Travel Guides > Napa, CA

Napa Valley Travel

Located about an hour north of San Francisco, the beautiful Napa Valley is at the heart of Northern California's wine region. Along with neighboring Sonoma Valley, Napa attracts thousands of visitors each year who arrive in hopes of tasting some of the best wines in the country, eating meals at five-star restaurants, staying at romantic or opulent country inns, and otherwise enjoying the amazing scenery of this unique California region.

While the majority of people head to the Napa Valley for the wine tasting tours, there are plenty of things to see in small towns like Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, Calistoga, Rutherford, and Oakville. These days, tiny Napa is home to one of the area's most visited attractions - Copia: The American Center for Wine, Food, and the Arts. Copia is a fascinating interactive center where guests can learn to appreciate the interconnection of wine, food, and the fine arts, participating in such events as cooking classes, wine tastings, festivals, and diverse performances of all styles of music, dance, and theater.

For more wine with an artistic twist, visit the Hess Collection, also in the town of Napa. Located at the site of the old Christian Brothers Winery, Swiss art collector Donald Hess turned this location into a mecca for lovers of both fine arts and fine wine. Don't miss this incredible collection, which features paintings and sculptures by contemporary European and American painters.

Shopping fanatics should head a little further north to the far end of the Napa Valley and visit the town of St. Helena, known for its upscale shops as well as the St. Helena Premium Outlets, where you can find great designer items at an affordable price.

Located even further north, about 85 miles from San Francisco, Calistoga is truly one of the loveliest towns in the valley. You'll find soothing geo-thermal hot springs here and can relax and unwind in a mineral bath or enjoy a massage at one of the spas located in this laid-back town. There's also an Old Faithful Geyser here, smaller than the "original" but nearly as regular in its eruptions.

Of course, if you're coming to Napa Valley just for the wine, you'll be treated to a myriad of wineries, from popular well-known wine producers to small yet excellent vineyards that are busy building a favorable reputation. Guests can visit the Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville; Beringer in St. Helena; Schramsberg, a 217-acre champagne estate in Calistoga; and Domaine Chandon, known for its fine French champagne and one of the most-visited estates in Napa Valley and also a great place to enjoy an excellent French dinner. In all, there are nearly 300 wineries in the Napa Valley.