The Napa Valley area of California is synonymous with good quality wines, but it’s also a great place for a romantic vacation with a touch of class! It’s also within easy driving distance of San Francisco.

The vineyards in the Napa Valley are a wonderful place to explore, many of them open their doors to the public – some owners even allow wine tasting (so check in advance what’s available if this is something you’d like to take part in) evenings – and give visitors an opportunity to see where and how the wine is nurtured and matured. Some vineyards also offer a restaurant service, accompanied by good wine of course, and because they aren’t commercial restaurants, they usually only cater for small numbers making it a special romantic experience.

You don’t have to like wine to enjoy a romantic vacation in the Napa Valley. This part of California doesn’t attract as many visitors as either the larger cities, or even the nearby Yosemite National Park, and the kind of visitors who do choose the Napa Valley are usually those who are looking for a little peace and quite on their holiday. Because of the tourist demographic, you are unlikely to encounter large groups with families and loud teens looking to party – both of which could ruin a time when you want to spend quality time with your partner!

That doesn’t mean however that the Napa Valley is without its own form of excitement. There’s more to this area than watching grapes grow, and wandering around musky wine cellars! The scenery of the Valley is one of it’s major features, and the perfect way to celebrate a special occasion such as an anniversary would be to take a hot air balloon ride over the area. There are a number of different options available to you, but most of them start at the crack of dawn so be prepared for an early start to the day. Once the balloon rises, and the Napa Valley spreads out below you, the tiredness will soon be forgotten however! Make your reservation for the trip of your choice before you leave home, balloon trips are quite popular and especially in peak vacation times have their places booked out quickly!

If you are in the process of planning a vacation for you and your partner, and want to go somewhere romantic, take a closer look at the Napa Valley. It could be just what you’re looking for.

Images used in this text
Napa Valley - Sunrise on the Silverado Trail by seligmanwaite available under CC BY 2.0