Our 3 Favorite Day Trips from Napa
Summer is here! Almost! We are so excited for this summer because with more things opening up, we’re able to visit even more places! We’re lucky to live in such a beautiful area with so much to do and see, so we decided we’d make a list of our three favorite day trips from Napa! If you’re looking for places to travel to this summer, you definitely have to check these out.
Sonoma
Sonoma County is just such a gorgeous place, which I’m sure you already know! It’s famous for its vineyards and sustainable farming, but there’s even more to do here than wine tasting and farming (although, we are BIG fans of both of those things)! Here are our top recommendations for a trip to Sonoma.
Hike:
Sugarloaf Ridge – A super great option for families, Sugarloaf Ridge has views that overlook the North Bay with vistas to San Francisco, Napa Valley, Mt. St Helena, and the Sierras on clear days! There are over 25 miles of hiking trails, ranging from an easy 1 mile trail to a difficult 8.2 mile loop. If you go in spring or early summer, there are STUNNING wildflowers and a 25-foot waterfall! (Keep in mind, summers here are hot, so the waterfall might not be thriving when you visit, but it’s definitely worth checking out)
Experience:
Sonoma Ballooning – This company offers hot air balloon tours all day! This is a great way to experience the beauty of the vineyards from a totally different point of view. It includes panoramic views of Sonoma Valley, historic downtown Sonoma, the hills of Petaluma, and even outlying views of the San Francisco Bay and Napa Valley! They have a ton of different packages to choose from.
Eat:
The Girl and The Fig – features a wonderful antique bar with French aperitifs, unique and traditional cocktails, an award-winning Rhône-Alone wine list, a seasonal menu, cheese & charcuterie platters, and outdoor garden patio seating. Very French and SUPER cute.
Sip:
Ram’s Gate Winery – Set in Sonoma’s gorgeous landscape, this winery focuses on providing a holistic experience. They have a few different experience options, one of which has a five-course food pairing with locally-sourced ingredients! All around amazing, we think!
Jenner
This tiny hamlet perched on a bluff above where the Russian River meets the ocean, this little village (and we mean little – it has a population of under 140 people!), is another one of our favorite day trips from Napa! It has gorgeous views and allows you to connect with nature. You can find harbor seals, pelicans, ospreys, and great blue herons in this area!
Hike:
Jenner Headlands Preserve – Located 2.5 miles north of Jenner, this preserve runs for 2 miles along the coast, expanding east and north to include some redwood forests! There are 15 miles of trails, the most difficult being Sea to Sky trail, which offers you incredible 360 views. Even if you don’t want that much of a challenge, there are plenty of gorgeous trails that will lead you through wildflowers, into the redwoods, or to a grassy knoll overlooking the ocean.
Experience:
Portuguese Beach – As you’re driving up from Napa, you’ll pass Portuguese Beach, which is a beautiful sandy beach surrounded by rocky headlands. Plus, it’s dog friendly! So bring your pup with you!
Kayaking – The actual town (it’s a cozy little hamlet) has paddle-board and kayak rentals! You can do them as part of a tour or on your own. There is so much wildlife out there, and some of the tours offer kayak to hike options, which allows you to see a wide variety of the wildlife!
Eat:
Timber Cove Resort – Go for a nice long drive along the coast, enjoy the scenery, and then stop at Timber Cove Resort! We did a wedding there recently, and it was the most GORGEOUS place. Not only are the grounds beautiful (it’s a modern cabin-style resort on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean), they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner! So stop for a bite to eat and a glass of wine.
San Francisco
Obviously San Francisco had to be on our list of day trips to Napa! It wouldn’t be complete without a day trip to San Francisco. This city is filled with SO many things to do, we couldn’t possible list all of our favorite things in one blog post. However, Kaylyn recently surprised Jimmy with this day trip itinerary and they loved every minute of it! So, we thought you might like it, too.
Hike:
Muir Woods – This is the most popular place to see the redwoods when visiting San Francisco. It’s just 30 minutes outside the city, so it’s quick and easy to get to! There are 6 miles of trails in this park, and in every one you’ll see some gorgeous old growth redwoods. So cool!
Portola Redwoods State Park – If you’re looking for something a little less busy, head down to this park! The trees are just as beautiful, if not all of them are as old. For a nice introduction to the area, start with the Coyote Ridge and Shingle Mill Trail.
Experience:
Harbor Tour – There’s no more beautiful way to see the Golden Gate Bridge than from the water. Hop on one of the tours from the Red and White Fleet for a relaxing tour around the bay. They have three different options for tours, the most popular being the Golden Gate Bay Cruise. These are an hour long and are available throughout the day!
Eat:
Roam Burgers – This place is one of our favorites to go when we visit San Francisco! They offer beef, turkey, bison, or veggie burgers and you can create your own burger or choose one of their incredible styles. Take it to go, head across the bridge to the other side of the bay (it’s way less busy over there!), and find a park to hang out, eat your burger, and enjoy the views!
What do you think about this list? Is there anything you would add to it? Let us know in the comments! If you go on any of these day trips from Napa, tell us what you think!
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