Napa Valley is famed for the many wines that it produces each year. If you have always wanted to visit this wine country, but are not completely sure whether or not you should make the trip, there are a few things you should consider when making your decision.
There is a lot more to do than just wine tasting in Napa Valley. Take a look at some of the reasons why you should visit Napa Valley.
The Wine Tasting Card
Napa Valley has some of the best wineries in the world. However, there is more to Napa Valley than visiting a winery. If you have a downtown wine tasting card you can go to the tasting rooms downtown and sample twelve different tasting rooms.
It is a fun and easy way to taste some of the most popular wines in Napa Valley. You can order your tickets online at the Napa Tourist Information Center.
Port Tasting of Wines
If you love port wines then you can visit Saint Helena. Go to the Prager Winery and Port works where you will be able to sample four wines and ports for only twenty dollars. You will also be able to take home the tasting glass since it is a collectible. You will not need to make an appointment to visit here.
If you want to visit this Charbay Distillery, however, you will need to call ahead or notify them online that you are coming. You will be able to sample six-port wines for twenty dollars.
Alston Park
It's not just the wine that you should visit Napa Valley for but you should also visit for the scenery. The Napa Valley has lots of wide-open spaces where you can hike, bike, and take long walks.
One of the best spaces is at Alston Park. In Alston Park, you can explore the dirt trails on the 157-acre premises. If you have a pet traveling with you there is an off-leash dog park and it is easy for you to let your pet enjoy the scenery as well.
Film Festivals
Napa has a famed five-day Film Festival that is a must for those who enjoy the movies. Over 125 independent films can be viewed and there are over twelve different screening venues throughout the valley for viewing.
The passes for this film festival usually sell out very quickly. If you did not buy a ticket ahead of time and you want to ensure that you get a seat, you can arrive at the venue early to get a rush ticket.
Enjoy Shakespeare
Another thing that you can enjoy in Napa Valley is Shakespeare performances. These performances are called NapaShakes. They are always delightful and very authentic.
They sell out very quickly so it is best to ensure that you get your tickets early to avoid disappointment.
Enjoy the Napa Art Walk
You can view large-scale art pieces when shopping and dining downtown in Napa Valley. There are 15 works of abstract and conceptual art from artists from various parts of the West.
It is best to get a map before you go to the art walk. You can pick up one at the Napa Valley office welcome center. There is also a podcast that you can download on the available pieces. You can visit the Napa Art Walk website to download episodes of the podcast for free.
Truffle Festival
Napa Valley has a famed truffle festival every year. It is one of the few locations in the world that has this type of festival.
The Truffle Festival has a Marketplace at Oxbow Market. Visiting the market is an excellent way for you to explore various truffles in cocktails and food.
There are several chef demos, truffle food gifts, and wine pairings. This is an exciting and unique event that you should try to attend when visiting Napa Valley.
Plan Your Vacation
Planning your vacation to Napa Valley should be a lot easier now that you know all the great places that you can visit. Make sure that you plan out your itinerary in detail before you make the trip to the valley.
As you can see, there is a lot to do and see in Napa Valley. To ensure you see as many sights as possible, you have to decide when you will visit as well as how long you will stay there.
*Post contributed by peer travel writer and wine lover, Brandy Bertson.*
