There are many hot destinations around the United States one of them being Napa Valley, California. Have you always wanted to see the beautiful vineyards with luscious grapes hanging from them? Or perhaps the fabulous restaurants and wine tastings of Napa Valley. Here we have outlined a few things to know when visiting beautiful Napa Valley.
When to visit
By default it is natural to want to visit Napa Valley in the summer time. But think again, you are sharing the same thought with all the other visitors coming to the area. One of the best times to visit Napa in during the Fall season, September through October to be exact. The Fall is “crush” time for all the wineries, which is when they are harvesting all the grapes off the vines. If you can’t manage to get to Napa during those months, November is a great month also because the weather is still beautiful, the leave on the grape vines are beginning to change color, and wineries are beginning to drop their rates for tastings. Spring is also a beautiful time to visit Napa, however, it is a little bit chilly outside still. But if you are able to make it out, the mustard plants are quite a sight to see when in bloom.
Where to stay
Choosing the proper hotel when visiting Napa is crucial. You want to be able to enjoy this little town with so much to offer. When you are searching for hotels, don’t be fooled. If your search results are showing incredible discounts on hotels, it is very possible it is too good to be true. There are a lot of neighboring towns that consider themselves to be in Napa Valley, but in reality turn out to be incredibly far away from the real Napa you will be visiting. Make sure you map out your hotel of choice to your destination to consider how much drive time you will actually be doing. When making your reservations consider the following areas: Downtown Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Rutherford, and Calistoga.
Wineries to visit
If it is your first time to Napa and you are looking for which wineries to visit it can be a little overwhelming. Here are a few of the bigger wineries to keep in mind when mapping out your wine tour. Domaine Chandon, Robert Mondavi, Beringer Vineyards, Rubicon Estates, and Castello di Amarosa. If you visit just a few of these select wineries, you will not be disappointed. TIP: Wine tasting can be a bit pricey so be sure to go in groups and share your tastings. This is perfectly acceptable. Also, look for two for one coupons to save on tastings. There are a lot out there. When at a tasting room ask for suggestions on other wineries to visit, a lot of time wineries will provide you with a free tasting referral card.
Visiting Napa is on a lot of people’s bucket list. Make it an enjoyable stay and save while you are at it. The gorgeous countryside of Napa Valley Vineyards is a breath taking memory waiting to be made. Book it now!