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Northern California wine country welcomes the public to return (opens in new tab) to vineyards, wineries, and tasting rooms for the August through October harvest season. Napa Valley attracts wine enthusiasts with more than 375 winery tasting rooms and more than 90 urban tasting rooms (tasting rooms located off the winery property), which are at the top of many travelers' lists. The idyllic small towns of Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, and Calistoga that make up the Napa Valley are accustomed to hosting an influx of out-of-town guests, but capacity limits and high demand make it more important than ever to secure reservations and confirm activities in advance.

Napa Valley may be known as a wine and food mecca, but the activities and sightseeing don't stop there. Bike tours, river rafting, spa treatments, and art galleries provide a much-needed respite between winery visits. Private tours and the Napa Valley Wine Train are solid transportation options, but renting a car is the most flexible. Some hotels offer complimentary car rental services or bike rentals. Napa County strictly has its own small airport, but the majority of visitors use the larger hubs nearby: Oakland (63 miles), San Francisco (70 miles), and Sacramento (75 miles).

Some airlines, such as Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines, allow you to take a case of wine home free of charge, but if not, a dedicated wine suitcase (available in 5-, 8-, and 12-bottle models) like the VinGardeValise (opens in new tab), strongly recommended for a spill-free return flight. This will help you keep the spirit of Napa alive right after you return home. Plan your next trip with our Instagram travel guide for the best ways to experience Napa Valley.

Deciding which wineries to visit during your stay in Napa Valley can be overwhelming. The good news is, you really can't go wrong. Whether you want to taste a bold Napa red cabernet, spend time at a historic French-style chateau, or enjoy something more casual and affordable, there's a winery for you.

Yountville is home to nationally renowned chef Thomas Keller's prestigious restaurant group, including the three Michelin-starred The French Laundry and the flagship Bouchon Bakery. It is no wonder that he and other renowned chefs are drawn to wine regions that place such an emphasis on pleasing the palate.

Nick Tamburro, formerly chef at Momofuku in New York, has taken over the kitchen at the new outstanding restaurant, North Block (opens in new tab). In addition to the wood-fired sourdough pizza, enjoy creative and beautifully presented dishes such as dry-aged duck, crudo bigeye tuna, and stuffed grilled Swiss chard. Press Restaurant (open in new tab) boasts the world's largest Napa Valley wine collection and also offers some of the finest cuisine. No visit would be complete without ordering the crispy, sweet and sour pig's ears or the bacon-stuffed cornbread with flavorful black truffle butter.

Brix Napa Valley (opens in new tab) is a great choice for dining alfresco while watching the sunset over the Keleher Family Vineyard. On the grounds of this farm-to-table eatery, you can stroll through the herb garden, vegetable garden, and orchard that supply the kitchen with food daily. At House of Better (opens in new tab) at Dr. Wilkinson's Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs, New Mexico-style Flat enchiladas, grilled fish tacos, and other Southwestern favorites are served in homemade blue corn tortillas. And don't forget to try the famous green chile apple pie with cheddar crust.

Get your gourmet sandwiches at Oakville Grocery (opens in new tab), California's oldest grocery store, established in 1881. The Essential Napa Valley Cookbook (opens in new tab), recently published to provide pandemic relief funds to the area's restaurant workers, allows you to recreate local favorites from top restaurants at home. Each of the nearly 40 recipes includes suggested wine pairings from Napa Valley producers.

Downtown Napa has a handful of chain hotels for the faithful, but if you are looking for a more boutique experience, The Francis House (opens in new tab) is a luxury bed and breakfast in Calistoga built in 1886. Restored to its full original glory by a Bay Area couple who fell in love with the French Second Empire architectural style of this gorgeous stone building, The Francis House has just seven rooms.

Yountville's upscale resort, Bardessono (opens in new tab), is centrally located and within walking distance of many of the area's best restaurants, yet is so serene that you won't want to venture outside for too long. facilities include a rooftop pool, fine dining at the on-site Lucy restaurant, rotating art programs, bike and Lexus rentals, and a full-service spa where you can blend your own massage oils (in-room service also available).

The sister hotel, Hotel Yountville (opens in new tab), less than a mile away, also offers a great getaway with ultra-private suites with four-poster beds, oversized baths, and indoor fireplaces. Nature abounds here, down to the local Napa river stones used to build each building. The hotel's restaurant, Heritage Oak, offers pancakes with a view of the sparkling pool.

Get a cardio workout on a group or self-guided bike tour with Napa Valley Bike Tours (opens in new tab). Guided tours include stops at winery tasting rooms and an optional picnic lunch, and you can rent a bike for an hour or a full day and go at your own pace, route map in hand. The nearby Yount Mill Road Trail is a mostly flat 7-mile (round-trip) route with vineyard views.

The Napa River, which stretches 50 miles from Mount St. Helena to San Pablo Bay, is a popular spot for kayaking and paddleboarding. Rental companies are scattered along the public docks along the river in downtown Napa. The river's calm waters and lack of crowds make it an enjoyable pastime.

Each town in the Napa Valley has its own unique atmosphere worth experiencing. Napa has the most urban downtown area with the Oxbow Public Market (opens in new tab). Similar to San Francisco's Ferry Building, Oxbow is a 40,000-square-foot market with a mix of 22 food vendors and cafes. It is open daily and has an outdoor deck overlooking the Napa River.

Further north, Yountville is a walkable, upscale resort that serves as a hub for fine dining. A 20-minute drive from there, St. Helena is home to The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone campus, in addition to historic buildings, boutiques, and art galleries. Calistoga, on the other hand, is known for its geothermal hot springs and has the feel of a modern cowboy town. Both towns are less than 40 miles apart, so it is possible to experience each in a single day.

If you've fallen in love with Napa, book your trip here (opens in new tab).