Disclosure: This is a sponsored post although all opinions are my own!
Being a local to the Napa Valley and Sonoma area, I feel incredibly lucky to reside in such a beautiful area. Even so, about once a year I love booking through Napa Valley vacation home rentals to enjoy the weekend, and the area for all that it’s worth.
With that being said, I wanted to share with you the 6 Reasons WHY I love the Napa Valley area so much to inspire you to book a weekend getaway or time away there yourself!
1) The Small Town Feel
Whoever designed the Napa Valley was an incredibly smart individual because I love how the towns are broken up throughout the valley. Whether I want to spend a day in Downtown Napa exploring the Restaurant and Bar Scene, or exploring the food purveyors of the Oxbow Market, or getting my eats on at the Model Bakery, I can do so!
Or if I want to spend a day in Yountville to get my Bouchon Bakery on, or enjoy an incredible dinner experience at The French Laundry, I can do so! Or enjoy the boutiques and tasting rooms, or take in the art scene, I can do so!
Or if I want to spend a day in St Helena taking in the wineries up valley, or shopping along Main Street, I can do so!
Or if I want more of a smaller town feel, I can easily head to Calistoga for a day of shopping, wine tasting, or exploring things such as The Petrified Forest, the views along the Silverado Trail, or seeing the Geysers go off! Each time I come to town, I can choose a different experience, and that’s such a huge draw for me!
2) The Wine
Wine Tasting at Whitehall Lane Winery
Lets be honest, the wine is TOP notch, and with over 500 Wineries and Tasting Experiences to choose from, you’ll never run out of ideas or exploration. The Napa Valley is known for their Caberenet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and yes, even Merlot (my personal favorite!)
But the heritage this valley has had on the California Wine Industry is pretty awesome, and a visit to the Napa Valley to take in that heritage and experience is an absolute must!
3) The Food
Winemaker Lunch at Cunat Family Vineyards
With the Napa Valley being in such close proximity to so many farmers, there are some incredible restaurants in the valley, as well. Places such as Basalt, Morimoto, Brix, Mustards Grill, Rutherford Grill, Ad Hoc Addendum, and some locals favorites such as Buster’s BBQ, Gott’s Roadside, and more! And of course, we can’t forget about the dining experience at Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry. Prior to your dining experience, be sure to visit the gardens across the street where the Chefs pull their local ingredients from.
4) The Shopping and Art Scene
Art found along Downtown Yountville
If you love shopping, you definitely can have that with all the small boutiques found throughout the valley, and ART is huge in the Napa Valley, as well. Stop at some of my favorites: Dean and Deluca, Atelier, V Marketplace, The Oxbow Market, or along St. Helena’s Main Street!
In Downtown Napa they’ve opened up an entirely new retail shopping area to explore and check out! Buy a new outfit for your Napa advenures, or find a new piece of home decor, trust me, you’ll find something you’ll love.
Spend a day perusing the art along Washington Street in Yountville then take the afternoon to explore the Napa Art Museum, or enjoy the art at the wineries around town such as Hall Winery or the art collection at the Hess Collection. During the entire month of April, Napa converges their two loves of Art and Wine together through a variety of events.
5) The Experiences
Wine and Cheese Pairing at Brasswood Napa Valley
No one knows hospitality like the Napa Valley, and the experiences you can have here are pretty incredible. Whether it’s enjoying the animals at the Castello di Amorosa, enjoying a picnic on the winery grounds of V. Sattui, or taking in an aerial tram ride at Sterling Vineyards, Catching a Hot Air Balloon ride or just sitting down for a fantastic Cheese and Wine Experience, there is something for everyone in the valley!
The Napa Valley truly knows hospitality and how to take your Wine experience to an entirely new level. I dare you to stop into a place that wasn’t on your list, although, reservations recommended, and you may just unlock a new place to explore! Trust me, there were many times where I discovered new favorites by stopping into a place I never would have thought to before.
6) The Views
Morning View at Castello di Amorosa
But, I must admit, one of my all time favorite reasons for heading to the Napa Valley a few times a year are the incredible views found throughout the valley. Views that truly can take your breath away!
It’s fun to take a side street from Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail to just take in the views. Or to explore a Winery on the hillside to capture the beauty of the Napa Valley. Or, if you enjoy hiking, there’s a few great trails waiting to be discovered. Bring camera in hand to capture those views to bring home with you.
