Things To Do in Napa

Cool Napa welcomes visitors to the Northern California wine country with a great selection of the best things to do in Napa Valley, one of the world’s premiere wine-producing regions. Just 50 miles north of San Francisco, where the Napa River winds its final miles into San Pablo Bay, the small city of Napa is the gateway to the verdant Napa Valley, a peaceful haven known for its warm, sunny weather, pleasant rolling hills, clear rivers, oak groves, and fertile agricultural lands.

Located in historic Napa County, one of the original counties created when California became a US state in 1850, Napa has been drawing tourists since the late 19th century when wealthy San Franciscans would escape to the valley’s natural hot spring spa resorts for a break from the chilly fog of the Bay Area. Napa Valley began its rise to wine-making fame shortly after California statehood in 1854 when English immigrant farmer John Patchett planted a commercial vineyard on land he purchased in Napa. Patchett built a wine cellar and opened a winery in 1858. Attracted by the valley’s Mediterranean climate and good grape-growing soils, other viticulturalists soon followed, and by the end of the 19th century, the Napa Valley region boasted more than 140 wineries.

Now a designated American Viticultural Area, or wine grape-growing region, Napa rivals France in the production of premium wines and draws nearly 4 million visitors every year. In the hot summer/fall high season or the quieter but still warm and beautiful winter, people come to enjoy the many Napa Valley tours and attractions centered around visiting vineyards and tasting the wide variety of fine wines the area is known for. From simple walking tours of the small towns and bike rides along the country lanes to hot air balloon tours above the wineries and VIP wine tasting sessions, everyone from Hollywood celebrities to honeymoon couples finds fun, interesting things to do in the Napa Valley.

Cool Napa is your Internet guide to the best things to do in Napa Valley and neighboring Sonoma Valley to the west. You can enjoy browsing through beautiful photos of the scenic valley and its picturesque wineries, some of which date back to the late 19th century when valley agriculture first began the shift from fruit, nuts, and many other crops to a focus on wine grape production. Read detailed descriptions of Napa tours, activities, and attractions, check out genuine customer reviews, then use our fast, secure online booking technology to plan your Napa Valley visit. Whether you are arranging a future vacation itinerary or are already in the Bay area or the Napa Valley, Cool Napa is your connection to the best Napa Valley tours and attractions.

Napa Attractions

Of course, the wineries are top Napa Valley attractions, and there are many options for taking in the best of them. Guided or self-guided tours, trolleys, limousines, hot-air balloons, and motorcycle sidecars—there is a broad and interesting selection of ways to get around the valley. Spend a full day or just an afternoon. Include a picnic lunch, sample cheeses and other snacks paired with wines, or take a dedicated food tour. Even if you don’t drink wine, the scenic vistas, lush vineyards, and classic winery estates can fill a memorable day of touring.

Dining in historic downtown Napa is an adventure in itself. Gourmet meals from Michelin Guide-listed restaurants, casual patio lunches, and picnics in the parks and greenspaces along the river are just examples of the many choices available. Local food and farm-to-table creations are very popular alternatives in Napa, so finding fresh, delicious meals to suit every taste is no problem at all. And getting downtown also offers opportunities to visit historic sites and enjoy pioneer-era architecture, stroll the Riverfront Promenade along the banks of the Napa River, and shop anywhere from farmer’s markets to upscale boutiques.

Visitors have been making memories in Napa for well over a century. Nearby destinations—Sonoma and the Sonoma Valley, Yountville, Oakville, and other small towns in the north Napa Valley—provide opportunities for further exploration. With all that the region has to offer, you are sure to find something that catches your eye among the top Napa attractions we have listed here at Cool Napa. Book with confidence that all your information is protected in our 100% secure reservation system, skip the paperwork and get all necessary vouchers and information delivered right to your mobile device via email, and get in touch with our friendly customer service advisors if you have any questions. That’s how Cool Napa works.

Recommendations: The Best Things to Do in Napa

Seeing the Napa and Sonoma Valleys from the air as you drift over the hills under a colorful hot-air balloon is an unforgettable experience. A balloon flight is the ultimate way to take in the vineyards and open lands that stretch between the Mayacamas Mountains to the west and the Vaca Mountains on the east side of the Napa Valley. To the north, Mount Saint Helena towers 4,342 feet over the valley below, and small family wineries are tucked in everywhere you turn. Great views, excellent photo ops, and an unmatched feel for the true scale of this fabled wine country are all included in every hot-air balloon tour.

For active visitors, a Napa Valley tour can easily mix the refined elegance of elite wine estates with outdoor adventures in the perfect setting. Hiking, biking, and e-bike tours are all possibilities for getting outside and on the move. Waterfalls, wooded trails, scenic vistas, and decadent lunch breaks featuring connoisseur wine pairings are highlights of hiking in Napa. Biking here is special too, with flat backroads and peaceful paths shaded by towering trees and running past miles and miles of neatly-staked grape vines. Go for a full- or half-day ride, stop at one or more wineries, add in a delicious picnic lunch, try a cheese tasting—there are traditional and e-bike tours to suit any taste, itinerary, and fitness level.

Get ready to experience the best of Napa Valley, where natural beauty frames a historic background going back thousands of years to local Native American tribes, then on to Spanish colonial times in the 18th century and the California pioneers that followed. Now rated among the world's top wine growing regions, Napa Valley and the Sonoma Valley to the west are home to over 800 wineries waiting to be explored. Let Cool Napa take you to the heart of Napa Valley with easy online booking, instant real-time confirmations, and superlative customer support ready to help by phone, email, text, or live chat. Travel smart with Cool Napa!

Things To Do in Napa

Napa Attractions

Recommendations: The Best Things to Do in Napa

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