Top places to see in Napa/Sonoma for romantic honeymoon?

Breathtaking. This word comes to mind when envisioning the valley that sits below my hometown. Napa Valley is not only rich in wines but in the nature, venues, spas, art and unique people that fill the area. I would love to tell you every small detail but have summed up a few places to stay, see, eat, and of course drink!

A place to stay:

Calistoga Inn Restaurant & Brewery-

Located in the northern part of the valley is the quaint town of Calistoga. The Calistoga Inn is a historical landmark that will take you back to the early 1900’s. Along with cozy accommodations, the inn has a great restaurant and microbrewery. If the hand crafted beers or a glass of wine under the garden lights and live music does not sound like a fine evening, take a stroll down Main Street to see the local spas, art galleries and bars.

Meadowood Napa Valley-

This is a luxurious accommodation in a romantic setting. Nestled in the hills of the valley Meadowood boasts at top rate golf course, restaurant, heath club, spa, and individual cabin style rooms. Stoll the breathtaking grounds, or enjoy a sensual spa. This location is off Silverado Trail, amongst all the vineyards but a bit off the beaten path and the privacy is well worth the drive.

A place to see:

The Napa Valley and the sounding area are full of natural wonders. I love the fresh air and natural greenery that paints the valley, so here a few simple things to see.

1. Robert Louis Stevenson State Park- Pack a picnic lunch and hike to the top of Mount Saint Helena for the best view of the valley. Make sure to bring a reusable water bottle and try the fresh water from the springs!
   
   
2. Old Faithful Geyser of California- Try to catch the spring shooting into the sky! Don’t pay to go inside but drive by and maybe you will see one of the earths natural wonders
   
   
3. Stargazing- Paris has the Eiffel tower, New York the Statue of Liberty and Napa Valley has the stars! Take a blanket, find a spot, and watch the night sky! The can be very romantic experience and it is free!  

A place to eat:

Food can make or break a vacation, so having recommendations from the locals is always wonderful. My older brother loves to eat and suggested all of these restaurants:

Celadon- Enjoy an evening on the beautiful riverfront of Napa.

The Thomas and Fagiani's- Roof top dinning that over looks down town Napa.

Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin' BBQ- The name may seem odd but great food and western vibe.

Norman Rose Tavern-   For a more laid-back evening and good home cooking, enjoy the tavern. The best item on the menu is the pork chop.

The French Laundry- One of the top rated restaurants in the United States. This is the ultimate fine dinning experience.

Rutherford Grill- Enjoy the outdoor fire pit and a cocktail prior to your meal. The Best items on the menu are the prime rib French dip and grilled fish. For dessert, my personal favorite, order the cookies and cream dish!

A place to drink:

Last but not least Wine! Napa is known world wide for the wines it produces. There are many great places to go for a wine tasting these are just a few favorites!

1. Calistoga-

• Chateau Montelena- The film Bottle Shock is based on this winery.
• Castello di Amorosa- See the valley from a royal perspective. The only castle in the valley, very awesome location.

2. St. Helena-

• V. Sattui Winery- Every thing is homemade from wines to chocolates.
• Robert Mondavi Winery
  

3. Yountville-

• Domaine Chandon- Some of the best sparkling wines in the valley.

Congrats!  I'll throw out a couple of splurge options since it's a honeymoon :)

I think the Auberge Du Soleil is one of the nicer places to stay with views of Napa Valley. Some easy hikes/walks are accessible leaving from the resort. Even if you don't stay here it would be on my list for lunch/dinner and taking in the view. 

I stayed at Meadowood Napa Valley a while back it was VERY nice. Quiet and sophisticated. We even had a croquet lesson from the croquet pro they have on the grounds, it was VERY high brow :) It's tucked away and barely feels like you're in Napa. It's very quiet and peaceful. 

Congratulations, Erin!  How exciting :)

A romantic honeymoon in Napa Valley definitely calls for a drive up to Calistoga for a couple's spa day!  The spas in Calistoga are best known for their mineral soaks and mud baths.  You do have to book in advance and here are the three most popular in Calistoga:

• Solage Calistoga
  
• Indian Springs
  
• Lavender Hill Spa
  

While you're in Calistoga, there's also the Old Faithful Geyser of California.  Just pack a picnic lunch there and check it out.

