A Perfect Budget Day in Napa Valley (Yes, You Can Be Frugal in CA Wine Country)
FrankandBruno
Travel should be fun, memorable, even life-changing . . . but it doesn't have to be expensive.
3 Jun 2006
based on 39 votes
I've vacationed in Napa Valley every other year for the last decade (I even passed through on my honeymoon!). Sure, it can be extravagantly expensive--Opus One, The French Laundry, Auberge du Soleil--but there are myriad places where you can find (delicious, high-end, unforgettable) bargains. Cheers!
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Explore locations featured in this Traveler List:
Napa, Rutherford, St. Helena
- Category: Perfect day
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Traveler type: Culture, Sightseeing, Shopping, Active/Outdoors, Repeat visitors
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Appeals to: Couples/romantics, Honeymooners, Singles, Seniors, Budget travellers , Active/adventure, Tourists
- Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
- Tags: Napa Valley, California, Wine Country, St. Helena, Calistoga, Rutherford, Yountville, Oakville
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1. Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company
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8:00A.M.
FUEL UP!
First things first. You need breakfast (and perhaps some caffeine?). Swing on over to lovely Main Street in Napa and stop at Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company for an espresso or freshly brewed coffee as well as a pastry (it's okay, you're on vacation). I recommend getting your breakfast to go and enjoying it while walking along the recently spruced-up Napa River, just around the corner. |
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2. Route 29 and Silverado Trail
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8:30A.M.
GET YOUR BEARINGS
Driving is usually the activity that gets you to your destination but, in this case, with scenic Route 29 and Silverado Trail, driving is part of the destination. On both curvaceous roads, you'll pass wineries and mountains and wineries and inviting towns and wineries.
Drive from Napa to Calistoga (basically, from one end of Napa Valley to the other). Once you get to Calistoga, cut through downtown--on Lincoln Avenue--until you get to Silverado Trail and make the equally stunning, but a little more bucolic, drive back to Napa. Round-trip, it's just about 60 miles and should take somewhere around two hours, depending on traffic. |
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10:30A.M.
SPEND . . . AND STILL SAVE!
Back in Napa, make a quick (or not so quick) stop at Napa Premium Outlets with stores like Barneys New York, Calvin Klein, Cole Haan, TSE, and nearly 50 more. And, yes, according to my wife, even when you spend money at an outlet, you're really saving because of the discounts. See how that works? |
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4. St. Helena Olive Oil Company
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Noon
NOT JUST GRAPES
Napa Valley is known for its wine, but it also produces world-class olive oil. For a (free) taste of some of its best olive oil and a range of other gourmet items (like vinegars and marinades), stop at St. Helena Olive Oil Company. And make sure to try the Parmesan Dipping Oil. |
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12:30P.M.
FRESH LUNCH, FRESH AIR, FRESH VIEWS
When I made my first trip to Napa a decade ago, my wife (then, my girlfriend) and I had no money but we had an appetite for good food and a good view. We satiated both our cravings at V. Sattui Winery.
Yes, it's a place you can try wine you won't find at home--they only sell their award-winning wine at the winery and on their Web site--but what we like most is their large and delectable Cheese Shop and Deli. But that's just the beginning. Once you pick your perfect picnic wares, head outside to their 2.5 acres of tree-shaded picnic grounds, sprinkled with tables and offering up delicious views. It's wonderful, so Napa, and so affordable. |
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6. Skyline Wilderness Park
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1:30P.M.
WHAT A WAY TO WORK OFF LUNCH!
Skyline Park is an 850-acre wilderness area and, arguably, the best place to hike in Napa. Here, you'll find over 25 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding . . . wildlife like deer and wild turkey . . . and, on a clear day, views of San Francisco Bay, Mt. Tamalpais, and Mt. Diablo. |
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3:30P.M.
ON THE WINE TRAIL LESS TRAVELED
Many of the most well-known wineries in Napa Valley are a bit too commercial for my taste (pun intended). On our last trip, we stumbled upon Artesa Winery. Well, that's not exactly true. We had tried their wine and loved it and searched and searched for their oasis of a winery. And we're so glad we did.
This winery serves up truly delicious wines (try their Pinot Noir) and a location that really can't be beat. The sculpture and water features leading up--and I mean up because of all the stairs--to the impressive winery sets the tone for a unique, sensual experience. Sip the wines and soak in the views in your hidden little haven that celebrates the good life. |
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4:30P.M.
MORE (FREE) FUN AND FOOD
It's now time to amble around our favorite town, St. Helena. Although I don't like to use the word "charming" this town really is. It's small, fun to walk, a feast for the senses, and friendly. And there are bargains to be found.
Visit Olivier Napa Valley for a (free) taste of gourmet wares. Consider it an appetizer. Our absolutely favorite is the V.S.O.P Vinegar (that's, very special old product) that is absolutely amazing. It's vinegar you can drink without making a face like you've bit into a lemon. Drizzled over ripe strawberries, it's a life-changing experience. |
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5:00P.M.
CALLING ALL CHOCOLATE LOVERS
Just a few doors down on Main Street, stop by family-owned Woodhouse Chocolate and buy a few treats for dessert. This store is like Tiffany & Co for chocolate lovers (it even serves up its baubles in blue boxes). Let's see if I can tempt you: imagine dark, milk, and white chocolate delicately filled with fresh mint, Thai ginger, raspberry Chambord, pecan caramel, candid walnut. Okay, I'm going to stop now before I tempt myself. |
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5:30P.M.
LIKE A SECOND LABEL WINE: JUST AS GOOD, NOT AS EXPENSIVE
Many consider Tra Vigne to be one of the best restaurants in the Napa Valley. It's also a bit pricey. So enjoy the same attention to detail, fresh ingredients, and great food at Pizzeria Tra Vigne. Its pizzas are thin crust and authentic Italian. And, if the weather is right, sitting outside is just as tasty as the food.
Oh, and don't up your bill by ordering any wine with dinner. I know, I know. You're in Napa Valley. Trust me. We'll have some budget-friendly spirits for dessert. |
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7:30P.M.
A DECADENT DESSERT: WINE AND CHOCOLATE
Let's return to downtown Napa and have post-dinner drinks and dessert at one of our favorite places, the Bounty Hunter. It's a wine store that sells rare, unusual, and incredibly good wines. But it's also a bistro and a wine bar.
Here's what Mark Poke, AKA "The Bounty Hunter" himself has to say about having a glass of wine at the wine bar:
"Not only do we stock wines that you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere, you can drink it at the wine bar for nearly half the price of what a typical restaurant charges."
Sounds good, right? Well, it gets better. Get out your Woodhouse Chocolates, describe them to your waiter, ask for a recommendation for a wine to match, and enjoy an incredibly good, and budget-friendly, dessert.
I hope you enjoy these 12 hours in Napa Valley! And I hope you enjoy a delightful and budget-friendly time on your visit. |
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Compliment FrankandBruno
