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NAPA VACATION RENTALS, CALIFORNIA |
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Why Vacation in Napa |
| Taste some of the most terrific wine in the world while in enjoying a vacation rental within the heart of California Wine Country-Napa Valley! |
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Napa Vacation Rental Information |
| Located 50 miles north of San Francisco, the beautiful Napa Valley is the heart of California wine country. The picture-postcard beauty of the region makes it one of the most sought-after destinations for vacations and short weekend getaways. Napa vacation rentals range from basic homes and condos to luxurious estates and historic homes. Most of these are available for both short-term and long-term stays. |
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Rates range from $500-600 per week for a small cottage that sleeps 3, to an estate that sleeps 9-12 people for $10,000 for a month.
There are luxury options as well, which rent for one month at a time and could cost you up to $64,000 for a 3-bedroom estate house. Most luxury accommodations are part of vineyard properties, while others are located on the top of a hill, surrounded by woods, or close to the premium commercial centers. Amenities include gourmet cuisine, Jacuzzis, pools, fireplaces, outdoor barbecue grills and high-speed Internet. Even the more affordable homes are in secluded locations and many are pet friendly. |
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Special Information for Booking Vacation Rentals in Napa |
| Napa is the heart of California wine country, so a visit to the valley wouldn’t be complete without a visit to one of the wineries in the area. Families will love Six Flags Marine World, while those who love luxury can’t miss a visit to one of the valley’s mud baths or spas. And, of course, you can’t miss the ‘Old Faithful” geyser that is located about 27 miles from Napa in Calistoga. |
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Must See in Napa |
With over 300 wineries in the Napa Valley, most offering wine tasting tours, there is not any lack of opportunity to enjoy your stay in the valley. However, wine tours and tastings are not the only things you can do in Napa. A wide range of activities, like hot air ballooning, skydiving, museum visits, spa visits, bicycle tours and safaris, make Napa a great vacation destination for people of all ages.
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Sights and Attractions in Napa |
| Napa will tickle the senses of a water enthusiast in you, with its astonishing water-soaked sights and attractions. Any thing that you visit here, promises you a watery experience without fail, which will surely not leave you asking for more!
• Wine Country Tours
• COPIA: The American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts
• Wine Country Train
• Wine Country Plane
• Six Flags Marine World
• Robert Louis Stevenson State Park and the Silverado Museum
• Mud-Baths and Spas
• Old Faithful Geyser |
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Outdoor Recreation in Napa |
| From balloon rides to safaris and picnics, Napa has much to offer naturalists, outdoor adventure types and families.
• Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park
• Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
• Neighborhood Parks
• Hot Air Ballooning
• River Cruise | |
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Golfing in Napa |
Golfers have only one public 18-hole course in Napa. Napa Golf Course at Kennedy Park is a convenient drive from anywhere in the North Bay area. The par-72 course, designed by Jack Fleming and Bob Baldock, is set on the banks of the Napa River with the river estuary as an integral part of the design. The course’s traditional design allows for fun and gives scoring opportunities to every player. Daily play rates are affordable and the popular monthly rates are great for the frequent golfer. The course has a 3 ½ star rating from Golf Digest in the ‘Places to Play’ listing as selected by readers of the magazine.The Chardonnay Golf Club is currently a semi-private golf facility located in the Napa Valley. The championship golf course offers a variety of challenges for players of all skill levels. This 27-hole layout features 3 distinct 9-hole courses named Lakes, Meadows and Vineyards. Three different 18-hole combinations represent the foremost golf destination in the bay area. Each of the 3 9-hole courses meander through 130 acres of Chardonnay and Merlot Vineyards, featuring numerous lakes and creek crossings, as well as a wide variety of native flora and fauna.
For more, you will need to head to Calistoga, St. Helena or Yountville. There are a few private links around, though, if you are looking for more than public and semi-private courses have to offer. |
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Dining and Nightlife in Napa |
Where there is wine, there is fine dining. There are several restaurants offering French cuisine, but actually, Napa is famous for its seafood. The Pacific Ocean yields a marvelous choice in fresh seafood. Other cuisines found in the Napa Valley include American, Chinese, Italian and Mexican. Most restaurants have menus with entrees from $5 to $10 each.
For an interesting experience, and a meal for $30 or less, try Julia’s Kitchen, the restaurant at COPIA: The American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts. The restaurant, named for famed chef Julia Child, is located in the heart of Napa Valley. Lunch is served Wednesday – Monday from 11:30 AM to 3 PM. Dinner is served Thursday – Sunday from 5:30 to 9:30 PM.
There are a few bars and clubs in Napa, but the most interesting way to spend a late evening is to make a visit to the Napa Valley Opera House. The Opera House highlights excellent musical theater, plays, chamber music, jazz, opera, dance and other programs. Or try the Saturday Opera Night at the Jarvis Conservatory. Opera Night, held on the 1st Saturday of each month from 8 – 10 PM, is an open-mike night for bay area vocalists who come to the conservatory with sheet music in hand. Listen to the piano-accompanied music and an accordionist while enjoying complementary wine, tapas and sparkling water during intermission. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased at the door beginning at 7 PM on the day of the event. D.G.’s Jazz, Blues and Salsa in Napa also has wonderful musical entertainment available throughout the year.
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Shopping in Napa |
| Wine is definitely not the only thing you can buy in the Napa Valley. There are moss-wood items, art pieces, olive oil and more. Of course, wine may consume most of your shopping budget and most wineries have gift shops at which you can purchase your favorites. The two classiest areas for wine, as well as other shopping in the Napa Valley area, are Main Street in St. Helena and Washington Street in Yountville. You can also find bargains at any of the several outlet stores in and around the Napa area.
Several Napa Downtown wine tasting rooms now participate in an exciting new venue for wine tasting called “Taste Napa Downtown.” For only $20, you will receive a wallet-sized card that can be presented to any of the 10 participating tasting rooms and receive a 10% discount on wine tasting, plus additional discounts, ranging from 1/2 price admission to COPIA, 10% off on all wine and wine-related products, free cookbooks, discounted membership into wine clubs and more.
Yountville 1870 is a festival-style retail center with specialty shops, galleries and restaurants housed in a 135-year old Groezinger Winery complex. Lush landscaping and year-round entertainment make this a wonderful shopping experience. The area is open from 10 AM to 5:30 PM each day, with special hours on holidays. |
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Best Times to Visit Napa |
Napa Valley enjoys a temperate climate, almost Mediterranean, with a long growing season for the wine grapes. This makes Napa a popular year-round vacation destination. Summer is sunny, warm and dry with cool evenings, while the winter is cool and sometimes rainy. Due to this, the latter period of the year can bring with it flooding along the Napa River. |
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Time Zone for Napa |
| Pacific Standard Time. |
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Getting To and Around Napa |
The Napa Valley is about a 1 ½-hour drive north of San Francisco. Both Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail run the length of the Valley's 30 miles from the city of Napa in the south to Calistoga in the north. Highway 29 is the busier, more commercial road through the Valley, while the Silverado Trail is quieter and more scenic. There are numerous wineries along both roads, as well as on the crossroads and up into the mountains that flank either side of the valley.
There are bus and transit systems throughout the Napa Valley, connections to other transportation systems in the Bay Area, and shuttle service to San Francisco and Oakland International Airports.
Chartered wine shuttles and a downtown trolley system are also available if you don’t wish to be a designated driver while your family and friends have all of the fun.
Napa also has a well-established public transit system that includes buses, taxis, shuttles and ferries. Those looking for luxury can also hire a limo. There are dial-a-ride services available for the disabled.
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