Hi Everyone!
For those of you who followed me on IG you’ll know that ORC almost did me in! It was exhausting and I needed to totally get away for a bit once it was over. Thankfully, the opportunity came up for a little staycation and I couldn’t get away fast enough! Naomi and I jumped in the car and headed just a short drive West to Napa…it was just what the doctor ordered. Napa is only under an hour and half away and we had never been there before. Such a shame…
I know when you think of Napa what typically comes to mind is rolling vineyards and grand estate wineries, but we actually got to experience a unique and different side of it. We spent some time exploring downtown Napa and we had a lovely time.
*I do want to preface this by saying we went during a very difficult time for not only the city of Napa, but for the Northern California region as a whole. We visited during the time the Camp Fire was still burning so the air quality was quite low and not what you would ever usually experience during a visit to Napa.
Additionally, we arrived at the same time (literally) as one of the victims of the mass shooting in Thousand Oaks. She was a Napa native and the town was gathered for miles to pay their respects as her body was brought home to be laid to rest. Both of these events made the overall vibe of the city very much more reserved and quiet than usual. Even still, Naomi and I made the absolute best of it and had a wonderful time together! *
One our favorite parts of our time in downtown Napa was our stay at the Napa River Inn. It was such a beautiful and comfortable hotel, which didn’t come as a surprise since it’s four star Forbes rated!
The Inn, along with other restaurants and a general store, is on the site of the historic Napa Mill along the river. It’s in a gorgeous picturesque location with many rooms offering river views. As a guest of the hotel you get to enjoy room service every morning with amazing pastries from Sweetie Pies Bakery and cafe. There’s seriously nothing better than waking up to fresh pastries, fresh squeezed fruit juice, and piping hot coffee! They even offer vegan options, which Naomi enjoyed. We enjoyed it so much we had lunch there on our last day as well.
I woud highly recommend a stay at the Inn if you are planning a trip to Napa. They also have a world class spa that Im bummed we didnt get to experience. Maybe next time!
Another great part of our trip to Napa is we were there during the annual Napa Valley Film Festival !
Both downtown Napa and many of the neighboring towns hosted screenings during the festival and we headed to Helena to catch a screening of A Private War.
It was a very powerful movie and coincidentally we saw it on Veteran’s Day, so that made it even more impactful.
Downtown Napa is very very walkable so we definitely enjoyed perusing the local shops and restaurants. We are always on the hunt for places that offer a good variety of vegan menu options and we were able to find a few. For dinner one night we ate at Mango On Main and for lunch we walked over to Grace’s Table. Both were very good and I especially loved the chilequiles at Grace’s Table. You have to try it if you are ever there!
Of course no trip to Napa would be complete without some wine tasting, and Downtown Napa offers a unique and special tasting experince than that of the traditional estate winery. There are tons of exclusive boutique wines you can only find in downtown and they are all within walking distance to one another. A great way to experience wine tasting in downtown is with a tasting card. It’s a great value and gives you access so exclusive savings and products.
Naomi and I had heard great things about Brown Estate so we made sure to make a stop to their new Brown Downtown tasting room. And it did not disappoint.
The staff there was amazing and it was a wonderful experience. We even got to meet and chat with one of the owners and learn more about the history of the company and its connection to the community. The wine was delicous and we can’t wait to go back again the next time we visit. We would also love to make it out to the estate as well.
Our quick trip to Napa was so refreshing and exactly what was needed after weeks of a labor intensive remodel. We had a great time and since its so close to us here in Sacramento it means we can easily visit again soon. Traveling together is one of my favorite things to do. Its so fun when we can make these special memories so close to home.
Until next time….
*This post is sponsored by DoNapa. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Amy says
What a sad and strange time to be there, but I’m glad you had fun together. I love doing short trips like that to places close by! Napa is on my list of places I’d like to go someday!