Napa Valley
Napa is Napa, in every single way. Limousines, glamour, expensive wine, and food, yet one thing hasn't changed – the luxurious views of nature. Some like to indulge in Napa for days or even longer. For us, especially traveling with kids, a day was enough taking them through the vineyards on both roads (29/128 and Silverado Trail), walking through Napa and visiting The Oxbow Market, and taking them to the most magical town there – St. Helena.
The day was hot, as many days were on that trip. We drove from Sonoma, passing hills full of vineyards and arriving in Yountville to enjoy the famous Bouchon Bakery pastries, viennoiseries, and breads. This town, small enough to fit in your pocket, has some of the most excellent restaurants in America - the French Laundry, Ad Hoc, and Bouchon Bistro. It is not only a delicious but beautiful experience, sitting there in the sun melting along with your buttery croissant.
After a walk, we drove through St. Helena and stopped first at the Culinary Institute of America. It is a temple I like to visit, just for the sake of dreaming that someday I might actually go there to study. We went to visit the University shop, as it is as close you can get to the feeling without being an alumni or student. I looked at the book selection, bought some kitchen essentials, and a present for a friend, and then we left for a walk in the city. St. Helena, with its one main street that everyone drives along, is a magical place that does not feel as Napa as other places. The must for us was the Model Bakery, but new discoveries were shops like Acres Home & Garden, Carter & Co, and the Christopher Hill Gallery. There are plenty more galleries to stop by, places to see. We love to leave the car at one end of town and walk to other and then back changing the side of the street.
Before heading to the other side of the valley, there was one thing to do first - Gotts’ Roadside: a stop we promised to make the last two times here but never did. Eventually, you have to do that, especially with kids to have a burger and milkshake in the USA – a dream come true. We ordered the food sipping a local IPA and milkshakes when the burgers and fries came. I barely ate half of mine, but Paula, in the excitement of being there, finished all of hers, nibbling on fries and begging to have more (did not happen). Needless to say, dinner that day was not needed. We left Gotts’ full and happy. It was meal with truly locally sourced meat and other products. Checkpoint on our list – done.
The sun set earlier than we expected. We arrived in the city of Napa with just a little sunlight but it was gone the moment we left for a walk. Napa is busy all through the week, except Mondays when the city is quiet and peaceful. There is one more Gotts’ in Napa too (but I prefer the original in St. Helena), the Oxbow Market that kas plenty of amazing opportunities to eat, starting from vegan, to fleshy and meaty or sweet and sugary. Looking for a coffee in the center of the city, you should go either to Napa Valley Coffee for cookies and everything sweet to Brewed or Sweetie Pies, and for a luxurious Asian meal to Morimoto.
You can see many more pictures from these days here
Story and pictures: Signe Meirane
Camera: Sony Alpha 7s
In partnership with Turkish Airlines Latvia
