Napa in November is quite possibly my favorite vacation spot in the fall. I mean, I’ve never been any other time of year, but it’s really magical during that month. The grapes have typically been harvested by this point, but that means all the vineyards are abuzz of what their greatest wine is going to be and what their greatest wine currently is. The air is cool, and the wine is crisp.
This past November was the second November in a row I was able to go, and I loved every minute. We celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary during this trip (a month late), and we had a blast. Since this wasn’t my first rodeo, I knew there were some things I wanted to do again. You can see my original list of the 10 Things You Must Do in Napa Valley here. However, this was my first trip with the hubs. In order to make it extra special, we managed to do some fun new things that you must do if you get a chance to go. Just take me back with you if you go.
Without further ado, these are the things that you must do if you head to Napa Valley.
WHERE TO STAY
We stayed at Napa Valley Lodge in Yountville for the second time, and I’m extremely glad we did. Yountville is the center of Napa Valley, and it’s the cutest little town ever. You can walk to all the restaurants down its main street, and there are several wine rooms to choose from if you want to stay close to home. You will not be disappointed if you stay here. I promise. Bonus: Napa Valley Lodge has the best complimentary breakfast. We’re talking mimosas and waffles. It’s also just a hop, skip, and a jump to several other main attractions in the Valley.
WHAT TO DO
We arrived on a Thursday, early in the day. We flew in to SFO, and from there, we rented a car (upgrade to something with a sunroof if you can), then drove to our destination of Yountville. The trip to Yountville was about an hour and half drive with traffic, so when we arrived we were hungry. Being hungry is not a problem in this town. As soon as we checked in, we walked across the street to this place.
REDD WOOD
Redd Wood is known for its pizza, and oh my is it delicious. It’s a casual yet sophisticated place, with a cute little courtyard and patio. They also have pasta and cheese boards. This is a great lunch spot for pre-vineyard fun.
Next up was a sunset sip. Mumm Napa is a champagne/sparkling wine vineyard, and the flight we had was amazing.
This was definitely a great way to see the day come to an end before we headed to dinner for the night.
*From here, I’m going to go a little out of order of what we did on our trip to highlight the remaining five new things you must do while in Napa Valley. I’ll highlight the original Top 10 repeats at the end of this post.
I think riding in a hot air ballon has been on my bucket list ever since I was a little girl watching The Wizard of Oz. There are several hot air balloon companies in Napa Valley, but this was by far the top rated. Conveniently enough, it departed out of Yountville, so the early wakeup call wasn’t so bad. It’s an early departure time of 7 a.m., meaning you arrive for check in around 6:30, but these folks really know what they’re doing. Not to mention, they have the prettiest balloons. They make sure they’re dust free after each use.
Riding in a hot air balloon was described to us as riding in an elevator. It’s completely stable, and although it’s cold around you, the torch keeping the balloon afloat warms things up a bit. As you can see, we wore layers. But the entire balloon ride was more than comfortable. I usually get a little scared of heights, but this didn’t faze me at all. Napa Valley Aloft also prides itself in not overfilling the baskets with people. I think there were 8 in our group, which was just right.
The views were phenomenal, and the trip in the air lasted about an hour and a half.
After your balloon ride is over, you hitch a ride back in the company van. Once back in town, you have the option to have breakfast waiting for you. We didn’t do the post-flight breakfast (it’s an upgrade option in the package), because we didn’t want to miss out on our complimentary one at our hotel. Like I said, waffles and mimosas. Nobody needs to miss that.
If you’re flying in to Napa from the East Coast or anywhere central US, book this adventure to be on the first morning you’re there. That way an early wake-up call isn’t such a bad thing while you’re still adjusting to the time change.
FARMSTEAD AT LONG MEADOW RANCH
This quaint little restaurant and spot is a short drive away from Yountville. Situated in St. Helena, this is definitely a place you want to stop at. We were a little bummed that we were too early for lunch in the main dining area, but we looked around the cafe, roamed the grounds, and perused the Farmer’s Market. I wish we would have eaten here, because the food looks amazing, and it has rave reviews. Next time.
This winery was one of my favorites. Located in the Stags Leap District, the wine here is top notch. During this trip, we were able to spend a lot of time with our friends who relocated to Napa just recently, and they definitely showed us the ropes when it came to their favorite wine and vineyards. If you’re a wine lover, don’t miss Stags Leap. Chimney Rock is one of several wineries here, and I’m sad we didn’t join a wine club.
Cliff Lede Vineyard was another stop this day, but we were having too much fun for me to take a picture there. If you’re into classic rock music, you’d love Cliff Lede because all of the sections of the vineyard are named after bands. The wines are stellar as well. Both of these vineyards had a generous pour for wine tastings, too. That’s never a bad thing.
