autoeurope

The glorious wine country, Napa Valley, is only an hour away from San Francisco. A day trip from San Francisco to Napa Valley is not only a great opportunity for you to learn about wine but also for organizing picnic lunches with your friends. If the weather is good, hopefully sunny, it will only make the picnic even more enjoyable.

The first thing you need to do to begin your wonderful road trip is to book a ticket to San Francisco, pick up a rental car at the San Francisco airport and head straight to Napa Valley.

1. Tour to wineries

Once you are in Napa Valley, there is a lot you can do to make the most out of your day tour. The Napa Valley Wine Train runs through the wine country, providing a number of different journeys. You can choose whichever journey suits you the best. The train travels along 36 miles of track through different journeys. Meals are served in the onboard kitchens along with wine. The trains stop at various wineries from where you can go for tours and wine tasting.

2. Visit the Napa Valley Opera House

If you are not a fan of wine tasting, Napa Valley has a lot more to offer despite the fact that is called the wine country. Napa Valley has a historic Napa Valley Opera House, which hosts plays, dances and musical performances. If you are into theater, plan your day trip according to the performances taking place in the Opera House. There are also many public festivals and outdoor events hosted at parks and wineries throughout the country.

3. Go Shopping

Let’s face it, who does not like shopping? Especially if you are visiting someplace new, you wouldn't want to miss out on their culture and traditions. The Napa Valley is a great place for those of you who prefer specialty shops. There are also vintage shops in Yountville in case you are looking for small, vintage treasures. Other amazing shops are located in downtown Napa, Main Street in St. Helena and Lincoln Avenue in Calistoga.

If you are looking for budget-friendly shops, Napa Valley also has Premium Outlets including Adidas, Barneys, Gap and Kenneth Cole. You can also stop at Oxbow Public Market in Napa for gourmet food items. There you can find delicious cupcakes and ice creams as well as some local foods.

4. Outdoor Activities

If you can all the way from San Francisco through a road trip, we will assume you are into outdoor activities. After all, road trips require a love for outdoor scenery and beauty. The Napa Valley offers a lot of outdoor activities including hiking and biking. There are a number of local hiking and biking trails such as The Vine Trail.

If you do not want an activity that requires much of a physical workout, perhaps you can take a river cruise in the Napa River. Another great activity is to fly in a helicopter, glider or a hot air balloon, all providing beautiful views of the Napa Valley from the top.

No matter how you spend your day, if you're tasting wine and driving be sure to use common sense and moderation ... even better, make sure you have a designated driver for the trip (and buy them a few bottles to say thank you).