One of the best ways to relax, have fun, or get rid of the stresses of everyday life is to simply escape to another world for a short time. For more than five million people each year, this is exactly why Napa Valley exists.
So how about a little getaway to a different world? Let’s go to a civilized land of rolling hills and beautiful landscapes all year round, in a Mediterranean climate, full of art and entertainment, wine, food and the intoxicating atmosphere of the good life.
Napa Valley is a magical corner of the world just an hour’s drive north of San Francisco. The Valley sun is cooled by the coastal breeze, with a climate that works wonderfully for vineyards that grow grapes and perfectly for humans who enjoy the Valley’s ever-present sense of fun.
The valley is a rolling land that rises into the foothills, with an astonishingly diverse set of natural features. Skillful inhabitants of picturesque Victorian towns have spent more than a century putting all these gifts of nature into service for the pleasure of the visitor.
There are medicinal hot springs and luxurious and indulgent spas, and one of the three Old Faithful geysers in the country, a favorite along the wine trail. There are caves, used by winegrowers as perfect cellars, and very often furnished for dinners, parties and musical performances with impeccable acoustics.
There is even a petrified forest, one of the best preserved examples from the Pliocene of three million years ago. There are three state parks, one of them historic. Horse riding and hiking are plentiful. Parks abound. Bike trails abound. Golf, of course, is everywhere. Deer roam the hills as humans explore shops, restaurants, wine tasting, and countless other festive events, all in a pleasing Californian mix of indoors and out.
A gourmet wine train runs through the valley and a river does too, widening in the city of Napa to become a riverwalk and cruise experience. Napa is the main city of the Valley, home to the opera and the great cultural center and museum located luxuriously on the riverbank.
Napa Valley is 35 miles long and 5 miles wide, and getting around is easy. In addition to trains and boats, there are hot air balloons, taxis, buses, shuttles, tour vehicles, limousines, motorized rickshaws, horses, bicycles, kayaks, and carriages. Designated drivers are always there for you and rentals abound, including jets-capable airplanes at the airport.
And don’t forget about good feet, in a place where you can count on unique discoveries around every corner.
Napa Valley is rightly famous for its wine, which is everywhere, usually accompanied by incredibly fresh organic food, grown locally and prepared by world-class chefs.
Romance is great in Napa Valley. It’s a destination for a honeymoon and anniversary getaway, no wonder, when daily life is so naturally elegant and nightlife is so alive. And the two magical foods of wine and chocolate are everywhere.
El Valle is also easy for families with children, a universally welcoming and welcoming friendly place. And the great abundance of the Valley means you can visit it without hurting your pocketbook. You can find bargains everywhere if you are looking. Ask the locals: common people enjoy living in the Valley for good reason.
As a final visitor treat, Napa Valley is always in season, with seasonal activities throughout the year. There is sun, rain, snow, heat from the springs, coolness from the lakes. The vines can rest in winter, but this is exactly when the fields come alive with wildflowers, marking a new festive season of events.
The one thing Napa Valley doesn’t have is a recovery program for your addiction to its magic. No guide can describe everything in the Valley for you to discover. You’ll have to explore on your own, and more than once – Napa Valley is not a one-time event. Once bitten, you will always return for that unique Napa Valley magic.
