Some of the best regional, national and international fine artists are represented in several prestigious galleries throughout the Napa Valley. Patricia Sweetow Gallery, an exceptional gallery for contemporary fine art in downtown Napa. Sweetow rotates artists monthly and keeps many works available for viewing. This gallery is well worth a visit if you enjoy contemporary art. Canard exhibits works of well-known area artists, including those of Gilbert Wheat who studied in both the US and Vienna, Austria. Canard also has a small selection of wild life art, including prints, original paintings, carvings and sculptures. Images Fine Art North features original paintings by over 100 world-renowned artists such as Alvar, Behrens, Fairchild, Gorman, Jiang, Neiman, Orlando, A.B., and Pradzynski. Images Fine Art South displays a more eclectic collection of work, also by internationally respected artists. Both galleries frequently rotate their artists and keep a large selection of works available for viewing that are not currently displayed in the gallery. Gallery on Main Street (St. Helena), show art that represents a broad base of techniques and themes handled in more traditional styles Two artists whose work is perhaps some of the best known from the wine country are Gail Packer and Sarah Barnes. I. Wok Gallery represents esteemed San Francisco Bay Area artists who sculpt or work with clay, oils, acrylics, and graphic techniques to create some stunning contemporary works. Lee Youngman Gallery (Calistoga) is known nationally for its selection of traditional American realism. Two of the gallery's most-admired artists are Paul Youngman and Roddy Love, the latter being the grandson of world-renowned Ralph Love, who was an early California painter.

There are miles of well-paved roads that criss-cross the valley and wander up into the hillsides. If you can't bring your own bicycles, there are several reputable rental and repair shops in Napa, St. Helena and Calistoga that can provide you with a set of wheels. If you're lodging close to Napa, contact Napa Valley Cyclery (707-255-3377).
If you are staying in the upper part of the valley call St. Helena Cyclery (707-963-7736) or Palisades Mountain Sports (707-942-9687) in Calistoga. To tour along the floor of the valley, bikers should cruise the Silverado Trail, which is linked to Highway 29 and the valley's towns by a network of crossroads. There is a bike lane (though it does narrow to only a foot or two along the few winding sections of road) that makes traveling safer than on Highway 29. From Silverado Trail you'll also be treated to some of the more picturesque vistas across the valley. And, of course, there are plenty of wineries to visit along the way.

One of Napa Valley's most interesting areas to explore by bicycle is the Carneros Region southeast of Napa. You can easily spend a day or two there visiting a myriad of still and sparkling wine facilities, and the county's only brandy distillery, Carneros Alambic. The scenery is breathtaking, from rolling pasture lands sculpted by ocean winds, to the canals and islands that reach out into the San Pablo Bay. If you don't want to spend time riding to and from the Carneros, your rental shop can provide a car rack so you can drive there with bikes in town.

COPIA is a non-profit discovery center whose mission is to explore and celebrate the cultural significance of wine, food and the arts. Located in the heart of Napa Valley, COPIA is the premier wine country destination—offering visitors exceptional wine and food tasting programs, art exhibitions, organic edible gardens, films, concerts, fine and casual dining, shopping and more. Visit the many exhibits, enjoy casual lunch at the American Market Caf», or fine dining in Julia’s Kitchen. Call 707.259.1600 or 888.512.6742 for more information.

Food now rivals wine as the principal attraction of the Napa region, as many star chefs from urban areas throughout the United States have migrated to the Wine Country, drawn by the area's renowned produce and world-class wines.

Choosing a restaurant in Napa Valley can be daunting: So many good options are available; while ordering a la carte provides an affordable meal, some restaurants offer prix fixe and tasting menus that simply can't be missed.

Generally, prices are lower and reservations are easier to come by at lunch than at dinner. Most menus change seasonally and many change daily.

With few exceptions, dress is informal. Where reservations are indicated as essential, you may need to reserve a week or more ahead. During the summer and early fall harvest seasons you may need to book several months ahead.

If you are visiting wineries all day and will want to drink a bottle that you purchased, the restaurants expect it. Most do charge a fair corkage fee, however, so you should expect that as well.

