Napa for Newbies
Photographer: Kelly
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Route: Custom Route, Napa-Sonoma, United States
Travel Story
Usually I run my husband ragged on our trips; if I'm somewhere new, I explore from sun-up to sundown. We don't actually go on vacation to vacation, my husband points out to people. As a result, I promised him that this year's annual anniversary trip would be more low-key. A trip where there was just enough to do, but we could also go at a much slower pace. Enter Napa Valley. Napa has been a draw to us for a few years, not only for the wine, but because we admire the cooking of American chef Thomas Keller. Securing a reservation at the French Laundry was an absolute dream for us. We were able to cross it and Bouchon and the Bouchon Bakery off our Thomas Keller to-do list. We knew going into our trip that Napa would be a nice vacation; we'd been to California many times and loved it. But Napa is different, really. Napa is like taking a European vacation in the States. The rolling hillsides are covered with vineyard after vineyard. Everything there is lush, green, and quiet. No one is in a hurry. Our 4-day stay was just enough to help us feel recharged for the real world beyond the valley walls.
Travel Tips
We went to Napa as complete newbies, so these would be my tips for other first-timers. One: Share tastings at the wineries. Not only does this save money (Napa can be notoriously expensive), but you can also make sure you're being safe if you haven't booked an extra ride. Some of our favorite wineries were Artesa (that view!) and Benziger Family Winery. Two: Take a hike. We loved walking around Jack London State Park in Sonoma, and some of the hiking trails in Napa. Who wouldn't want to be immersed in all that beautiful countryside!? Three: Visit the markets. There's markets all over Napa and Sonoma! This can save you a bit of money, and let you try a variety of delicious local foods. We particularly loved the Oxbow Public Market in Napa, where we did a food crawl around all the food stalls. Four: Get advice from the Visitor's Center. We did this our first day and did not regret it! Their staff helped give us an idea of how long it takes to get around the valley, offered some fantastic winery suggestions we would never have considered, and were all around wonderful guides for first-timers in the valley. Five: Relax! You're in scenic Napa Valley. Take it day by day, drink some wine, and enjoy whatever the beautiful countryside has to offer that day.
