Napa Valley plays host to several distinct recreational and cultural opportunities that range from the gorgeous weather to the natural surroundings that are unmatched. It also offers a plethora of food establishments as well as numerous local wineries. Let’s talk about a few of the best attractions you won’t want to miss when you decide to call Napa Valley home.
Before the Move
Before you actually make the move to Napa Valley, you’ll probably want to sell the home you already have. You can do this more easily than you might think too. For example, if you currently live in Long Beach, look for an ad or a billboard that says something like, “We buy houses in Long Beach.” You can even search online with that phrase as well. Companies like this can help you quickly and easily sell your house so you can get on with your life.
Come for the Wine
It may be astonishing to hear that there are 391 wineries in a single valley, but there are. When it comes to choosing your favorite out of all of them, it might seem as if you’re attempting to choose a favorite child. However, there truly are more than a few that are in the must-see category. Also, if you’re a fan of a bit of the bubbly, there are places for that too.
Feed Your Brain
You should definitely take the time to get to know Napa Valley. If you do, you’ll see that if you value knowledge over wine, there’s something called the Napa Bookmine. This is a mainstay in the area and boasts more than 24,000 new and used books. It even has a few volumes that tend to be difficult to find. The shop will cultivate your learning with poetry boot camps and writing classes.
Gaze at the Michelin Stars
You might not know this, but Napa Valley is home to a couple of Michelin-starred restaurants. In fact, two eateries, in particular, have three of these coveted stars – The Restaurant at Meadowood and The Laundry. These food havens are well worth the hotel stay and plane ticket even if you aren’t making a move to the valley. In addition to these fine eating establishments, there are five other restaurants that have a single Michelin star.
Hike the Trails
You can easily work off the calories from all that tasty food and wine by hitting the hiking trails in the area. The Bothe-Napa Valley State Park is populated by gorgeous Redwoods and features a whopping 20,000 acres of rivers and forests. With all its majestic beauty, it can be easy to forget just how close you are to big cities like San Francisco.
Explore a Castle Too?
Are you aware that vintners tend to be a little eccentric? Dario Satturi proved this when he built an actual castle that served as his winery. The Castello do Amoros has become somewhat of a landmark and boasts features such as a torture chamber, a drawbridge, and even a moat. This puts it squarely on the must-see list.
Visit the Garden of Medusa
How does a garden that would make Medusa proud sound? Calistoga’s Petrified Forest is that place. It features acres of prehistoric plant life that will make your eyes pop. These life forms have been petrified and preserved forever by a volcano that erupted nearly three million years ago.
No matter what you’re looking for, the chances are good that you can find it in Napa Valley. The area has what it takes to feed and water your culinary and vino needs as well as your knowledge and curiosity.
