12 Things to Do in Napa Valley That Aren't Wine Tasting
Look, Napa Valley has 400+ wineries and the tasting culture is world-class. But if you or your travel companion doesn't drink — or you simply need a day off from swirling and spitting — Napa delivers far beyond the glass. Here's proof.
1. Float Over Vineyards in a Hot Air Balloon
Napa Valley Balloons launches at dawn from Yountville. You float 500-1,000 feet above misty vineyards for 60-75 minutes, watching the sunrise paint the Mayacamas Mountains gold. Champagne brunch upon landing. $280-350/person. Book 2+ weeks ahead for weekends. Weather cancellations happen — operators rebook for free.
This is the single most memorable thing I've done in Napa, and I've done a lot of wine tasting.
2. Eat Your Way Through Oxbow Public Market
Twenty-three artisan vendors in downtown Napa. Hog Island Oyster Co. (oysters from $3.50 each). Gott's Roadside (burgers $12-18, the garlic fries are compulsory). Ca' Momi for Neapolitan pizza. Three Twins organic ice cream. Open daily 7:30 AM-8 PM. Tuesday is the quietest day. The Tuesday morning farmers market in adjacent Oxbow Commons is excellent.
You could spend an entire morning grazing here without repeating a vendor.
3. Take a Volcanic Mud Bath in Calistoga
Calistoga sits on geothermal springs at the valley's northern end. Indian Springs Calistoga has been doing mud baths since 1862 — volcanic ash heated to 100°F, followed by mineral soak and optional massage. $80 for the mud-and-mineral package. The geothermally heated Olympic-size pool is heated by natural springs ($35 day use).
Other options: Dr. Wilkinson's Hot Springs Resort ($75 mud bath), Golden Haven ($85). Book 1-2 weeks ahead for weekends.
4. Ride the Napa Valley Wine Train
A vintage train ride through 58 km of vineyard scenery in restored 1915 Pullman cars. The 3-hour journey includes a multi-course meal. From $175 (lunch), $220 (dinner). Winery stop packages available ($250+). Runs Thursday-Monday.
The murder mystery dinner rides ($250) are unexpectedly fun — cheesy in the best way, with actors moving through the cars while you eat a four-course meal. Book 2+ weeks ahead.
5. Tour a Replica Tuscan Castle
Castello di Amorosa near Calistoga is a 121,000 square-foot replica 13th-century Tuscan castle built over 15 years using authentic medieval construction methods. Imported Italian stone, hand-forged nails, a torture chamber. General admission: $45. The guided tour ($70) includes the dungeon, barrel room, and Great Hall.
It's absurd and magnificent. Kids love it. Adults pretend not to love it and then take forty photos.
6. Watch a Geyser Erupt
Old Faithful Geyser of California in Calistoga erupts roughly every 30-40 minutes to heights of 60 feet. One of only three "old faithful" geysers in the world. $18 adults. Open daily 8:30 AM-6 PM. Combine with a Calistoga mud bath for a full morning.
7. Hike the Napa River Trail
A paved, flat trail along the Napa River through downtown and into the marshlands. Free. Birdwatching is excellent — herons, egrets, hawks. The 12-mile trail connects south Napa to Kennedy Park. Easy walking or cycling.
8. Walk Yountville's Michelin Mile
Yountville's one-mile main strip has more Michelin stars per capita than almost anywhere on Earth. Walk past The French Laundry (peek through the garden gate), Bouchon Bistro and Bakery (pastries $5-15 — the macaron alone justifies the walk), Bottega (Italian), and Ad Hoc (Thomas Keller's family-style dinner spot).
Browse art galleries, stop at Kollar Chocolates ($8-15), and sit on a bench with a coffee from Yountville Coffee Roasting Company.
Sonoma Valley is 30 minutes west over the Mayacamas Mountains and feels like a different world — more casual, cheaper, and the town square is charming. Buena Vista (California's oldest commercial winery, 1857) offers tastings $30-50 with beautiful stone buildings and cave tours.
The Girl and the Fig on Sonoma Plaza does French country cuisine — duck confit ($32), fig salad ($18). Sonoma is the relaxed cousin to Napa's polished intensity.
10. Browse the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art
A 217-acre art park and gallery on the Carneros Highway between Napa and Sonoma. Over 2,000 works of Northern California art in indoor galleries and outdoor installations scattered through the property. Tours from $15. The combination of contemporary sculpture and vineyard landscape is unique.
11. Cycle the Vine Trail
The Napa Valley Vine Trail is a paved multi-use path connecting Napa to Yountville (12.5 miles, flat, easy). Bike rentals from Napa Valley Bike Tours ($45/day). The route passes through vineyards and farmland with mountain views. Pack a picnic and stop at V. Sattui's grounds along the way.
12. Attend a Cooking Class
The CIA at Copia (Culinary Institute of America's Napa campus) offers cooking classes and demonstrations ($35-125). Topics rotate: seasonal Italian, wine-pairing fundamentals, bread-making. The campus restaurant is also excellent.
For more hands-on experience, Silverado Cooking School offers small-group classes ($125-185) that include a meal you've prepared.
The Non-Drinker's Napa Day
Morning: Hot air balloon at sunrise ($320) or Calistoga mud bath ($80).
Late morning: Oxbow Public Market for brunch.
Afternoon: Castello di Amorosa tour ($70) or Vine Trail cycling ($45 bike rental).
Evening: Dinner at Bouchon Bistro (croque madame $24, steak frites $38) or the Wine Train dinner ride ($220).
Total: $400-600 for a day that rivals any wine-focused itinerary. Napa is a food, landscape, and experience destination that happens to also have wine. The bottles are a bonus, not a requirement.
The Seasonal Angle
Different times of year offer different non-wine highlights:
Spring (March-May): Mustard blooming between the vine rows turns the valley floor yellow. Wildflowers on the hillsides. The Vine Trail cycling is at its best — cool mornings, warm afternoons.
Summer (June-August): Longest days, best for hot air balloons (earliest launches, most stable air). Farmers markets peak. Outdoor dining season at its finest.
Fall (September-November): Harvest crush season — the vineyards are heavy with fruit and the cellar doors are busy. The Wine Train through autumn-colored vines is particularly scenic. Di Rosa Center art walks through golden light.
Winter (December-February): Quietest period. Mud baths and hot springs feel most rewarding when it's cool outside. The Napa Valley Wine Train's holiday rides are festive. Olive oil pressing season — visit olive mills for fresh-pressed tastings.
If the outdoor activities inspire you, Yosemite is just a few hours east for granite cliffs and waterfalls.
