm where you can take the kids out for a fun day close to nature, with plenty of friendly animal encounters. The 12-acre farm dates back to 1917 and offers a spacious outdoor setting where you and the little ones can learn more about farm life, from growing organic and healthy food to ecology and sustainability.

To ensure your quality time with the kids, there’s a parent-and-child programme on offer that’ll help you focus on the present as you discover the farm through your 5 senses together. Even as grownups, you’ll learn new things as you play, either from tending a flower or vegetable garden or feeding and playing with the farm animals.

Follow the Napa Valley Vine Trail, which stretches for roughly 47 miles across the entire Napa region, or simply conquer a small section of it as you please. There are many places to start your hiking or cycling day out – a popular one being from South Napa, heading north to Yountville, which is approximately 12 miles away.

The trail development is a continuous effort overseen by a coalition that set out to build and maintain the level and paved public trail, eventually connecting Vallejo’s Ferry to Calistoga. It’s great for cycling couples, passing beautiful groves and vineyards. Pedalling families with kids will also have a great quality time out in Napa. Below are the contact details of The Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition. The route itself is open 24/7.

Uptown Theater in Napa’s West End district dates back to the '30s and features Art Deco styling, evoking a sense of nostalgia during each theatre night. The upscale and intimate entertainment venue plays to a good variety of music and comedic gigs and seats up to 863 people on 2 levels.

Big names that have performed at Uptown include Willie Nelson, BB King, Chris Isaak, Jeff Beck, Joe Satriani, The Beach Boys, Snoop Dogg, and Los Lobos. This gives you an idea of the colourful variety of genres featured, from pop, instrumental rock and surf music to hip-hop and Tex-Mex like La Bamba.

You can find the heart of Napa’s nightlife scene in none other than the downtown area, particularly along 1^st Street and Main Street. Here, you’ll find a good variety of bars, rooftop lounges and live music venues such as the Napa Valley Opera House, which itself is home to the Blue Note Napa jazz club and the JaM Cellars Ballroom.

Head to Cadet Wine & Beer Bar on neighbouring Franklin Street for a good selection of locally brewed craft beer and Californian wines. Sky & Vine Rooftop Bar on 1st Street opens in the afternoons until late at night for good times with occasional bar games under the stars and an overall laidback ambience with sweeping cityscapes. For the more typical bar games, there’s Billco’s Billiards and Darts on 3^rd Street, which is also good for families.