Napa Valley is a cultural epicenter for lovers of art, niche outdoor sports like bocce, and – did we say, wine?
You might have guessed: this region features some of California’s best vineries – over 250 of them! And they’re so good, in fact, that even notable sportsmen like Dick Vermeil, Charles Woodson, and Rick Mirer have taken the grapey plunge.
But Napa Valley has so much to offer besides its excellent wine. From great weather to fabulous food and excellent hospitality, Napa Valley provides a wholesome holiday experience for all.
What’s more, the region is geographically compact, making it a great destination whether you’re planning a long or short getaway.
Below, we explore some of the best locations to visit and finest places to stay.
Napa City
Famous for its riverfront promenade and 1800s architecture, Napa City is the artistic heart of Napa County, being home to the Napa Valley Opera and a vibrant arts scene.
The city is a great base for accessing all surrounding areas of the county. Some of the best places to stay include:
Candlelight Inn Napa Valley
Located in downtown Napa, the Candlelight Inn is a traditional bed and breakfast with a modern twist, serving an impressive 3 course breakfast (French style) and offering conventional accommodation with contemporary features. It’s an ideal romantic spot for couples – rooms offer four poster beds laden with fair white canopies, plus two-person Jacuzzis. The Inn also boasts glorious canopied outdoor seating and a pool to enjoy the beautiful weather with a glass of fine wine. Don’t forget to ask the concierge about some amazing adventure packages for the best local deals available.
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Archer Hotel Napa
This boutique hotel offers a luxurious stay for anyone wishing to experience an upmarket wine country vacation. The elegant yet urban decor, together with balconies overlooking downtown Napa, provide an urban-chic ambience. The Archer Hotel Napa is the county’s only rooftop retreat, offering panoramic views of the valley from loungers on the tranquil Water Deck, plus a unique dining experience at Sky & Vine under a canopy of olive trees with an array of seating surrounding fire-pits. With regional dishes and local wines available at the artisan Charlie Palmer Steak restaurant, this hotel makes for a truly relaxing haven with distinctive, opulent highlights.
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Milliken Creek Inn & Spa
A traditional inn with an exotic twist, the Milliken Creek Inn & Spa offers guests classic the Napa hospitality, through glamorous and romantic Graeco-style quarters and spa treatments. The Inn provides a holistic approach to your retreat, with all needs catered for. The guest-rooms boast beautifully canopied king beds with luxurious bedding, a spa hydrotherapy bathtub, indoor fireplace, and private outdoor seating areas (on request). The complimentary breakfast, plus afternoon wine and cheese hampers, will keep you satiated, whilst the spa and gym facilities will leave you feeling refreshed and energized.
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Blackbird Inn
Located in historic downtown Napa, the Blackbird Inn provides a quaint, intimate, and welcoming atmosphere with vintage ambience. There are a variety of rooms on offer here to suit your budget and preferences, with a mixture of traditional guest-rooms, spa rooms with jacuzzi tubs and artisan bathrooms, plus the option of private outdoor seating. Complimentary breakfast is included, as well as regular refreshments and afternoon wine with hors d’oeuvres, which guests can enjoy in the comfort of their rooms. Revel in the relaxing surroundings of this Inn’s peaceful neighborhood or explore the local restaurants and antique stores just a short walk away.
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Calistoga
Famous for its hot springs, mineral pools, and mud baths, Calistoga is a hotspot for health and wellness enthusiasts.
The local hotels certainly accommodate and encourage guest wellbeing, with some of the greatest all-inclusive stays in Napa:
Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection
Ideal for a romantic couples’ getaway or a fun-filled family holiday, the Solage provides an eclectic experience packed with a broad range of activities and adventures. For the kids, hot air balloon rides, outdoor pool and lawn games, and fireside s’mores provide a wealth of excitement. And for the adults, why not explore the vineyards during a swanky sip and cycle, relax and unwind in the opulent spa, or gaze at the stars in a rose petal pool with a private hire of the bathhouse? You can choose from a great selection of rooms – from intimate studios to secluded suites – as well as a fabulous range of wine and dine options for all tastes and appetites. The Solage truly offers an extra-special, all-inclusive experience for all.
