3 long lunches in Napa Valley

An easy first day in the town of Napa. Walk by the river in the morning, make the market hall the centre of a long lunch and finish with a slow drive up the Silverado Trail in the evening light.

1. Breakfast

   A slow pastry and coffee morning

   Start with fresh pastry or eggs and a good coffee, and take your time. The long lunch is the real meal of the day.

   Local tip Choose somewhere with a table outside if the morning is mild.
2. 1
   MorningWorth a short stop

   Napa Riverfront

   A stretch of downtown Napa along the Napa River, with a walking path beside the water, bridges, benches and the old brick buildings of the town close by. A good first walk after a slow breakfast.

   Go when Morning, when the path is quiet and the air is cool.

   Local tip Walk it slowly and go as far along the river as you like. It is flat and easy, and a good way to wake up before a long lunch.

   

   About 5 min walk0.2 mi
3. 2
   MiddayWorth the time

   Oxbow Public Market

   A covered market hall beside the river, with stalls for produce, bread, cheese, seafood and coffee under one roof. Wander first, then put together a long lunch from whatever looks good.

   Go when Late morning, before the lunch crowds fill the aisles.

   Local tip Walk a full lap before you buy anything. A little of this and a little of that, shared at one table, makes a good long lunch.

4. Lunch

   A long lunch from the market

   Fresh oysters, local cheese, charcuterie, bread and fruit, shared across one table and stretched over an hour or two. A long lunch with a glass is the valley's way of doing the middle of the day.

   Local tip Order a little at a time, so the lunch keeps going.

   About 12 min by car8.1 mi
5. 3
   EveningWorth the time

   Silverado Trail

   The quieter road up the east side of the valley, with vineyards, oak-covered hills and long views at every bend. Take it slowly in the late light, and use the pull-outs when you want to stop.

   Go when Late afternoon, before sunset (about 6:31 PM), when the light turns the hills gold.

   Local tip Treat the drive as the point. Choose one or two tasting rooms a day, book ahead, and plan a designated driver or a car service so everyone can relax.

   

6. Dinner

   A relaxed dinner in town

   After the drive, keep the evening light. A simple plate of pasta, grilled fish or roast chicken with a seasonal vegetable is plenty after a long lunch.

   Local tip Book ahead on a weekend, and think about a car service back to your hotel.

The middle of the valley at an easy pace. Walk the streets of Yountville in the morning, stretch lunch out along St. Helena's Main Street and spend the afternoon at an old mill in the trees.

1. Travel from Silverado TrailAbout 12 min by car or transit2.2 mi

   Where Day 1 ended.
2. 1
   MorningWorth the time

   Yountville

   A small, walkable town in the middle of the valley, with gardens, public sculpture and quiet streets lined with trees. Park once, walk slowly and let the morning stay open.

   Go when Morning, when the streets are quiet and the gardens are cool.

   Local tip Park once and walk. The sculptures and gardens are along the main street, and the best part is just wandering from one to the next.

   

   About 11 min by car9.5 mi
3. 2
   MiddayWorth the time

   Main Street, St. Helena

   A tree-lined main street of old stone buildings, shops and cafes in the heart of the valley. A good place to browse before a long lunch.

   Go when Late morning, when the shops are open and the lunch tables are still easy to find.

   Local tip Walk the full length on one side and come back along the other. Book ahead for a long lunch if you want a table on a patio.

   

4. Lunch

   A long lunch with a glass

   The centre of the day: a table on a shaded patio, two or three courses and a glass of local wine chosen with the food. Let it run into the afternoon.

   Local tip Book ahead for a patio table, and let the server help you pair the wine.

   About 6 min by car3.4 mi
5. 3
   AfternoonWorth a short stop

   Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park

   A grist mill from the mid-1800s with a large wooden waterwheel, set among oaks and redwoods north of St. Helena. A shady, quiet stop. Check ahead for when the mill is running and any entry details.

   Go when Afternoon, when the shade under the trees is the best part.

   Local tip Look at the wooden wheel first, then walk the short paths around the mill. Check ahead for any days when the mill is running.

   

6. Dinner

   A light dinner after a big lunch

   A salad, a bowl of soup or a shared plate of vegetables suits the evening after a long lunch. Keep it simple.

   Local tip Many places in the valley serve early, so book ahead.

7. Treat

   A tasting room in the late afternoon

   The valley is built around its tasting rooms, and a late-afternoon visit is the easy way to taste a little. Choose one or two a day, book ahead, and pace yourself.

   Local tip Plan a designated driver or a car service, and ask if the room can arrange a seat outside.

The far north end of the valley. Watch the geyser in the morning, spend the middle of the day in Calistoga and finish with a walk on the lower slopes of Mount St. Helena.

1. Travel from Bale Grist Mill State Historic ParkAbout 24 min by car or transit6.4 mi

   Where Day 2 ended.
2. Breakfast

   A slow breakfast in Calistoga

   Eggs, fruit and good bread in an easy mood before a morning with the geyser. Nothing here needs to be rushed.

   Local tip Ask for a table outside if the sun is out.
3. 1
   MorningWorth a short stop

   Old Faithful Geyser of California

   A geyser outside Calistoga that sends a plume of hot water high into the air on a regular rhythm. The wait between eruptions can change, so sit on a bench and let it come. Check ahead on entry.

   Go when Morning, when it is quiet and cool, and you have no need to hurry.

   Local tip The gap between eruptions changes, so bring a coffee and wait on a bench. It can take longer than you expect.

   About 10 min by car or transit1.8 mi
4. 2
   MiddayWorth the time

   Downtown Calistoga

   A small spa town at the head of the valley, with a main street of low old buildings, hot springs under the ground and a railroad depot. Walk the street slowly and take your time over lunch.

   Go when Midday, as a slow walk before a long lunch.

   Local tip The town is small, so park once and stroll the main street and the side streets. Many people come here for a spa afternoon, so check ahead if you want one.

   

5. Lunch

   A last long lunch on a patio

   One more long table, the kind you plan the day around. Go for grilled meat, a seasonal salad and something cold to drink, and stay as long as you like.

   Local tip Walk the street first, then pick the patio that looks most inviting.

   About 11 min by car8.3 mi
6. 3
   AfternoonWalk a little of it

   Robert Louis Stevenson State Park

   A wild park on the slopes of Mount St. Helena, where the writer spent part of a honeymoon in 1880. Walk the first stretch of the trail through oak woods and turn back whenever you like. Check ahead on parking and any closures.

   Go when Afternoon, when the oak woods give shade on the lower slopes.

   Local tip The trail climbs steadily, so go only as far as feels easy and turn back when you like. Bring water, and check ahead on parking and any closures.

   

7. Treat

   A cheese board and a glass

   End the trip the valley way: a plate of local cheeses, fruit and nuts, and something to sip as the light fades.

   Local tip Plan a designated driver or a car service, and choose a quiet spot with a view.