Take a smooth and silent ride through the air in a glider. At Crazy Creek Gliders, in Middletown, you can choose from varying lengths of rides. For more information and reservations call 707-987-9112

Napa Municipal Golf Course, a solid muni course that provides the golfer with a decent test of skills. At Silverado, (private), perhaps the most well-known resort in the Napa area, thirty-six holes await the golfer,. The 6,500-yard South Course challenges golfers with side-hill lies and more than a dozen water crossings. At Chardonnay, Eagle Vines, there are 45 holes of golf within one big complex, although the 27 holes at Chardonnay and the 18 at Eagle Vines fall under different ownership. Several areas of the property are designated as wildlife preserves.

In Napa, most hot air balloon rides begin before dawn in order to take advantage of the optimal air currents and atmospheric conditions. There are many companies operating rides, and different options are available. Some, for example, include various types of brunches and/or wines. The hour you are in the air is spectacular. Balloons Above The Valley; Adventures Aloft, Calistoga Ballooning, Napa Valley Balloons, Inc, Up & Away Ballooning all agree that spring and autumn are excellent though winter flights can also be outstanding. Very hot or unstable weather increases the risk of turbulence and decreases the chances of getting into the air. Balloons are never flown on wet and/or windy days. You will be instructed to check with the ballooning company the night before you are due to fly and again in the early morning for last minute confirmation. If there is any risk at all, good balloon operators will cancel the flight rather than take chances.

Throughout the year there are dozens of festivals honoring many things that have nothing to do with wine, as well as a number of shows, concerts, and arts demonstrations. To name a few, we let you know there is the Napa Valley Dog Show, The Zarzuela Opera Festival, The Napa Chef's Market, The Wine Country Film Festival, The Music Festival for Health, Bluegrass jams, The Micro-Brew Fest, The Mustard Festival, The Memorial Weekend Sprint Car Races, The Silverado Parade, The Napa Valley Shakespeare Festival, and The Antique Car Show.

We recommend calling the Napa Chamber of Commerce for more information 707-254-1142 or go to: http://napachamber.com/calendar.html

There are several good hikes in the immediate vicinity of Calistoga. The Oat Hill Mine Trail climbs up to the Palisades from the eastern edge of town. The unmarked trailhead can be found across Route 29 from a pub called Lord Derby Arms, and you don't have to hike too far to get sweeping views of the valley floor.

The mostly level, 2.5-mile History Trail leads from Bothe Napa Valley State Park to Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park, and there are other, more strenuous hikes out of Bothe as well.

Hikers with a sense of history should not miss Robert Louis Stevenson State Park on Mount St. Helena, up the steep and winding Route 29 north of town. On the trail, a steady ascent takes you right past the site of Stevenson's rustic cottage, and the view from the mountaintop is spectacular. If you want the view without the 4.5-mile walk, contact Napa Valley Tours and Trail Hikes at (800) 964-4142 or (707) 965-2000. They have an exclusive franchise to drive people to the top of the mountain; most choose to walk or ride a bike back down.

There are some beautiful hotels and country clubs in the Napa Valley offering modern health clubs and spas, but when most people refer to a spa in wine country, they are speaking of Calistoga, a town founded in the 1860's for its volcanic ash and peat-moss mud and mineral baths. Calistoga sits near natural mineral and mud springs, as well as near functioning hot water geysers, thus making it the ideal spot to luxuriate.

Special, changing exhibits represent a diverse range of subjects from fine arts to history to natural sciences along with permanent exhibits tracing cultural and environmental heritage of the valley.
55 Presidents Circle. (707) 944-0500

Rail enthusiasts can choose among a champagne brunch, gourmet lunch or full-course dinner with a complete wine experience while on journeys through the heart of Napa Valley picturesque vineyards. The 1915-1917 Pullman lounge, dining and wine tasting cars, embellished by hand-rubbed Honduran mahogany, polished brass, and grape-motif etched glass, provide a backdrop worthy of culinary extravagance accompanying the wines.
1275 McKinstry Street, Napa. (707) 253-2111

With Mount St. Helena and the Palisades mountains as backdrops, Old Faithful Geyser of California puts on its show on a yearly average of every 30 minutes, day and night. Barometric pressure, the moon, tides and earthly tectonic stresses determine eruptions and geyser height, typically about 60 feet high. Depending on the sun, rainbows can appear. A geothermal exhibit hall, picnic areas and gift shop round out the experience, with private moonlight viewing available for groups of 50 or more. 1299 Tubbs Lane, Calistoga. (707) 942-6463

