Napa Valley far exceeded my expectations with its Tuscan vibes, never-ending rolling green hills, and incredible views. My husband and I only stayed one night so we made the most of it with the itinerary below. I hope you get a chance to experience the beauty of Napa, even if just for a short while. It was easily one of the best and most romantic California weekend getaways we have ever experienced together!
Our Napa Valley Itinerary
For dinner on our first night, we dined at a beautiful restaurant, Bottega Napa Valley, which was hands down one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. I felt like we were sitting in a restaurant nestled in the hills of Italy, as we watched the sunset out a window by our table and ate some of the most delicious food while soft Italian music lingered in the background. It was to. die. for.
We also ate THE BEST pasta I have ever tasted – homemade noodles boiled in tomato water (you heard that right, pure tomato water from fresh tomatoes that are pressed and hung to drip overnight). Literally makes for the most flavorful pasta dish ever, you have to try it for yourself!
We then walked around the Yountville strip for a bit taking in all the sights, before heading back to our hotel for an early night. We woke up the next morning at 5 AM for one of the most breathtaking experiences of my life – a hot air balloon ride. This has been on my bucket list for so many years and I was so excited to have finally made it happen!
I highly recommend Napa Valley Aloft if you ever decide to book a hot air balloon ride, they went above and beyond anything I could have imagined. We had the most knowledgeable and friendly pilot, who made the experience so much fun. Our hot air balloon also landed in a flower field (does it get any dreamier than that?)
After capturing some incredible photos, we got to have brunch with the pilot where we listened to stories and the history of hot air balloons. It was honestly one of the highlights of the whole adventure. After that ended, we didn’t have much time left before we needed head back home, but we decided to make one last stop at a winery known as Castello di Amorosa or “The Castle of Love.”
The drive itself made me feel like we were driving through Tuscany, but as we pulled up to the driveway of the Castle, I couldn’t believe it was real. The man who built it brought actual stones from Italy, and replicated an authentic ancient castle (with dungeons and all!)
Our weekend getaway to Napa was nothing short of magical, even though it was short. We can’t wait to make it back up to the Napa Valley again, but for now I will be daydreaming of our 24-hour adventure for days.
What should we do next time we make a trip up there? Share with me!
xoxo
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