What to Do in Napa Valley: 10 Things You’ll Love

You’ll discover Napa Valley offers incredible experiences beyond typical wine tastings. Take the vintage Napa Valley Wine Train for dining and vineyard views, or ride Sterling Vineyards’ aerial gondola for panoramic valley vistas. Float over vineyards in a sunrise hot air balloon, then relax in Calistoga’s volcanic mud baths and hot springs. Browse local artisan foods at Oxbow Public Market, explore the medieval Castello di Amorosa castle, and cycle the scenic Vine Trail. These unique adventures will transform your valley visit.

Take the Napa Valley Wine Train Through the Heart of Wine Country

When you’re looking for a unique way to experience Napa Valley without the hassle of driving between wineries, the Napa Valley Wine Train offers an elegant solution that combines sightseeing, dining, and wine tasting in one memorable journey.

You’ll travel 36 miles round-trip between Downtown Napa and St. Helena aboard restored early 20th-century Pullman railcars featuring vintage mahogany details and picture windows. Most daytime journeys last 3–4 hours and include chef-prepared, multi-course meals made with local ingredients.

Choose from options like the Gourmet Express Lunch, Vista Dome experience with elevated panoramic views, or the extensive Legacy Experience featuring winery stops and eleven wine tastings. For a hands-on experience during harvest season, you can participate in traditional grape stomping at Grgich Hills Estate followed by tastings of organic reserve wines.

You’ll pass iconic wineries including Charles Krug and V. Sattui while enjoying narration about Napa Valley’s history and viticulture.

Ride Sterling Vineyards’ Aerial Gondola for Valley Views and Tastings

For a completely different perspective on Napa Valley’s landscape, Sterling Vineyards offers the world’s only winery accessible exclusively by aerial gondola. Whisking you 300 feet above Calistoga, this experience provides breathtaking 360-degree views of the entire valley floor.

The newly rebuilt gondola smoothly carries you to a hilltop winery designed like a Greek island village, complete with white stucco architecture and Mediterranean vibes.

You’ll follow a self-guided walking route with tasting stations, learning about winemaking while enjoying panoramic vistas of the Mayacamas and Vaca mountain ranges. The winery reopened in 2022 after three-year hiatus following the devastating 2020 Glass Fires, featuring modern renovations that enhance the overall experience.

Experiences start around $55, with premium options reaching $95 for reserve wines and food pairings. If you’re budget-conscious, grab gondola-only access for $25.

Book online in advance—this popular attraction fills up quickly on weekends.

Explore Castello Di Amorosa’s Authentic Tuscan Castle and Caves

Step inside Napa Valley’s most extraordinary architectural wonder, where Castello di Amorosa transports you to medieval Tuscany without leaving California. This authentic 13th-century-style castle replica took 15 years and $40 million to complete, featuring 107 unique rooms built with hand-chiseled stone and antique European bricks.

You’ll explore five defensive towers, cross a working drawbridge, and marvel at the Great Hall’s 22-foot coffered ceiling. Don’t miss the hand-dug caves extending 900 feet into the hillside, where you can tour atmospheric barrel cellels maintaining perfect wine-aging conditions.

The winery produces Italian-inspired varietals like Sangiovese alongside Napa classics, available only here. Owner Dario Sattui brought his passion for medieval architecture to life after sketching castles during his European travels. Guided tours include castle exploration and cave visits with tastings.

Budget tip: grape juice tastings accommodate non-drinkers at this remarkable “Disneyland of Napa Valley.”

Float Over Vineyards in a Hot Air Balloon at Sunrise

After exploring Napa’s castles from ground level, you’ll want to see the valley from an entirely different perspective. Hot air balloon rides launch just after dawn when winds are calmest, giving you smooth flight conditions and stunning sunrise views over rolling vineyards and mountains.

Most flights last about an hour, though you’ll need 3-4 hours total for the full experience including balloon inflation and breakfast. Companies like Napa Valley Aloft, Balloons Above the Valley, and Napa Valley Drifters offer group flights starting around $275 per person, often including champagne or brunch. During your flight, experienced pilots will point out key landmarks and share engaging stories about the area’s history and landscape below.

Book early in your trip since flights depend on weather—morning fog affects about 40% of flights from April through July. You’ll need to stand for the entire flight, and age restrictions typically apply.

Soak in Calistoga’s Volcanic Hot Springs and Famous Mud Baths

While balloon rides give you breathtaking aerial views, Calistoga’s geothermal hot springs and volcanic mud baths offer a different kind of elevation—one that lifts your spirits from within. You’ll sink into warm volcanic ash mixed with mineral-rich spring water, letting the 100-104°F temperature work out muscle tension while your skin soaks up zinc, magnesium, and calcium.

The classic 60-90 minute experience includes mud immersion, shower rinse, mineral pool soak, and relaxation time.

Indian Springs mines volcanic ash on-site and pairs treatments with historic mineral pools. Spa Calistoga offers four mineral pools plus eucalyptus steam rooms. Dr. Wilkinson’s uses traditional 1952 recipes. This wellness legacy traces back to Samuel Brannan, who founded the destination nearly 150 years ago after discovering hot springs from the Wappo tribes’ sacred sites.