Geologists call this attraction one of the world’s finest examples of a pliocene fossil forest. The forest has been privately owned since its first proprietor, a Swede nicknamed “Petrified Charlie” started excavating in 1871. Robert Louis Stevenson in Silverado Squatters described him as: “[A] brave old white-faced Swede [having] wandered this way ... And taken up his acres ... All alone, bent double with sciatica....” Charlie told Stevenson how he had first chanced upon such oddity: “I was cleaning up the pasture ... when I found ... a great redwood, seven feet in diameter, that lay on its side, hollow heart, clinging lumps of bark, all changed into grey stone, with veins of quartz between what had been layers of wood.” Walking tours of 20 minutes include the Pit, Queen (with an oak growing out of it), Monarch, Stevenson (the best display of growth rings) and new excavation.
4100 Petrified Forest Road. (707) 942-6667

In 1880, Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Treasure Island and Kidnapped, spent his honeymoon here. Nothing remains of his cabin, although the site is identified on the trail to the summit of Mount St. Helena. On clear days, Mount Shasta can be glimpsed, 192 miles away.
Highway 29, seven miles north of Calistoga. (707) 942-4575

Napa River Adventures offers a variety of watercraft that allows people of all ages and abilities to experience the beautiful Napa Valley, and the Napa River. Regularly scheduled cruises on an electric, luxury riverboat offer the opportunity to relax in comfort on a guided narrated tour of current river developments, local history and ecology. You will enjoy the gorgeous sweeping vistas of the mountains, and see and learn about wildlife such as the Great Blue Heron, the osprey, the egret, and the kingfisher. You can also bring wine. Canoes and kayaks are available for those looking to get a closer look into the wetlands and surrounding marshes. For more information and reservations call 707-224-9080.

Located between Calistoga and Santa Rosa, Safari West maintains over 400 acres with some 350 species of animals. Two-hour tours are led by a resident naturalists, with half the time being spent in an open-air safari vehicle, and half on foot. The organization offers regular tours, private twilight safaris in the summer with wine and cheese (from 7:00 until the sun is gone), and private sunset safaris in the spring and fall, also featuring wine and cheese. Various renditions of these private tours occur on holidays.Contact 800-616-2695 or 707-579-2551 for times and more information.

There are some wonderful shopping opportunities in the Valley, beginning with the revitalized downtown area of Napa, and going all the way north to Calistoga. Bargain hunters must stop at both the Village Outlets of Napa Valley and the Napa Factory Stores. Coach and Brooks Brothers are among those at the Village Outlets, a small shopping center. At the expansive Napa Factory Stores look for Max Studio, Dansk, Liz Claiborne, and Ann Taylor Loft. Also visit:

Downtown Napa
The Hatt Market in Napa
Southern Yountville, including Vintage 1870 Shops
Napa Valley Grapevine Wreath Company in Rutherford
Olive Oil Shop at the corner of Rt. 29 and Rutherford Rd.
Main St. in St. Helena
Lincoln Ave. in Calistoga

Spa relaxation opportunity abounds in Napa Valley, most certainly in Calistoga where Dr. Wilkinson’s Hot Springs Resort has three mineral pools and mid-week stress-stopper packages. Other options include Calistoga Oasis Spa, specializing in spa treatments for couples with ancient volcanic ash baths. Amadeus Spa at the Napa Valley Marriott offers grape seed scrubs along with a Signature Chardonnay and Cabernet Massage. Golden Haven Spa has private mud baths for couples, while the Calistoga Spa Hot Springs features separate men’s and women’s bath houses and four mineral water pools.

The Napa Valley is home to more than 300 wineries, and is recognized the world over as a leading wine region. Over five million visitors arrive annually to visit the wineries, the world-renowned restaurants, the hot springs and spas, and the mild, Mediterranean weather. The Napa Valley is home to more premium wineries than anywhere in North America.

