Legendary for its lush vineyards and top-class wines, the Napa Valley is an
oenophile’s dream. The wine industry in the Californian county is worth billions of
dollars and is renowned the world over. But did you know that the Napa Wine Valley
is also rich in beautiful scenery, culture and history? There are lots of things to do in
the Napa Valley, not only for lovers of wine, but for those seeking solitude and
scenery or for families looking to have fun.
We’ve collated five things you can do when visiting the Napa Wine Valley area.
Wine tasting
You can’t go to the Napa Wine Valley and not take part in a tasting session of the
county’s most famous product – wine tourism and Napa go hand-in-hand. Enjoy a
private or group tour at one of Napa’s exquisite wineries or vineyards, learn how to
make wine, then taste the fruits of your labour. With over 400 wineries offering tours
and tasting rooms, visitors to the region really are spoiled for choice.
Win at the tables
You might not associate the serene tranquillity of Napa’s vineyards with the bright
lights of casinos and gambling, but surprisingly, there are a lot of top-notch venues in
the region where you can try your hand. Gaming in Napa dates back to the 1850s
when the region was thriving during the silver rush. Today, while you might not travel
to the county specifically to play poker or roulette, there are casinos in Napa worth
visiting. If you need your gaming session to brush up on your game, you can always
choose to play online on your phone at platforms such as ggpoker.co.uk or similar.
However, if you prefer playing live games, there are lots of casinos in and around the
Napa Wine Valley offering food, drink and other entertainments that are open 24
hours a day, seven days a week.
Horse riding
There’s nothing so liberating as riding a horse through a lush valley with the summer
breeze blowing in your face. With its fertile, green scenery, it’s hardly surprising that
the Napa Wine Valley is a beautiful setting to explore on horseback, whether alone
or with friends. The county is home to lots of farms and equestrian centres offering
horse riding tours, lessons, and group events for adults and children alike.
Napa Valley Museum
Take a break from tasting the wine and try a taste of some local culture. Dedicated to
art, history, science, and the natural environment, the Napa Valley Museum in the
historic town of Yountville is a family treat. As well as housing permanent collections
of regional artifacts, the museum often holds new and interesting exhibitions, and
regularly showcases up and coming local artists.
Festivals
Rich in culture, it’s no surprise that the Napa Valley is home to numerous festivals
dedicated to the arts, food, wine – and even tractors.
January sees the spectacular Napa Lighted Art Festival, where striking artworks are
projected onto the buildings of Downtown Napa.
The Napa Valley Film Festival celebrates the best in independent filmmaking and,
although an annual event, it supports student filmmakers and education programmes
throughout the year.
BottleRock Napa Valley is a three-day music festival boasting some of the biggest
live acts in the world. Taking place at the Napa Valley Exposition, the three-day
event has seen icons such as Blondie, Joan Jett, and Red Hot Chilli Peppers among
others.
The area is also home to Festival Napa Valley, Live in the Vineyard, Music in the
Vineyards, and many more.
While the incredible wines and vineyards of Napa are certainly the main selling point
for visitors to the area, it’s worth noting that the region has so much more to offer.
Hopefully, if you’re planning on visiting this beautiful area, you might try out some of
our suggestions.