Napa Valley ​

Napa Valley is the place where "let's grab a glass of wine" turns into a $400 afternoon before you've finished your second tasting. With 400+ wineries packed into a 30-mile valley, this place produces some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon on the planet and charges accordingly — the tasting room prices serve as a helpful reminder that you are, in fact, in Napa, not Sonoma (where the vibes are more relaxed and the prices are slightly less eye-watering).

But here's the thing: it's worth it. The Silverado Trail on a late afternoon with golden light hitting the vineyards is one of the most beautiful drives in NorCal. Calistoga's hot springs will melt the stress out of your bones. The food scene has evolved way beyond "fancy tasting room cheese plates" into legitimately world-class restaurants. And if you go in fall during harvest season, the entire valley smells like fermenting grapes, which is either wonderful or alarming depending on your relationship with wine.

Photo Gallery ​

Good to Know ​

Budget Move: Skip the big-name estates and hit the smaller, family-owned wineries along the Silverado Trail. Better conversation, better prices, often better wine.

Designated Driver: Plan for this. The Wine Train, bike tours, and ride-shares exist for a reason.

Calistoga: Don't skip the hot springs. After a day of tasting, a mineral mud bath is the reset button you didn't know you needed.