The Napa Valley stretches over thirty miles, from the town of Napa north to Calistoga; a winery traveler will drive through the picturesque towns of Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford, and St. Helena. Vistas of winery estates and unobstructed views of vineyards stretching for acres offer biking and walking routes in addition to car excursions. The scenery is ever-changing, from rivers of wild yellow mustard in the spring to summer’s greenery and culminating in the fiery red and gold of the harvest season.

Two main roads, Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail, run the length of the Valley's 30 miles from the city of Napa in the south to Calistoga in the north, making it easy to get around and difficult to get lost. At frequent intervals, there are roads that cross between Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail. The width of the Valley ranges from one to five miles.

Highway 29 is the busier, more commercial road through the Valley. The Silverado Trail is quieter and more scenic. There are numerous wineries along both roads, as well as on the crossroads and up into the mountains that flank either side of the valley.

More than one hundred wine caves exist throughout Napa and Sonoma counties, making the California Wine Country the most densely "tunneled" place on earth. Wine caves come in all shapes, sizes, and ages from cavernous to downright snug, from linear to spoked, from over-the-top ornate to simple and utilitarian. Winemakers agree that caves are the ultimate in wine storage.

In addition , a growing number of wineries are constructing entire winemaking facilities underground, not just for aging barrels and bottles, but as offices, tasting rooms, banqueting halls, laboratories, bottling lines.

The interior of a cave presents absolutely perfect conditions for the creation and preservation of wine. In addition, by utilizing wine caves for storage and aging spaces, agricultural land is preserved, and a minimal footprint is left on the land. In fact, many wineries have grape vines growing directly on top of caves.

You'll find a mouth-watering array of foods throughout the Napa Valley: from imported and domestic cheeses to locally made sausages, fresh fruits, house-cured, barbecued or roasted meats, pat»s, bakery-fresh breads and desserts. If you prefer to pick up your picnic en route to the wineries, just call ahead to the deli or restaurant that sounds good to you. Here are a few suggestions.

In Napa, Genova Delicatessen (707-253-8686) on Trancas specializes in first-rate Italian fare. Their deli case is at least thirty feet long with salads, cold cuts, hot dishes, appetizers and sinfully delicious desserts.

Further north on 29 you'll find the legendary Oakville Grocery (707-944-8802) at the Oakville Cross Road.

Sattui Winery has a mind-boggling selection of picnic goodies for making your own sandwiches and a large grassy area with tables.

In St. Helena, just south of Pope Street, there's the Olive Oil Factory on Charter Oak Avenue. (They don't make sandwiches either, but the selection of cheeses and other picnic fare is fabulous, and they are known all over the Bay Area for their imported delicacies. They also have several picnic benches near their small vineyard.) The Cantinetta at Tra Vigne (707-963-8888), also on Charter Oak, offers an old-world courtyard in which to savor their many house-made specialties. Napa Valley Deli (707-963-7710) is further north on Main Street. Pairs Parkside Cafe is situated almost alongside Lyman Park in the center of town and has an enticing picnic menu.

At the Factory Stores on Highway 29 north of St. Helena and Lodi Lane, stop in at the Arbor Cafe (707-963-7335) for hearty sandwiches and a variety of freshly prepared picnic foods. There are also secluded, tree-shaded picnic grounds that surround the intimate shopping complex.

In Calistoga, look for Fellion's Delicatessen (707-942-6144) and Palisades Market (707-942-9549). Both are located on Lincoln, the main street through town. Palisades Market is a few blocks farther west, closer to the Silverado Trail and across from the Calmart supermarket. In addition to housemade sandwiches and salads at Palisades Market, you can find quality produce, picnic baskets, a variety of wine and beer, breads and a fine selection of locally-made specialty foods.

Most of these purveyors are equipped to prepare individually-made picnic lunches or suppers for you. Just call ahead and they'll be happy to help make your picnic a memorable occasion.

There are now over two hundred wineries situated along this thirty-mile long slip of land, most of them nestled in vineyards or overlooking the valley, and many of them surrounded by handsome gardens. Among these, several offer visitors a cool lawn or shaded hillside spot for a leisurely picnic.

Plan ahead, even if it's only a day in advance. A call will determine if picnic grounds are available and if you can reserve a spot. Just remember, when space is at a premium in the busier seasons, be prompt for a reservation you've made. Another option is making plans for a mid-afternoon picnic or early evening supper when fewer people are using the grounds.