I read that you like little towns, so stop by downtown St Helena (California), Rutherford (California), and Yountville.  So many cute specialty stores in quaint little towns!  You can taste all sorts of foods, like cheeses, olive oils, chocolate, and of course, wines.

Speaking of wine, if you like wine tasting, just drive through Highway 29 and you'll see so many along the way.  And off of High way 29, I really like Artesa Vineyards & Winery (they've got a lot of wines across the board) and Domaine Carneros (they specialize in bubbly).  Probably two of my favorite wineries in the Napa/Somona area.

If you want a real outdoorsy experience outside of wineries, go to Skyline Park.  You can go for a little hike there and there's a nice garden right next to the park, Martha Walker Native Habitat Garden, that houses plants native to only California.

Have fun and let me know if you'd like any other recommendations! :)

Erin,

I'm working on a list of top 50 estate properties in the Napa Valley - the problem is many are closed to the public, totally private (some need to be vouched for to even secure a visit) and or the wines start at several hundred dollars a bottle and go way up from there (tiny production to) - however, your question made me revisit this list - here are a few I picked out that might work - these are ones you generally need an appointment and generally can get one if you reach out to them with good advance notice - they do see visitors - prices really range, but often have good views and are neat properties. These can be personal visits but often with small group. If serious wine enthusiasts and looking for more personal one on one visits with winemakers, I can *def* certainly recommend some of those - combining top wines, history, fantastic properties, experiences, owner personalities etc.

Newton Vineyard
Kenzo Estate Winery
Spottswoode Winery
Kuleto Estate Winery
CADE Winery
Stag's Leap Winery (NOT to be confused with other of similar name)

First thought is to turn your previous trip around and head north. The Sonoma Coast is fantastic.  You can stay in quiet little towns and hotels, with surprisingly excellent food (eg Rocker Oysterfeller's Kitchen + Saloon in Valley Ford).  Rent a small house on th cliffs for private romantic, pinch-me-Im-in-heaven beauty out every window.  If you are movie buffs, visit the school house in Bodega made famous in Hitchcok's The Birds.  He liked filming in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County. Hiking and beach walking the entire coast - well excep those massive, dramatic winding road cliffs north of the Russian River. Drift inland to visit winderies here and there.  Maybe stay a night or two in Healdsburg, wandering the cute little town (a mecca for foodies) and drive out Dry Creek Park to visit about 30 different pretty little wineries.  On the way there, follow the Russian River inland and take a one mile detour north of Guerneville to Armstrong Redwoods ancient grove. If either of you is sciency - cross over to the eastern border of the county and visit the Petrified Forest - reputedly the world's biggest petrified trees.  As redwoods, they probably deserve the reputation.  There is also the Old Faithful Geyser of Califronia across the border in Napa, at the foot of the volcano (Mt Saint Helena) that made those petrified redwoods.

Hi Erin! I would highly recommend staying at the  Silverado Resort & Spain Napa. I stayed there last year and it was a beautiful property. As for wineries, my personal favorites include  Domaine Carneros,  Peju Province Winery(Ask for the singing man! He will sing while pouring your wine!) and  Sterling Vineyards(has beautiful views, a little tourist-y though). Last year I did the  Napa Valley Wine Train which was fun. It will take up most of the day unless you do the night train.

Hope this helps!

One of the gorgeous wineries in Napa Valley is Ledson Winery & Vineyards located 7335 Hwy 12, Kenwood, CA 95409. They make great wine as well and have beautiful picnic areas. Enjoy your honeymoon.



Having lunch at French Blue (1429 Main Street) in  St Helena (California) was our most romantic Napa memory. It is so beautiful there, food was so delicious. Highly recommend. 

Castello di Amorosa and Safari West!

The most beautiful wineries:

Wow!  First, congratulations! SOOO many possibilities influenced by your interests.  Obvious stuff are gorgeous places to stay and food but what else do you like as that will alter even the basic recommendations.  Would you rather be in a nice little town or somewhere on the gorgeous Sonoma Coast?  Do you want to be active (biking, hiking, horseback riding, driving to see sights?).  Do you like wine or beer?  Give me some of your likes/dislikes and I promise some great suggestions.  I assume you mean in the next couple of months - weather is close to excellent year round but season (ie winter rains) can alter plans.