REPEAT OFFENDERS: THE ORIGINAL MUST DOs WE DID AGAIN
BOUCHON BISTRO
Thomas Keller Restaurant Group is the man behind this goodness. You want to go here. Just don’t go late, because they will run out of the special for the evening. Everything here is amazing, but the special always sounds to die for. This is the second time I’ve missed out on the special. Guess I have to go back. Be sure to make reservation early.
Right next door to the restaurant is Bouchon Bakery. This is another place you need to get to early. We didn’t get to go in, but the pastries always look amazing, and I’m kicking myself for not grabbing one.
V Marketplace is the main shopping center in Yountville, and the restaurants and shops are worth a mention. We loved strolling through the art galleries, and the chocolate shop smelled delicious.
BOTTEGA
Located in the V Marketplace in Yountville, this Italian restaurant run by Chef Michael Chiarello is hands down MY FAVORITE. We sat on the covered patio at lunch time, and I didn’t want to leave. Everything here is homemade, and the drinks are amazing, too. M had an Old Fashioned, and he said it was comparable to the best one he ever had in Scotland. My lunch was the risotto special, and I still dream about it. They also knew it was our anniversary, so we were given a special dessert. I really can’t wait to get back. Make reservations so you don’t have to wait.
If burgers are your thing, Gott’s is the place to go. It’s also a quick lunch spot to go to if you’re heading to a vineyard north of St. Helena. It’ll be on the way. This place is super casual, but the food will fill you up enough to keep you from getting sick from too much wine.
Another place we wanted to go again but ran out of time was Ad Hoc + Addendum. The reservations didn’t work out for us, but it all worked out, because we had way too much fun with our friends that day. But if you get a chance, you must eat here. It’s comfort food on another level.
And that my friends is how you do Napa Valley right. Sure there are several surrounding little towns around Napa proper, and if you have all the time in the world, it would be a blast to venture out. But if you have just a weekend, these five things (and the extra things I’ve listed from the original list) will not steer you wrong.
There are several places I still want to try the next time we go, but that’s the beauty about traveling. There’s always room for new adventures. Happy traveling!
Have you been to Napa Valley? What are some of your favorite spots?
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Love all your pictures and suggestions! We have never been and it is so on my list. Is there a time of year you love the most? I so wanted to do a hot air balloon when I was in Tempe last year and we ran out of time….on my list!
Thanks, Shelly! I’ve only been in the fall, and I think it’s wonderful. Early November seems to be a great time to go. :)
Ahhhh I need to go there IMMEDIATELY. Napa is definitely on my bucket list. I have to get Greg on board with it! I have never been on a hot air balloon and that looks so amazing!
Yes, you must! M isn’t really a wine lover as much as I am, but he loved it. You would love it!
Oh this makes me want to not be pregnant, haha! We so want to head back to that area some time. I just love it down there in wine country. And that pizza looks awesome!
Haha! I totally get that. :) The food is so good though. You could totally go back just for that.
Napa Valley is just lovely! My husband’s family is from Northern California, and I just love the Sonoma and Napa Valley area. I’m seriously considering, after reading this post, making a trip there for our fifth anniversary this October!
We’ll have to explore Sonoma next time, but we just love Yountville/St. Helena/Calistoga so much. Fifth wedding anniversaries are a big deal. I would definitely propose that idea. ;)
You look gorgeous and so does Napa!! I can’t wait to get there someday ;)
Aww, thanks, friend! You’ll love it!
This sounds like so much fun-it’s on my list to head out there someday soon!
Yes, it was always on my bucket list, too! I’m so thankful to say I’ve been there. :) Happy Friday!
Awesome post! I’ve never been to Napa, but it’s on my list! Bookmarking for future reference! Love all the photos! It looks gorgeous!
Thanks, Sara! Yes, you would love it! Wine, food, and relaxation. Doesn’t get much better than that. ;)
I enjoyed seeing my town from an visitor’s perspective. Yountville is truly a great place to stay, as you note. It’s central and you can walk to a bunch of great spots for shopping, wine tasting or dining. November can sometimes be stormy, so I’d tend to advise a trip in October which is nearly guaranteed to be gorgeous. But, any time of year is actually beautiful here. It’s February and we’ve (finally!) had a bunch of rain. So the mustard has already started to bloom in the vineyards. That’s a pretty amazing sight! Next time, try visiting some of the wonderful restaurants on Napa’s Main Street culinary corridor. You’ll need to stay longer than a weekend, though.
Thanks so much, Teri! We absolutely love it! October didn’t work with our schedule, but we would love to go there during that time. My first trip, I was able to go to Napa’s Main Street, and we loved it. You live in a beautiful town!