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Embrace Calistoga
Providing a modern spin on the traditional bed and breakfast, Embrace Calistoga is famed for its ‘old world luxury’ meets contemporary amenities. The accommodation showcases the classic warmth of a country stay with a sophisticated style – interiors feature a mixture of traditional design and exotic furnishings for a refined ambience. A romantic getaway designed to ease the spirits, this charming inn offers a quintessential experience – breakfast is served out on the porch, and the inn is ideally located in the historic center within easy reach of local restaurants and spas.
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UpValley Inn & Hot Springs, Ascend Hotel Collection
Whilst the clue is in the name, the UpValley Inn & Hot Springs truly is serving hot springs, with a very impressive and completely natural geothermal mineral water swimming pool and whirlpool. The Inn is focused on offering a complete bespoke wellness experience, with a sauna and steam room also on offer at the in-house spa. There’s a room to meet every budget, with standard, deluxe and premium guest-rooms available. All rooms are furnished in neutral colors, with wooden floors, simple yet classy modern furnishings, and luscious bedding to help you feel truly zen. Why not take a soak in the pool, followed by a relaxing breakfast in the gardens?
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Indian Springs Resort & Spa
A historic resort in the heart of Calistoga, Indian Springs Resort & Spa offers an exotic, bohemian stay, set on 17 acres of rolling hills, palm trees, and ponds. The resort has retained many original features to provide a unique wellness experience – alongside the original 1910 mineral pool, the hotel also boasts a wealth of natural resources, including four thermal geysers which feed into the Buddha Pond, and volcanic mud baths with nutrient-rich properties. Rooms at the resort are truly eclectic and suited to every holiday maker – you can choose from the historic cottages, rustic bungalows, and even traditional full houses for groups and family holidays. For couples, there’s also the more contemporary rooms in the Mission Revival-style buildings. The in-house restaurant, Sam’s Social Club, serves regional dishes and offers all three meals of the day. Your party can choose to mingle inside the restaurant or go al fresco on the patio – what’s not to love?
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St. Helena
Known as Napa Valley’s Main Street, St.Helena offers boutique shopping, opulent restaurants and sophisticated art galleries.
Being centrally located, it is the perfect hotspot for local amenities and attractions. Some wonderful places to stay include:
Alila Napa Valley
Set amongst rows of Napa Valley vines, this former farmhouse established in 1907 is now a luxurious boutique hotel. Alila Napa Valley (formerly known as Las Alcobas) offers an elevated and sophisticated service. Guest-rooms are spacious and moderately decorated, with balconies overlooking the lush vineyards. The spa offers authentic, ancient therapies, and guests have full access to an elegant shared pool. There’s a variety of tranquil outdoor spaces to relax and mingle in: on the lawns, under verandas, or out by the fire pits. The onsite gourmet restaurant serves farm-to-table dishes and local wine, making this resort an unforgettable stay.
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Wydown Hotel
An excellent option for both solo travelers and couples, the Wydown Hotel provides a modern, eclectic atmosphere, offering artistic lounge areas and progressive design for a cosmopolitan feel. Rooms are chic and contemporary, subtly decorated for a relaxing ambience, with premium rooms and spacious luxury corner rooms available. All guest-rooms come with an en suite, king bed, robes, and hot drinks facilities. Complimentary breakfast is served daily in the Tea Room, and cookies and wine are provided in the afternoon. Guests can enjoy a free pass to the Health Spa Napa Valley, and the bustling shopping district offers a range of cafes and restaurants as well as art galleries, all of which are within easy reach of the hotel.
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Wine Country Inn Napa Valley
A romantic and secluded getaway, the Wine Country Inn offers quaint accommodations in the heart of Napa Valley. Guests can choose from smaller, intimate rooms, or deluxe rooms offering garden and vineyard views. There’s also quintessential cottages available, and all rooms and cottages benefit from private decks or patios. On site amenities include a swimming pool and hot tub, and guests can enjoy daily country breakfasts with beautiful views of the vineyards. An added bonus of this hotel – it’s also dog-friendly, so it’s a great opportunity to take advantage of a relaxing break with all your loved ones.
