NAPA VALLEY - CALIFORNIA

NAPA VALLEY - CALIFORNIA

Published: 10/06/2009 by D Travel

There are many translations for the word “Napa” most of which are derived from Native American languages, among them ‘grizzly bear’, ‘fish’, and ‘motherland.’ It is the Patwin word for ‘house’ – napo, however, which seems most likely, notwithstanding the local legend that translates Napa to mean ‘you will always return.’

The fact is that once you have visited Napa, you will almost always return and not just for the wine. Napa Valley vineyards have risen to the level of the superior wine regions in France, Italy and Spain, and of course such an intense focus on the renowned vineyards of Napa is one of the primary reasons people visit. But there is much more to this little heaven on earth, from the utterly picturesque bed and breakfasts, spas and resorts to the famous Calistoga mudbaths, dining at the more upscale restaurants or just soaking up the sunshine and peace wandering through some of the countryside, the smell of the grapes ripening in the sun and the utter peace that permeates all of Napa. This is a place to return whenever your spirit needs uplifting and your body needs to fully relax.

For enlightened pampering and relaxation, Solage Calistoga has the second most highly-rated spa in the US – Spa Solage and the ‘Best New Restaurant’ – Solbar. How about a two-for-one wine tasting at the Hall St. Helena Winery, an experience which the SF CHRONICLE recently described as “excellent”? Perhaps you’d prefer to let yourself be toured around through the wineries in a luxury vehicle driven by a knowledgeable tour guide from California Wine Tours. Napa Wine Tours will shuttle you from the Ferry Building in San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge into Napa, serve you a gourmet picnic lunch, take you through four of Napa’s premier wineries, and then take you back to the City with a ferry ride through the Bay. For the more romantically inclined, something like the Wine Country Inn and Gardens might be just the perfect blend of consummate catering, honeymoon-style cottages, beautiful gardens, and full buffet-style breakfasts, among other passion-inspiring amenities.

Not to be overlooked in the Napa Valley list of absolute ‘musts’ would be the perfect hot air balloon ride, perhaps one from Napa Valley Balloons (which was voted the “Best Balloon Ride” every year since 1996) including both a pre-flight and a post-flight breakfast and champagne ‘celebration.’ There’s also Bonaventura Balloon Company of Napa Valley, which offers not only the amazing hot air ballooning experience, but also various packages that include horseback riding, bicycling and special lodging for overnight stays in Napa.

Then there’s the most unique restaurant of all in Napa Valley, the beautifully appointed Napa Valley Wine Train, voted the ‘Best Place to Take Visitors’. This special train features three onboard kitchens, including Vista Dome for an intimate view of the special Napa winery vistas, and providing romantic moonlight dinner packages. The train also has an onboard wine tasting bar with over 100 different wines onboard and 300 in the boutique Wine Shop.

So whether you just want to unwind and escape the tedium of the business day over a special lunch, or you’ve planned a unique weekend getaway combining horseback riding, ballooning and romantic dinners, there truly is nothing else like Napa Valley anywhere in California and beyond.