Editor’s Note: This is an update to an article that published in February 2022.

Napa Valley is known around the world for its award-winning wines, and its temperate weather and proximity to the San Francisco Bay area make it a popular destination year-round. There’s so much more to Napa in addition to its spectacular wines, and with all that there is to do, it’s hard to believe the valley is just 30 miles long and a few miles wide. Wander through art galleries and stroll through gardens. Get outside and go kayaking, boating, stand up paddling, bicycling, or hiking. Dine in acclaimed restaurants that have earned Michelin stars. And, of course, sample some of the wine that’s blended by 475 winemakers.  

Why Napa 

• The average daily temperature is 72°F. 

• Served by four international airports within 100 miles: San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Oakland International Airport (OAK), Sacramento International Airport (SMF), San Jose International Airport (SJC). Sonoma County Airport (STS) is about 45 miles away, and the private Napa County Airport is about 10 minutes away. 

• More than 475 wineries and more than 150 restaurants, 14 of which have earned Michelin stars. 

What’s New in Napa 

• The new Napa Valley Vine Trail will connect 47 miles, from Vallejo to Calistoga. The newest stretch of the trail runs 8.2 miles between Calistoga and St. Helena.  

• The Napa Valley Museum of Arts & Culture (The MAC) opens its flagship location in St. Helena in March 2025. 

• Visit Napa Valley, the official destination marketing and management organization for Napa County, has partnered with Forbes Travel Guide on a Forbes Travel Guide Service Excellence Destination Training program. 

There are plenty of options when it comes to things to see and do in Napa, not to mention terrific spots to host power lunches and dinners, and toast to your success. Here’s a look at a handful in the region. 

SEE 

Take a Walk 

In the heart of Napa Valley is Yountville, a charming, picturesque town that’s all about passeggiata, or the art of the stroll. It’s here that the valley’s first grapevines were planted, and Yountville’s microclimate has its own American Viticultural Area (AVA). A walking tour showcases unexpected boutiques, tasting rooms and restaurants; the town is considered the culinary heart of Napa Valley. The Yountville Art Walk features a collection of more than 35 outdoor sculptures from local and world-famous artists, and many of the town’s tasting rooms feature art, too. 

di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art 

The di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art sits on 217 acres in the scenic Carneros Region at the south end of the Napa Valley. Indoor galleries house a permanent collection of Northern California art, along with contemporary exhibitions. Outside, a 1/3-mile trail winds through the Sculpture Meadow and, as its name suggests, past dozens of sculptures. A variety of spots on the center’s grounds are available for private events, including the 4,500 square foot Gallery 1 with views of Winery Lake, the courtyard, and the century-old olive grove. 

Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park 

In the late-1800s, local farmers brought their grain to a water-powered grist mill between St. Helena and Calistoga to grind into fresh meal, ideal for making cornbread, yellow bread, shortening bread and spoon bread. Today, the fully refurbished mill is still in operation at Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park, producing organic polenta, cornmeal, spelt, buckwheat, rye and whole-wheat flours. Stop in to see the action before enjoying a picnic or going on a hike through the park. 

For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO about working with Hosts Global Destination Services and Chansay Events, a Hosts Global Member. 

DO

Up, Up and Away 

Wow your guests with an unforgettable Napa Valley experience — a hot air balloon ride! Your group won’t mind waking early to arrive at the lift-off spot before sunrise. They’ll climb into baskets to rise into the sky and watch the day unfold over the valley from up in the air. While some baskets are more intimate for couples, others can hold up to 20 guests, so it’s easy to accommodate large groups. Afterwards, enjoy breakfast and recount the experience, a memory that will last a lifetime. 

Birds Of a Feather 

Birds of prey like falcons and hawks are used by wineries like Bouchaine Vineyards to minimize bird damage to the vineyards and grapes. Join a falconry presentation to not only learn about the sustainable practice, but how raptors hunt, fly and see. You can even meet the birds and enjoy photo opps, all while enjoying a glass of wine, of course. Private classes are available for groups of six or more. 

Get Out on the Water 

For a different perspective of Napa Valley, get out of meetings and onto the water. The Napa River runs 50 miles from Mt. St. Helena to San Pablo Bay. Of those 50 miles, 17 travel through an estuary from the Trancas Street bridge in Napa to Vallejo. Take a guided kayak tour to learn about the area’s history as you paddle downriver, and keep an eye out for wildlife: bird, otters, beavers, deer, rabbits, turtles and even harbor porpoises have been spotted. 

For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO about working with Hosts Global Destination Services and Chansay Events, a Hosts Global Member. 

