Having a honeymoon in Napa Valley is certainly a perfect and lovely idea! First, it’s beautiful and breathtaking landscape with neat rows of vineyards dotting the region makes for an ideal romantic scene. Imagine you’re dining al fresco at the patio that overlooks the stunning scenery of the vineyards and hills, and making one of your first matrimonial toasts — it can’t be more perfect!
Choosing Napa Valley as the site of your planned getaway or extended holiday can make your honeymoon all the more special.
Honeymooning couples certainly want a quiet and, if possible, romantic-looking lodging which also offers breathtaking views of the vineyards. Hotels and resorts in Napa tend to be expensive, so you will want to look out for the best deals — strictly for couples — that will be worth the money you’ll spend. For instance, consider Auberge du Soleil, a beautiful resort in the heart of Napa. It offers a four-course romantic dinner and also has a Michelin-starred restaurant with a superb breakfast selection.
Like the lodging and resorts, most wine-tasting activities in Napa can also be costly. Do your best to score a good deal while experiencing this luxury, look out for two-for-the-price-of-one wine tastings as well as wine and cheese pairing deals. You may also be able to score wine tasting coupons which can help you save a bit of money.
Choose wineries that look quite romantic. The best examples are the Castelo di Amorosa (a winery and castle built in a 13th century Tuscan style) and Domaine Carneros (famous for its French villa-inspired gardens and stunning Mediterranean landscape). Or choose more low-key, off-the-beaten-track wineries such as the Hess Collection (which also serves as an art gallery).
Napa’s stunning natural beauty combined with serenity is a perfect way to spend time after the flurry of activities during the wedding preparations and the wedding day itself. You deserve some relaxation! Napa has several spa resorts and wellness centers where you can have afacial and or body massage, as well as the opportunity for meditation and yoga together.
Of course, a honeymoon in Napa would not be complete without dinner. They don’t have to be always super-fancy, but sharing dinner with your new spouse by your side is special enough. Shop and dine at the Oxbow Public Market for premium-quality artisanal goods, eat at Thomas Keller’s famous Ad Hoc restaurant and his signature other joint The French Laundry. Or go aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train, the fabulously-restored 19th century railcars which feature stunningly decorated interiors. The train also has a lovely dining room where you and your spouse can enjoy haute cuisine while viewing the stunning vineyard scenery as the train runs along the tracks.
If you want to take your romance to new heights, the best thing to do is the most bold yet most exciting and most romantic — riding a hot air balloon!
The hot air balloon will take you thousands of feet above the ground to its greatest vista point to view the breathtaking Napa landscape. View the neat rows of vineyards, the rolling hills, and deep valleys, and the occasional fog as you meet the sun rising from the horizon. Take your first “married couple selfie” against the stunning landscape while riding the hot air balloon. A hot air balloon ride could be symbolic for both of you as a married couple — a gesture that your love has taken to a higher level. This could be the ultimate romantic activity you’ll ever have!
Having a honeymoon in Napa Valley and the Wine Country is something that is best planned in advance before your wedding day. Beautiful landscape, serene atmosphere, delicious cuisine, and a flurry of activities that include wine tours and a hot air balloon ride are only some of the exciting things Napa has to offer that are too irresistible not to include on your honeymoon must-do list.