The 10 best things to do in Napa Valley right now

Oxbow has capitalized on the sweeping trend of one-stop-shop markets, offering a lively space to snack, drink, shop and kick back in Downtown Napa. If you’re here for a full meal, there are plenty of places to dine: Gott’s Roadside serves its signature burgers and ahi poke tacos while Hog Island Oyster company lets you slurp down bivalves to your hearts content. But possibly the best part of Oxbow is wandering the vendor stalls for knickknacks and artisan goods. Napa Valley Distillery is a veritable library of shrubs, bitters and anything else you might want in a liquor store. At the Olive Press, you can sample dozens of olive oils and balsamic vinegars before landing on a couple to take home. 

Hot air balloons are a unique and exciting way to check out the Valley's stunning landscape, and most trips come with a snack and sip of something bubby afterward. Excursions are usually held early in the morning before any wind picks up, so be ready to set that alarm—trust us, it's worth it (as is the heftly price tag). Check out Napa Valley Aloft, Balloons Above the Valley or Napa Valley Balloons for rates and trip options.

Anyone can stop by this revered cooking school, located in the historic Greystone Cellars building in St. Helena. On the ground floor, visitors will find a gift shop filled with everything you could possibly need to channel your own Top Chef persona, along with an impressive corkscrew collection, the Vintners Hall of Fame, the Ghiradelli Chocolate Discovery Center and more. One-hour cooking demos take place on the weekends. Outside, don’t be surprised to spot students pruning the expansive gardens that line the building. 

Starting in Downtown Napa, the train rumbles through towns and vineyards on a 36-mile round trip journey to St. Helena and back, a cavalcade of railroad cars that were built, for the most part, in 1915 by the Pullman Standard Company. Passengers can choose from a variety of dining journeys, including the Gourmet Express (a multi-course meal with wine), Romance on the Rails (dinner and wine in a private booth on the train's Vista Dome) and Murder Mystery (a murder mystery themed dinner). The three-hour dinner rides generally stick to the rails, but if getting off and exploring the vineyards is more of your thing, opt for one of the winery tours; most go to a few wineries and include lunch or dinner on the train. 

A lovely hotel tucked into the Napa Valley hillside, Indian Springs stands out for its stunning pools and luxury spa. The spa offers a simple list of high-quality treatments: massage, facials, mineral water soaks and Indian Springs' most unique offering—mud baths. On weekdays, a spa treatment gives you access to the property's pools; on weekends pool access is an extra $30. But it's worth it; both mineral pools are fed by nearby geysers and kept at temperatures between 82 and 102 degrees (depending on the season) for maxiumum soaking relaxation. 

Couldn't get a reservation at Thomas Keller's French Laundry? Believe us, you're not alone. But if you're still interested in checking out the grounds (and you should be, they're lovely), swing by and head across the street to the restaurant's garden, where they grow much of their produce and tend to bees and chickens. On your way out of Yountville, stop at Kelly's filling station, an adorable gas station-turned-local-market, for yummy snacks and a souvenir or two.

Take a break from wine tasting and settle into a screening room at the Cameo Cinema in St. Helena, an independent movie theater built in 1913. You can bring your own bowl of popcorn to score a discount on tickets, but they also sell Fiorello’s gelato if you’re looking for something on the sweet side. The seats are roomy and comfortable, and the screenings are a mix of mainstream and more obscure movies.

The St. Helena Farmers' Market has been a town staple since 1986, with a growing roster of vendors that ranges from baked goods and jewelry to fresh produce and chocolates. Held in Crane Park, visitors will find the market set up every Friday morning from May through October; while the lineup of vendors always changes, the quality stays the same. Frequent events include a chef's table, kid's activities and a lecture series, where market goers can learn about making jam, gardening during a drought and beekeeping. 

There are plenty of people bottling wine for you in Napa, but why not play winemaker for a day? Raymond Vineyards' wine bottling class will have you dressing up as a mad scientist, mixing and matching red varietals in test tubes until you've found a winner. Head into the corking and labeling room next door, where a custom-designed label will finish off your bottle to take home (cases are also available if you love your blend that much). Classes are $125. 

With baseball fields, bocce ball courts, tennis courts, horse shoe pits and more, Crane Park is a playground for both adults and kids. The 12-acre park is a relaxing spot to visit where you can also stock up on produce at the farmers' market that takes place in the park every Friday morning.