EAT 

Charlie’s 

Driven by a mission dedicated to highlighting the bounty of the Napa Valley region, Charlie’s in St. Helena is a family-run, community-focused neighborhood restaurant with lunch and dinner menus filled with flavorful bites. For lunch, tuck into a plates like fried chicken or wagyu steak and fries, and for dinner, “Beer Can” chicken or a Heritage Pork Chop served with apple chutney and whole grain mustard. Private events are welcome. 

TORC 

Rather than hushed dinner conversations accented by the clinking of glasses and utensils, the energy – and music – is high at TORC in Napa. The menu is fine dining at its best, but the absence of white tablecloths makes the vibe more casual, with a price point to match. Depending on the season, you and your guests may enjoy black truffle crostini with burrata, a wild mushroom velouté, duck, short rib, or a fresh catch of John Dory. Private dining is available on the second floor of the restaurant for up to 30 guests for dinner, or up to 60 for canapés.  

Lovina 

Step into Lovina, housed in an historic craftsman house with three outdoor patios in Calistoga, and prepare for a memorable dinner or weekend brunch. Start dinner with Whipped Stracciatella & Roasted Beets or Pacific Halibut Croquettes before main entrees like Bolognese (vegan and meat-lovers), Braised Waguy Beef Cheeks and Gnocchi alla Vodka con Pollo are served. Lovina is available for private events like meetings and teambuilding during the day, with the option to add meals. 

For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO about working with Hosts Global Destination Services and Chansay Events, a Hosts Global Member. 

STAY/MEET 

Carneros Resort and Spa  

Surrounded by 28 acres of rolling vineyards and picturesque countryside, Napa’s Carneros Resort and Spa is luxurious wine country living at its best. Rather than traditional hotel rooms, your guests will have room to move in the resort’s 103 spacious cottages and homes, ranging from 450 to 2,400 square feet of indoor living space, not to mention outdoor spaces as well. Get down to business in one of the 9 meeting and event spaces, all of which total 35,000 square feet and can accommodate up to 500 guests for a reception. Outside, the 10,000 square foot Vineyard Lawn sets the stage for a reception or dinner under the stars, or host an intimate gathering on the private rooftop terrace on one of the private vacation homes. The Carneros team is ready to help with onsite teambuilding activities, too. 

The Estate Yountville 

Comprised of two hotels, Hotel Villagio and Vintage House for a total of 193 guest rooms and suites, along with a private five-bedroom home, The Estate Yountville is a luxury destination set on a 22-acre village-within-a-village. It’s here your guests can settle in and take full advantage of all that Napa Valley has to offer, right at their doorstep. During the day, contemporary and sophisticated meeting venues ideal for board meetings to receptions of up to 420 guests in The Pavilion can be transformed to fit your vision. After the work is done for the day, invite your guests to an exquisite dinner highlighting garden-to-table dishes in The Vineyard, or perhaps a private wine tasting in the Barrel Room. Though the hotels each have their own style — Hotel Villagio is sophisticated and refined while Vintage House is airy and natural — they do have the common traits of being inviting, comfortable and spacious. Executives can retreat to the five-bedroom Villa at The Estate, complete with its own pool and Jacuzzi. 

Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa 

Not far from Napa is the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa in the heart of Sonoma wine country. With 226 guest rooms, of which 61 are spacious suites, 23,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space, six onsite dining options and a sprawling 40,000 square foot Fairmont Spa that covers 40,000 square feet, there’s little reason to leave the property. Host an event for up to 350 guests in the Pavilion, or a more intimate affair under the stars and an historic water tower on the Tower Room Patio. The Fairmont team enjoys partnerships with some of the area’s leading wineries, making offsite events a breeze, too.  

The Meritage Resort and Spa 

The Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa is fresh off of a $25 million renovation and is ready to host any type of event you can think of with a combined 80,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, and 44 venues and meeting rooms. Host a reception or dinner for up to 200 guests under the stars on the hillside Vineyard Deck overlooking the resort’s nine-acre vineyard, or on the Vintner’s Rooftop Terrace & Lounge with a bird’s eye view of the vineyards and beyond. Impress your guests with team building activities varying from outdoor yoga to cooking classes and group wine tastings. At the end of each day, adjourn to one of the 467 guest rooms or suites. 

Silverado Resort 

Boasting a combined 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space, along with state-of-the-art technology, the experienced event planners at Silverado Resort are ready to make your next event unforgettable. Host a board meeting in the resort’s historic mansion, gather up to 300 guests in the Silverado Ballroom that opens to the outdoors, or host larger events of up to 3,000 guests outside in the Mansion Gardens. When it comes to team building, Silverado has you covered. A few fun-filled, Napa-centric activities to consider are private wine tasting tours, bocce ball tournaments, biking and hiking tours, sip & paint classes and more. The resort’s two PGA championship golf courses and luxury spa are available, too. 

For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO about working with Hosts Global Destination Services and Chansay Events, a Hosts Global Member.