During the summer, Napa Valley offers a wide range of enjoyable, engaging, and educational family-friendly fun things to do in Napa Valley. With so much to do amidst the glorious scenery and remarkable weather, time is the only limit to how much you can do.
When we think of Napa Valley, we naturally think of wines and vineyards. However, frequent visitors understand that Napa Valley offers many appropriate activities for the fun and enjoyment of all age groups.
Whether for an action-packed weekend or a more leisurely week-long adventure, creating a plan that excites and entertains everyone can be difficult only because you’ll have so many choices.
And, since we are all in need of much-needed relief from the stresses of the past several months, the safe, family-friendly opportunities offered by the Napa Valley communities and businesses will provide a truly rewarding escape.
Here is a shortlist of activities to consider for your family’s escape to incredible Napa Valley:
Bike Rides
Bring your bikes or rent them from several local businesses and head out for an enjoyable adventure along the Napa Valley Vine Trail. This beautiful biking and hiking course will eventually run the entire 47 miles from Calistoga to the Vallejo Ferry that connects the Bay Area.
Currently, a 12.5-mile section between South Napa and Yountville is complete providing a picturesque and varied view of the Southern Napa Valley vineyards and mountainous backdrop with plenty of convenient stops along the way.
Make sure you pedal through the RAD, Napa’s Rail Arts District, to view the eleven large-scale murals spaced along a two-mile paved stretch.
Family Picnics and Exploring
Throughout Napa Valley, you will find plenty of parks and idyllic settings to explore and enjoy a relaxing picnic lunch or dinner while you enjoy the surroundings.
Bothe Napa Valley State Park offers miles of interesting hiking trails and even a visit to the historic Bale Grist Mill, still in operation.
Picnicking and Hiking the area offers the perfect escape for city dwellers and suburbanites alike to reconnect with Nature and leave those mundane pressures behind.
Downtown Shopping
In Napa’s downtown district, don’t miss the Oxbow Public Market, where you can stroll, shop, and eat as you enjoy the variety of interesting shops and businesses. The complex has become known as “The Gathering Place,” a focal point for the local scene’s many activities.
Before you go, you must purchase and take home some excellent local produce, cheeses, ice creams, baked goods, and more.
Tour the Castello di Amorosa (“The Castle”)
An authentically styled 13th Century Tuscan Castle winery, Castello di Amorosa is a family-friendly winery that offers tours of the castle and grounds. Reservations are required.
Hot Air Balloon Rides with Balloons Above the Valley
All agree that the best way to truly get a complete sense of the beauty and scope of scenic Napa Valley is from the air from a slowly drifting hot air balloon. This experience offers a new perspective of the entire Valley as you float quietly above the villages, vineyards, and panorama of the region.
You will be guided by one of the licensed and experienced pilots whose primary commitment is to the safety of all passengers.
Safe and family-Hot air balloon rides by Balloons Above the Valley are a splendid way to preview (or recall) your many fun family experiences as you float above the Valley floor, pointing out the many familiar landmarks of the area.
The entire experience lasts about 3-4 hours, from meeting at the Oxbow Public Market for coffee and pastries; travel to the launch site; photographs taken before launch; an approximately a one-hour flight; and transport back to Oxbow Public Market
Visit the Balloons Above the Valley website to reserve your Balloons Above the Valley family hot air balloon excursion, or phone a Balloons Above the Valley Reservationist at +1-800-464-6824.
You may also buy Gift Certificates for future use.