Napa Valley is best known for it's wine and gorgeous wineries. Some of the best wine in the world is made here!

History

Napa Valley is well known among wine drinkers and enthusiasts at large. Napa Valley took hard work and hard times to be what it is today. . In 1839, George Yount was the first to plant grapes in Napa Valley - the town of Yountville was later named after him. . In 1861, Charles Krug was the first to open a commercial winery in Napa Valley. Many other wineries open over the next 20 years. The 1980s was a tough time for Napa Valley, more than 80 percent of the grapevines were destroyed by the root louse phylloxera. The phylloxera plague lasted for more than 100 years. Finally in the 1940s, Napa Valley started to recover from the plague and prohibition. Today, Napa Valley is flourishing and is home to cover 500 wineries that create some of the best wines in the world! To learn more about the city, click here: History of Napa Valley

Recommended Activities

Explore di Rosa Contemporary Art Museum!

Explore Di Rosa Contemporary Art Museum: The di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art was founded by Veronica di Rosa and Rene de Rosa. Both founders collected art from artists in Northern California, which is the reason why di Rosa museum came to be. di Rosa sits on 217 acres of land and features over 1600 artworks from Northern California. The mission of the museum is to engage the community through art and nature. The museum also aims to inspire creativity and curiosity through educational programs.

When in Napa Valley, di Rosa Contemporary Art is a must visit. Keep in mind that tickets are required for the museum. Admission tickets are available for purchase online and walk-up. Tickets are valid for entry between 11:00am - 4:00pm the day of admission. If you want learn more about di Rosa Contemporary art or for tickets , click here: di Rosa

Hot Air Ballon - Napa Balloons, Inc

Napa Balloons was founded by Don Surplus after he took his first balloon ride for his 33rd birthday. At the time that Don founded Napa Balloons, Inc there were approximately 400 balloons in America. In 1980, the company started to offer commercial flights for tourists visiting Napa Valley. Napa Balloons has flown more people than any other flight corridor, this was due to the hard working pilots and crew. The company's founder retired in 2007. Today, Napa Balloons is one of the largest balloon ride companies in the country and is regarded as one of the best hot air balloon companies in the world.

The starting price for a hot air balloon ride is $299 per person. The ride lasts 45 minutes to an hour For more information, check out Napa Valley Balloons, Inc - : here

Hike Robert Louis Stevenson State Park

Robert Louis Stevenson State Park is famously known as the place where the author of Treasure Island and Kidnapped spent his honeymoon. There are no remains of the cabin where the author stayed, but the site is seen on one of the trails. The hike features tough terrain that includes evergreen forests in the canyons on north-facing slopes. The hike to the top of Mt. St. Helena is about five miles, once at the top, one can see the San Francisco Bay Area. The best reason to visit this park is in the spring or fall.

Where to eat

Hungry? Check out some of the best restaurants in Napa Valley

• Oxbow Public Market


Oxbow Public market is located in Oxbow District of Napa. This market has become a gathering place for excellent food and wine in downtown Napa. The market features a scenic outdoor seating area and offers a diverse mixture of local food vendors, cafes and organic produce from local farmers. The market supports the idea of sustainable agriculture and harvest. The idea is supposed to promote a healthy environment, social and economic equity within the community. The goal of the market is to create an environment within Oxbow Public Market to improve local food education, community outreach and suppport small businesses and farms. For hours of operations and locations, click here

• The French Laundry


The French Laundry commits itself in serving classic French cuisine with the finest ingredients along with impeccable guest service. The restaurant was establised in the 1990s by Chef Thomas Keller whose dream was to open a fine French cuisine establishment. In 2007, the restaurant was awarded its first Michelin Star. It has received the "Outstanding Restaurant Award" three times since 2007. When at The French Laundry, try the Charcoal Grilled Japanese Wagyu. For more information about The French Laundry, click here.

• The CIA at Copia


The CIA at Copia is presented by The Culinary Institue of America with the intention of gathering to "Feed Your Joy". The CIA at Copia offers its guest the opportunity to take cooking or beverage classes in their kichen. Guest can enjoy seasonal dishes prepared by CIA chefs in their outdoor dining space and have the opportunity to partake in a 3D animation tasting menu. There is something for everyone at CIA at Copia. All procedes from the experiences offered are used for future chefs. For more information about CIA at Copia, click here.

• Bistro Don Giovanni


Bistro Don Giovanni finds inspiration from local farms and the restaurant's garden to create its daily menu. The restaurant features traditional Italian dishes using sustainable ingredients from local farmers and vendors. The restaurant bakes focaccia and ciabatta bread daily and handcrafts its pastas. Some guest favorites include - Beet and Haricort Verts salad, Mama Concetta's meatballs and seared salmon filet. For more information about Bistro Don Giovanni, click here.

Bonus Activities to do in the Area

Napa Valley Gondala

Napa Valley Gondala offers sightseeing cruise on an authentic Venetian Gondola. The cruise/ tours is offered in private setting or for a group setting. This tour will give you a taste of Venice. To learn more about Napa Valley's Gondala, click here.

Calistoga Farmer's Market

Calistoga Farmers' Market mission is to build a sense of community by bringing locals and tourists together. The market offers local fruits and vegetables in support of local farmers. The market is open year round. To learn more about The Calistoga Farmers' Market and to see a map of how to get there, click here.

Bike Tour

Napa Valley bike tours provide visitors with guided bike tours that visit Napa wineries and also offer self- guided wine tasting bike tours and bike rentals. Napa Valley bike tours accommodate groups of all sizes. To learn more about Napa Valley Bike Tours, click here.

Additional Information

Address: Napa, CA 94559
Hours of Operation:
Price: Depends on activities/ location
Website: Napa Valley Offical Website
Facebook:Napa Valley Facebook
Instagram:Napa Valley Instagram