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Harvest Inn
Surrounded by sweeping views of the Napa Valley vineyards, the Harvest Inn features dreamy scenery with 8 acres of redwood forest, botanical gardens, and fine art installations from the Aerena Gallery. All can be enjoyed with al fresco dining, secluded rest spots, and private hot tub patios. The spa is an excellent way to unwind even further with a variety of treatments on offer. In terms of accommodation, guests can choose from Vineyard Rooms with – you guessed it – panoramic views of the vineyards, or the Harvest Inn rooms with views of the landscaped grounds and gardens. All rooms come with complimentary wine – and they’re also pet friendly, so you can get cozied up in this nostalgic home away from home.
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Yountville
Loved for its small-town culture and friendly locals, Yountville offers a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
The local residents have refined what they refer to as passeggiata – the art of the stroll – and there are numerous walks and hikes to be enjoyed here. Some of our favorite hotels include:
Villagio at The Estate Yountville
A sophisticated retreat, The Estate Yountville offers not one accommodation options, but two! Guests can choose the vibrant, bustling Hotel Villagio, or the quieter Vintage House. The former offers a luxurious and opulent stay, whilst the latter provides a quaint and romantic getaway. The onsite spa offers a classic but contemporary ambience for you to relax and unwind, whilst guests can also enjoy some pool and lounge time. The Estate offers daily complimentary breakfast each morning, and a variety of fine dining and casual meals throughout the day into the evening from several onsite restaurants – offering Italian, Spanish, and American barbecue cuisine. With over 22 acres of land to explore and appreciate, this retreat offers a sophisticated experience like no other.
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Poetry Inn Napa Valley
A small luxury hotel in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley, the Poetry Inn offers a small selection of large, sophisticated rooms and suites, fully customized to provide an intimate and personalized experience for guests. Rooms include a private terrace, wood-burning fireplace, and impressive indoor and outdoor showers – so you can truly soak up the valley in style. The onsite spa aims to rejuvenate and refresh you, whilst the complimentary breakfasts set you up for a day of pure relaxation. Why not take a dip in the pool, or lounge in a hammock with a good book and your favorite glass of wine?
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Bardessono Hotel & Spa
A luxury spa resort, the Bardessono Hotel & Spa prides itself on providing the ultimate pampering and relaxation experience, by encouraging guests to become one with their natural surroundings. To that end, the resort features an in-house spa providing natural, seasonal treatments, and a rooftop pool where guests can soak up the sun and scenic surroundings. The resort is keen to encourage guests to explore outdoors: there’s an array of lush gardens for guests to explore, as well as al fresco dining options with fresh, homegrown produce, and artisan cocktails for sipping out on the patio. And for those wishing to explore a little further afield, guests can hire bicycles to venture downtown. Guest-rooms are a mix of suites and private villas, offering impressive extras such as spa bathrooms, in-room massages, and private pools. What’s more, you can even bring along your furry friend for a truly personal and wistful experience.
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Napa Valley Lodge
Located in the heart of Yountville, the Napa Valley Lodge offers an idyllic retreat aimed at providing guests with unique and intimate experiences. Spacious guest-rooms and lavish suites are available to meet every taste, featuring private patios or balconies where guests can look out onto the surrounding vineyards or gardens. The suites also provide spa-style bathrooms, featuring separate showers and two-berth bathtub. Offering a holistic approach, wellness enthusiasts can also revel in the pool, spa, and fitness center to relax, unwind, and reenergize. The complimentary champagne breakfast is the perfect way to prepare you for your day of lounging or exploring, whilst afternoon keep you refreshed and ready for the evening in Yountville. What will Yountville hold for you?
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Final thoughts:
Whatever is it that your heart desires, you are sure to find it in Napa Valley. Book your stay in Napa Valley with Flight & Hotel Guru and save big on finest hotels in the area!
