Explore Napa Like You’ve Got a Friend on the Inside (You Do!)

Your perfect trip to wine country — and it doesn’t have to break the bank.

Napa Valley isn’t just about wine; it’s a lifestyle. One that celebrates the best things in life: beauty, nature, play, community, connection, food, handcrafted pours… And locals love sharing it with those who visit. Here’s my best advice for making the most of your precious time here.

Pick Your Town and Explore It

Each town has its own charm and personality, and the one you stay in will shape your trip. Do you want a specific culinary experience, a hot spring and spa resort, live music, a slower pace? It’s worth matching your preferences to the town. For a deeper dive, here’s another post I wrote: Which Napa Valley Town Is Right For You. It looks at walkability and highlights what makes each town unique.

Napa Wine Tour – Small-group or Private, Just Do It

Wine is an integral part of Napa Valley’s culture. Even if you don’t drink wine, it’s well worth getting out in the vineyards and exploring, and meeting some of the people whose passion and stories inspire and enrich us. It’s an immersive experience that goes beyond the tasting room—creating a deeper understanding of wine and the region.

Platypus small-group wine tours are a fun, lighthearted, and social way to experience this world-class winemaking region at a tremendous value. You don’t need to know a lot about wine, just be open to learning a bit more about it, and about the history of Napa Valley. You’ll visit three smaller-production, character-rich wineries and, if you like, try wines you can’t get back home. You may even discover your new favorite.

Private tours are best if you prefer that the day be created just for you and yours; or if you have a clear idea of what wineries you want to visit. On a private tour, non-winery options are available, too. The biggest cost difference between a small-group tour and a private tour will be the winery tasting fees which can vary greatly. There are some little-known tips to keep the cost of a private tour more reasonable. A couple pro-tips from our Private Tour Manager:

Keep your group to six or fewer: smaller vehicles have lower hourly fees; and winery tasting fees increase for larger groups (counterintuitive but true). Another benefit to smaller groups is that your winery options increase. Many great wineries can’t host large groups.
Bring your own picnic lunch (with permission). Some wineries allow outside food and many do not.

Culinary Adventures: Fine Dining & Cooking Local

Napa Valley is famed for its Michelin-starred restaurants. But if you love cooking with local fare, consider an AirBnB or hotel suite with a kitchenette. The Oxbow market is a treasure. And our farmers markets are a great source of local pride. There are some AirBnBs and hotels with kitchen suites that are within walkable towns, but be mindful of where they are if you want a walkable town experience.

Non-Wine Experiences

There’s plenty to do beyond the glass: hot air balloon, olive oil tastings, cooking classes, kayaking, galleries, hiking, golfing, spas, gondola, live music, theater (see below).

Insider Secret

Here’s the biggest, local secret I can give you…You can get a FREE copy of the current week’s Paul Franson’s Napa Life (what every local I know subscribes to and looks forward to reading every Monday) by emailing paul@napalife.com It’s not available in advance of your visit so think of it as a little surprise bonus. And if you want weekly Napa news year-round, you can subscribe to his email for $50/year.

Remember, you’ve got a friend on the inside — so come anytime to sip, explore, and make Napa your own.