there’s nothing like a trip to the napa valley to lift your spirits, nurture body and soul, and banish the work-day blahs. the valley’s natural beauty, perfect weather, unique communities and wealth of great wines and extraordinary food are the ideal ingredients for a thoroughly enjoyable visit.
internationally designated as one of the “great wine capitals of the world,” a distinction given to only eight of the planet’s wine producing regions, the napa valley is best appreciated over several days. whether a returning guest or on your first visit, there is plenty to experience for those who wish to slow down and “taste the cabernet”!
so, take a look at these “insider’s tips” and plan to add a few extra days to your napa valley itinerary. “live like a local” and take part in these uniquely napa valley – and wallet-friendly activities …
on the first friday nights may-october, head to main street st. helena for “cheers! st. helena” street fair 6-9pm, where over 50 napa valley wineries are pouring in over 50 locations. attending cheers! is free. wine tickets to taste top napa valley wines are available for purchase from $5 per person for a single taste to $35 per person for a nightly pass to taste everywhere. it’s a great way to see all the shops and galleries in st. helena while sampling some of the napa valley's best wines. and, if you’re cycling from your hotel, there’s even a free bike valet! if not, there’s always free on street parking, and an occasional concert in lyman park’s gazebo. call (707) 963-8011 or visit http://www.cheerssthelena.com.
join local residents for great deals on spectacular food and wine and head to the city of napa’s newest local haunt, the oxbow public market for local’s nights on tuesdays. receive special prices at the oxbow wine merchant & wine bar on private label wines, draft beers and artisanal cheeses and enjoy fresh oysters for $1 during happy hour at the popular hog island oyster bar. live music is offered on select local’s nights as well. and every night there’s great stargazing, always absolutely free. for more information visit http://www.oxbowpublicmarket.
calistoga has their “saturday stroll” featuring tastings and live music the first saturday of the month, 1-5pm late spring – november; tickets for wine tasting are $25 for two and the music is yours for the listening. the town also has their first thursday of the month art walk that happens april, june, august, october. while there see if you don’t recognize sites from the adam sandler movie “bedtime stories.” for more information contact the calistoga chamber at (707) 942-6333 or visit http://www.calistogavisitors.
enjoy tasting some of the napa valley's best wines for just 10 cents at 14 different tasting rooms in downtown napa with the “taste napa downtown” tasting card. the card is available for purchase for $20 at the napa valley visitor information center in napa town center and also provides savings on corkage fees at many downtown restaurants and area lodging. for more information visit http://www.napadowntown.com.
when school resumes in the fall, try and time your trip to coincide with a local napa valley school fundraiser. area vintners are extremely generous and you can bid and take home many fine wines at extraordinary prices, while serving the local community schools with your donation bid.
between the fall harvest and christmas, there are many seasonal and unique activities to discover and enjoy, such as yountville’s festival of lights (which begins the day after thanksgiving and runs through new year’s eve), the napa valley tractor parade of lights in calistoga, and concerts at area parks and wineries. to find out more about the different celebrations and events offered visit http://www.
napa valley's legendary culinary scene offers an array of world-class cuisine, award-winning restaurants and acclaimed chefs. the destination is home to the city of yountville, which boasts the most michelin star restaurants per capita than anywhere else in the country. several restaurants in the area offer unique opportunities for food enthusiasts to enjoy a taste of the region’s renowned culinary scene for less. for a great meal that’s also a great deal in st. helena, enjoy a family-style meal at the renowned and casually elegant martini house restaurant with the staff. the 3-course early dinner is a mere $20 plus tax/grat. for reservations (707) 963-2233. visit brix restaurant for its new “brix unpaved” series, which offers dining experiences showcasing the different “street foods” of india, thailand, and italy. created by executive chef, anne gingrass-paik, the “street food” festivals will be held in the brix gardens the first thursday of each month starting aug. 20, 2009. tickets are priced at $35.00 + tax. for tickets and information visit http://www.brix.com.
one of the most beautiful times to visit the napa valley is during the mustard season, january – march, when the valley’s vineyards and fields are filled with brilliant shades of green and gold from the blooming wild mustard plants. in celebration, the region hosts an annual mustard festival that offers special food and wine events, musical performances, art exhibits, and more throughout the season. dates for the 17th annual mustard festival are january 27 - march 30, 2010. for more information visit http://www.mustardfestival.org
for these and other events, activities, tours and festivals visit http://www.
america’s legendary wine, food, and wellness destination, the napa valley is home to the founders of america’s fine wine industry - legendary entrepreneurs who showed the world that the high art of winemaking had crossed continents. the very word napa stands for ‘land of plenty’, the original meaning given to the region by its first inhabitants, the wappo indians. the valley itself is one of the most rare and precious agricultural preserves on earth - a place that moves in perfect synchrony with the seasons. in addition to being recognized as one of the “great wine capitals of the world” the napa valley is prized for its natural beauty, phenomenal culinary scene, world-class accommodations, and one-of-a-kind spa experiences including the region’s famed mud baths and natural hot springs. for more information about the napa valley visit http://www.
[photo via onearthtravel.com]
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