Napa Valley Wineries and Wine Tasting:
With over 250 Wineries, Napa Valley is one of the largest and the most popular
wine producing regions in the world. It is just 35 miles long with over 40,000
acres of land planted to grapes. Most of these Wineries are open for visitors
and offer Wine Tasting and Wine Tours providing excellent wine education. Some
of the Napa Valley Wineries also offer picnic facilities with memorable
opportunities to celebrate any occasion with family and friends. Most of the
wineries are located on CA 29 whereas Silverado Trail also has popular wineries
and has less traffic. While most of the wineries do not require a reservation,
it is best to call in first if you have any particular winery in mind. Since
Wine Tasting is a major Napa Valley attraction, most of the wineries offer some
FREE Wine tasting with an additional charge of $2 to $5 each for other premium
wine tasting.
Besides wine tasting there are several other things to do in Napa.
Petrified Forest:The magnificent Petrified Forest in Calistoga will take you back to an era of more than three million years ago. It consists of giant redwood trees that turned into stones millions of years back after being covered from the ash of the Volcano that erupted three million years ago. According to Geologists it is one of the finest examples of a Pliocene fossil forest in the world. The area also has a small famous museum with interesting fossils and a small gift shop with crystals and petrified wood that make good souvenirs to take back home. It is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm in the winters and 9 am to 6 pm in the summers, it is best to call in first for group tours.
Old Faithful Geyser:
Throwing hundreds of gallons water high up in the air like a giant fountain, the spectacular performance of the Old Faithful Geyser in Calistoga is a must see natural wonder and famous attraction of Napa Valley. Boiling hot water shoots up to 60 feet up in the sky at regular periods of half an hour, while spectators gather around it, trying to catch a good picture. It is one of the three Geysers in the world that perform at regular intervals and have earned the name of "Old Faithful". Along With the Geyser, the area also has a small gift shop and a picnic area for family get together and fun. It is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm in the winters and 9 am to 6 pm in the summers.
Napa Premium Outlets:
Napa Factory Outlets are located at 629 Factory Stores Drive, Napa, CA 94558 (In the city of Napa; First Exit off Hwy. 29 ). The stores are open daily 10am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 6pm on Sundays. Being close to San Francisco with over 50 stores, the Napa Premium Outlets are more popular than Petaluma Village Premium Outlets and Vacaville Premium Outlets. You will get a opportunity save 25% to 60% on popular brand stores. Some of the popular brands at the outlets are Ann Taylor, Tommy Hilfiger, Barneys New York Outlet, Gap Outlet, Calvin Klein, Coach, Cole Haan, Jones New York, Kenneth Cole, Liz Claiborne, Banana Republic, Timberland, Bass, Fossil Company Store, Zales and more.
Hot
Air Ballooning:Floating high up in the air is probably the dream of any one of us, Napa Valley Air Ballooning has made this dream come true and is a popular attractions of Napa Valley. With excellent weather for Hot Air Ballooning, rides are possible almost all year round. The one hour Napa Valley Hot Air Balloon flights begin in the morning when the winds are gentle, air is cooler and the Valley shines like a jewel due to the rising sun. It is one of the most romantic and adventurous ways of exploring the beauty of the Napa Valley and enjoying the spectacular views of the region. Most balloons launch early in the morning from the Yountville area. Several companies offer Hot Air Balloon rides and the package usually consists of the ride first followed by a glass of traditional Champaign and authentic breakfast after the ride. Depending upon the package, the cost of the ride ranges anywhere from $195 to $260 per person.
Napa Wine Train:
Being one of the most famous attraction of Napa Valley, the glorious wine train journey begins at Napa to St. Helena and back to Napa. Since this Wine Train offers breathtaking views, relaxed atmosphere, elegant surrounding along with food and wine, it is one of the best ways to explore the Napa Valley which is one of the top wine producing areas in the world. The three hour round trip covers 36 miles of Napa Valley vineyards along with the options of Brunch, lunch and dinner. There are three seating arrangements all serving gourmet food and premier wines. One of the settings is a open air arrangement where you can enjoy the beautiful views of the Napa Valley Wineries along with outstanding food and sparkling wine. This elegantly decorated wine train is also an ideal place for celebrating any occasion with friends and family.
Along with the above famous attractions of Napa Valley, there are several Art Galleries and Museums also, the most popular is the Volakis Gallery in Yountville. There are several other things to do like Bicycle tours, Kayaking & Boating, Shopping, Spas, Golf Courses and hiking trails to add some more fun and adventure to your trip.
