Experiencing California wine country mostly involves wines, wineries, and tastings.

NAPA SONOMA

A Racquet Social Travelogue

Alternatively, you can take the San Francisco Bay Ferry to Vallejo and bus/taxi/Uber to Napa.

Wait times for Uber & Lyft can often be10-20 minutes.

A 20-min drive from Napa will get you to Sonoma

Napa Downtown

Napa's quaint downtown is centred around the Oxbow Public Market.  You can find free public parking here.

You can experience wine country in different ways

Do-it-yourself  $20-$45 per person.

Wine Trolley  $125-$150 per person.

Wine Train  Over $500 per person

Hot air balloon ride $300 per person

There are around 700 grape growers, 34 grape varieties, 475 wineries, and over 1000 wine brands in Napa County alone.

You can pick from wineries big and small. 95% of Napa Wineries are family owned.

Tastings can set you back $20-$45 per person

Depending on the winery, your food options range from chips, charcuterie boards, and cheeses

Wine & Cheese?

Most wineries have scenic views. You can spend a lot of time just hanging out. Large areas are protected from urban development.

There are plenty of farm-to-table restuarant options in the region. Many of them tend to be pricey.

Wine Country Restaurants

 Many small towns in the Napa Valley are home to popular wineries and fine-dining establishments. 

Yountville, St. Helena, and Calistoga

If you don't have a designated driver, the Wine Trolley may be a good option for you to visit a few wineries.

Sonoma Plaza comprises of a tree-filled park and pedestrian paths  with the  City Hall at its centre.

SONOMA CITY HALL

The kid-friendly park in Sonoma Plaza is a great place to take a break and smell the roses (literally.) 

The mixed-use Sebastiani Theatre and Sonoma Hotel are landmarks around the Sonoma Plaza that add charm to the city.

There are many interesting stores and restaurants around Sonoma Plaza. Parking is available near the plaza.

Driving around wine country can feel like this

78% of vineyards grow red wine grapes while 22% grows white grapes.

General Mariano Vallejo who defended California from Native rebellions and Russians is honoured with a statue in the plaza.

NAPA  SONOMA

Napa and Sonoma, the two top wine regions in the USA are within a thirty-minute driving distance of each other. You should go.