Fun things to do in the Napa Valley Archives

Don’t just have a great time in the Napa Valley, have a phenomenal time! We suggest these five fun things to do in the Napa Valley in June. Enjoy!

Do a different type of wine tasting
Wine tasting is of course the main tourist activity in the Napa Valley, so why not break from the norm and do a different type of wine tasting? For example, at Round Pond winery there is a selection of three different extended tour and tasting sessions. Try the Il Pranzo Lunch or the Barrel Tour and Tasting. Check the Round Pond Website for specifics of the event, including fees and reservations. Robert Sinskey Vineyards and Peju Winery also have special tastings along with tours and food pairings.

Watch the Geyser go off on Tubbs Lane in Calistoga
Why not combine wine tasting and one of nature’s amazing displays? The Old Faithful Geyser goes off every 30 minutes without a hitch. It is located on Tubbs Lane just north of Calistoga. Near Old Faithful and on Tubbs Lane are the tasting rooms of Chateau Montelena, Summers Estate Winery and Envy Wines. Old Faithful Geyser of California is open to visitors 7 days a week, including holidays. Hours are 9 AM – 5 PM in the winter and 9 AM – 6 PM in the summer.

Old Faithful entrance on Tubbs Lane

Morning walk in Yountville
Start your morning in the Napa Valley with a little exercise and some wonderful views of the mountains and vineyards. You can walk Washington Street in both directions. Going north on Washington takes you past the vegetable garden of the famous French Laundry Restaurant. Now that’s a vegetable garden! We love taking a morning walk or run along Yount Street and Yount Mill Road. This road is lined with vineyards and mountain views. Pick up the walk where Yount Street meets Washington Street in the center of Yountville. Yount Street will eventually become Yount Mill.

French Laundry Vegetable Gardon on Washington St.

Visit a sparkling wine house
Sipping bubbly in June and the rest of the Summer is a delightful way to enjoy a day outdoors. Why not visit one of Napa Valley’s finest sparkling wine makers? Choose among Mumm Napa, Domaine Chandon or Schramsberg. Each of these sparkling houses has tours and tastings. Schramsberg requires reservations. The courtyard at Mumm Napa overlooks the Valley. Just sip and relax!

The Patio at Mumm Napa

Mondavi Wine Concerts
June 29th is the first concert in the Robert Mondavi series of concerts at the Robert Mondavi Winery. Martina McBride is the featured artist for the first event in this amazing summer concert series that benefits the children of the Napa Valley.

Five Fun Things to Do in the Napa Valley in May

Play a round of Bocce Ball
May is “Bocce Ball in Wine Country” Month. The game is easy to play and people of all ages can have an enjoyable game of Bocce. You don’t need to be a fabulous athlete to play this game. Here is a list of the wineries in the Napa Valley that have one or more Bocce courts. Pack a lunch and play Bocce at a winery in May.

Bocce is fun!

Oxbow Market Public Market
The Oxbow market in downtown Napa is in full swing these days, bustling with locals and tourists as they shop and dine in this wonderful enclave of artisans and purveyors. For lunch or a snack, there are many choices including: Hog Island Oyster, Ca’ Momi, Pica Pica Maize Kitchen and our favorite, C Casa. We love shopping for spices at the Whole Spice Company.

Hog Island at Oxbow

Wine Education
There are many ways to get a wine education in the Napa Valley. We like going to wineries that have an educational theme. Try the St. Supery winery, located on Highway 29 in between the towns of Oakville and Rutherford. The winery offers some exhibits and views of the winemaking process, as well as walks in the vineyards. You can also reserve a spot in one of their classes entitled “Vineyard to Glass” at St. Supéry. Check the St. Supery Website and call to reserve your spot.

Visit a 100-year-old winery
One way to get a perspective of the Napa Valley is to visit one of the several 100-year-old wineries. Here is a list of the wineries in the Napa Valley that are over 100 years old. Our favorite is the Inglenook Winery in Rutherford. Francis Ford Coppola has gone to great expense to bring the Chateau back to its former glory. The tour is wonderful here.

Inglenook Winery

Wine Taste around Calistoga
At the north end of the Napa Valley, you will find the “road less traveled.” From our Calistoga Wine Trail, choose at least a couple of wineries to visit. At Summers Estate you can picnic and have a taste of Charbono, a wonderful red wine grape. Calistoga Wine Trail.