These treatments cost markedly less than luxury resorts while delivering genuine wellness benefits rooted in 150 years of spa tradition.

Cycle the Vine Trail Between Wineries and Valley Towns

Since the Napa Valley Vine Trail offers 33 miles of car-free, paved pathways connecting six valley communities, you’ll experience wine country at a relaxed pace without fighting traffic or paying for gas.

The flat, mostly paved trail suits all cycling levels, making it perfect for families and casual riders.

Start in downtown Napa near the Rail Arts District, where murals line two miles of pathway. The 12.5-mile stretch to Yountville takes you through vineyards and past Oxbow Market—ideal for snacks and supplies. The trail uses environmentally sensitive surfaces near vineyards to minimize impact on the agricultural landscape.

Don’t own a bike? Rentals are available in both Napa and Yountville.

Remember trail etiquette: yield to pedestrians, announce when passing, and maintain moderate speeds.

The trail connects to Bay Area ferries at Vallejo, making car-free wine country exploration entirely possible.

Browse Oxbow Public Market for Local Artisan Foods and Wine

When you’re craving a break from winery hopping, Oxbow Public Market delivers Napa Valley’s best artisan foods and local wines under one roof. Located at 610 & 644 First Street in the Oxbow District, this indoor market hall houses multiple vendors offering everything from Hog Island oysters to Model Bakery pastries.

You’ll find excellent wine selections, craft spirits, and gourmet groceries perfect for assembling picnic supplies or hotel snacks.

Popular spots like Sumo Dog and various taco counters provide budget-friendly meals, while specialty cheese and charcuterie vendors offer wine-pairing treats.

Visit during off-peak hours to avoid midday crowds, and take advantage of the weather-proof environment during hot afternoons. The market’s prime location along the Napa River makes it easy to extend your visit with a scenic walk along the nearby trail.

The market’s open daily 7:30 a.m.–9 p.m. with convenient parking on both sides.

Hunt for Treasures at Domaine Carneros and Pine Ridge’s Terraced Vineyards

Beyond Napa’s famous valley floor wineries, you’ll discover some of the region’s most photogenic vineyard landscapes carved into hillside terraces at Domaine Carneros and Pine Ridge.

At Domaine Carneros, you’ll sip sparkling wines on the château’s elevated terrace while overlooking neatly contoured vineyard rows stretching across Los Carneros AVA. The French-inspired setting offers seated tastings featuring estate-grown Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with experiences like “Bubbles & Bites” providing excellent value. The sparkling rosé consistently receives praise as a standout selection during tastings.

Book weekend reservations early since vineyard-view spots fill quickly. The cool Carneros breezes and tiered landscape create perfect photo opportunities, especially at sunset when light catches the layered hillside plantings. You’ll appreciate how the terraced design maximizes both stunning views and grape quality.

Discover African Wildlife at Safari West’s 400-Acre Preserve

Just 30 minutes from Napa’s wine country, you’ll find yourself on an authentic African safari at Safari West, a 400-acre wildlife preserve that’s home to over 900 animals representing 90+ African species.

Your guided open-air jeep tour lasts about three hours, driving past free-roaming giraffes, rhinoceros, zebras, and Cape buffalo in naturalistic enclosures that feel like the African savanna.

The experience includes walking portions through aviaries and primate areas where you’ll see cheetahs and smaller species up close.

Guides share conservation stories and animal facts throughout your journey.

For a splurge, stay overnight in luxury African-style canvas tents imported from Botswana. Each tent features a private deck with tables and chairs for relaxing between safari activities.

Book early-morning tours for the best animal activity, especially during warmer months.

Walk Among Ancient Giants at the Petrified Forest Near Calistoga

While Safari West showcases Africa’s wildlife, you can step even further back in time at the Petrified Forest near Calistoga, where 3.4-million-year-old redwood giants lie turned to stone.

Mt. St. Helena’s volcanic eruption buried an ancient coastal redwood forest in ash, creating California’s only petrified forest and some of the world’s largest fossilized trees.

You’ll walk about a mile of well-marked trails to see massive stone logs, their growth rings and bark textures perfectly preserved. The trunks point away from Mt. St. Helena, showing the blast direction from that prehistoric eruption. Notable specimens include The Queen, an 8-foot-wide fossilized giant that was 2,000 years old when the volcanic eruption occurred.

At $12 for adults, it’s an affordable educational stop between Santa Rosa and Calistoga. The site operates daily from 9 a.m.–5 p.m., making it a manageable addition to your Napa Valley itinerary.

The Sum Up

You’ve got plenty of options to make your Napa Valley trip memorable without breaking the bank. Mix expensive experiences like the Wine Train with budget-friendly activities such as hiking the Petrified Forest. Book hot air balloon rides in advance for better deals, and don’t skip the free tastings at smaller wineries. Pack snacks from Oxbow Market for picnics between vineyards. You’ll create lasting memories while keeping your wallet happy.