My husband and I have been doing annual Valentine’s Day trips for the last few years. This year we decided to go to Napa Valley and we were not disappointed. It turned out to be a nice relaxing getaway which was exactly what we needed. It was a great romantic atmosphere overall and a great place to reconnect as a couple. 

STAY

We stayed at the cutest little boutique hotel.  Yountville which is know to be the heart of Napa Valley has a comfy cozy boutique hotel Napa Valley Lodge which is where we had the pleasure of staying. The rooms are romantic and cozy. The room features include things such as wood burning fireplaces, private patios or balconies with courtyard, garden, or vineyard views. What I loved about this cute hotel is all the special details they put into your stay. They have fresh homemade cookies available daily in the lobby, they had a hot chocolate bar and even a small wine tasting in the lobby during our stay. The guest amenities are nice as well. They have complementary breakfast, cruiser bikes, heated pool, hot tub, fire pits and a fitness room.  

We used the hot tub on our first night and it was so relaxing. We also took advantage of the complimentary breakfast. Let me tell you..it’s not your average hotel breakfast. This was hands down the best complimentary hotel breakfast I’ve ever had. It’s a buffet style set up with everything from large homemade muffins, tea loaf, fresh fruit, quiche, smoked salmon, breakfast potatoes and mimosas! I was blown away! The breakfast room is located off the courtyard in a beautiful room with a huge fireplace and windows that look out to the vineyard. All in all the best choice we could’ve made. I highly recommend it. 

Food

Downtown Napa has plenty of restaurant options. We had lunch at Don Perico a Mexican restaurant located in downtown Napa with some pretty good margaritas! Jaxx White Mule diner is another option if you’re looking for a more hearty meal.  The Oxbow public’s market which is recommended by the locals also has a large amount of restaurant options from pizza to Mexican food. They also have bakery’s and ice cream options as well as some local shops. 

If you’re looking for a more upscale and less casual experience you can checkout RH (restoration hardware) I must say it has a beautiful ambiance. Overall I give it a 5 out of 10 because in my opinion it’s a great spot for drinks. I wasn’t impressed with the food and it was pretty pricey.

Activities

Of course Napa Valley has tons of wineries that you can visit but the one I recommend is Domaine Carneros. Talk about a beautiful property! Domaine Carneros is a landmark California estate winery and château specializing in sparkling wine. They have multiple tastings and tour options but they book up quick. I’d suggest booking as early as possible. Reservations are required and are available daily beginning at 10:00am with the last reservation at 5:00pm. All tastings are led by an experienced wine professional and you can enjoy a flight of Sparkling or Still wine. We opted for the sparkling wine flight and it was *chefs kiss* Everything was high quality and it made for a great experience. The Tasting flight of 4 wines ranges from $40-$60 per person and the cost does not include food, gratuity or sales tax.  

We also did the Napa wine train. I’m not sure if it was because we did the dinner or if it’s just mediocre overall but it did not meet my expectations. They have multiple dinning experiences for you to choose from. The tickets we purchased were $200 per person which included a 3 course meal and one glass of wine. As for my own personal thoughts…the food was mediocre at best, the wine was cheap and the experience was not at all entertaining. I don’t know what it is they’re selling but If I’d known I wouldn’t have bought into it. Again, this is all just my opinion. I’m sure others have had different experiences. Feel free to try it out for yourself and be the judge…but you’ve been warned! 

If you’re looking for a frugal trip then Napa Valley is not for you. We found ourselves spending about $300 a day just on food and wine alone. It can get pricey really fast. But, if you’re looking for a relaxed, calm memorable little getaway then you should absolutely visit. We had a lovely trip. It was such a great a way to experience California Wine Country for the first time.