We recently got back from a lovely long weekend in San Francisco and Napa. My birthday was in March and Cory’s birthday was in April so we planned this trip to celebrate our birthdays. It truly was such a fun birthday and we loved exploring different areas in San Francisco and Napa while we were there. You might remember we visited these spots last August and you can read all about that trip here. We spent a week in California for our anniversary last summer, but I also was dealing with a broken ankle. Let me tell you crutches in San Francisco is not the most enjoyable. So it was pretty amazing getting to walk around the city on our weekend getaway. Scroll down for all the details on our weekend getaway to San Francisco and Napa.
Things to do San Francisco
Like I mentioned above our last trip to San Francisco involved crutches for my broken ankle. So most of our time in the city involved a driving tour. This time we took full advantage of walking around the city which was amazing. Visiting in April we experienced pretty mild temperatures during the day (60’s-70’s) and much colder at night. I always tell people to wear lots of layers when you visit San Francisco as the temperature can quickly turn from warm to cold.
So many friends and family members recommended visiting Alcatraz. As someone who gets easily seasick I was a little nervous about the boat ride to the island, but honestly it wasn’t bad. I would recommend getting tickets for the morning (when the water is more calm), and plan on 2ish hours exploring the island. We learned a lot about the history of Alcatraz and loved walking through the gardens. Like I mentioned above make sure you dress in layers. We were advised by friends that it can be VERY cold on Alcatraz so we dressed warmly.
Because the weather was pretty mild we spent time outdoors exploring the Sutro Baths and Land End Trail. If you enjoy hiking you can find a lot of different trails in San Francisco. We really enjoyed the views of the Golden Gate Bridge, and learning about the Sutro Baths.
If you’re in San Francisco on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday be sure to check out the Ferry Building Marketplace. You’ll find the farmers market with fresh fruits, baked good and more. While you’re at the Ferry Building you can grab coffee from Blue Bottle Coffee and oysters from Hog Island Oyster Co. This is the perfect stop for lunch or happy hour.
Where to Eat & Drink in San Francisco
Looking to grab a drink in San Francisco? Check out Pacific Cocktail Haven. We grabbed a drink here before dinner and sat outside. It’s the great spot to enjoy a drink with friends and enjoy the weather. I would also recommend The Snug for a drink while you’re in San Francisco. This neighborhood hang-out has awesome drinks and snacks. I highly suggest ordering the beer nuts!
For an awesome lunch don’t miss Molinari Delicatessen. This deli has really good sandwiches, but be prepared to wait. It can be very busy at lunch time, but trust me it’s worth it!
For dinner make a reservation at Spruce. We had the BEST dinner here while we were in San Francisco. Spruce does a tasting menu and everything we had was absolutely delicious (pro tip order the s’mores cake). If you love sushi I would also recommend dining at PABU Izakaya in San Francisco. The sushi here was incredible and the service was amazing.
Napa
Where to Stay in Napa
After a couple of days in San Francisco we made the drive to Napa. This was our second time staying at Rancho Caymus Inn because we loved our stay last year. Rancho Caymus Inn is located in Rutherford and super close to wineries and restaurants. This is one of the reasons we love staying here is because of the central location. On top of that the employees at Rancho Caymus Inn are so nice, and the rooms are really lovely. I love how spacious the rooms are with a patio, large bathroom and breakfast is included each morning. They also have a great list of winery partners in the area!
Where to go Wine Tasting
Before I go into detail about the wineries we visited, I wanted to mention a few tips and tricks we’ve learned along the way. This was our second visit to Napa Valley and here are some things to keep in mind.
- Don’t visit more than 2-3 wineries a day. The sweet spot for wine tasting in Napa is two wineries a day in my opinion. I would make a reservation for a mid-morning tasting, grab lunch, have an afternoon tasting, head back to your hotel to relax, and have reservations for dinner. That’s the ideal schedule for being in Napa.
- Plan to spend at least 2 hours wine tasting. I know that sounds a little long, but it’s a different experience wine tasting in Napa. Some wineries offer food (see Scribe below), some offer tours, etc. In any case you don’t want to rush your experience. Wine tasting in Napa is all about enjoying the experience. Also, don’t forget to factor in drive times to each winery or lunch or back to your hotel when you’re planing your tastings.
- Make a reservation. Most (pretty much all) wineries require a reservation to do a tasting so make sure you plan in advance. Popular wineries fill up on reservations quickly so it’s best to start planning early.
- Have a plan for driving. Uber is a great option for getting to the wineries or to dinner. You can also look into booking a driver while you’re staying in Napa.
Our first tasting was at Scribe Winery in Sonoma. I had heard amazing things about this winery on social media and through word-of-mouth so it was at the top of my list to visit. In order to visit Scribe right now you need to be a member. We were fine joining because we can’t get their wine in Grand Rapids, but keep this in mind if you’re planning a visit. We truly loved the tasting experience here and it was hands down my favorite from the trip. The 2021 Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir was so good!
We also visited Alpha Omega for the second time since we’re wine club members here. If you love a good Cabernet Sauvignon I would highly recommend making a reservation to wine taste at Alpha Omega. The service is great and the atmosphere is lovely. Cory and I always recommend this winery to friends and family visiting the area.
Visiting CADE Winery has been at the top of our list since our last trip to Napa. CADE is located on Howell Mountain and the wines from this area are phenomenal. The view from the this winery and the wine itself are so good and totally worth the drive. They have a small portfolio of wines but their Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc are amazing.
Frog’s Leap is a popular winery in Rutherford (very close to Rancho Caymus Inn). We sat on the back deck to enjoy our tasting and it was pretty chilly. If you go on a cooler day dress warmly! Out of all of our tastings Cory and I would say this was just ok. The Zinfandel was probably our favorite wine that we tried, and maybe if we had been here on a warmer day we would have enjoyed it more. If you’ve had this winery on your bucket list you should totally check it out. It just wasn’t our favorite spot that we visited on our trip.
If you’re looking to do a tour of a winery while you’re in Napa I would highly suggest Chappellet. We learned so much on our tour and enjoyed walking by the vineyards. After our tour we did a tasting and really liked the wines we tasted. All around Chappellet was a great experience, and I would highly recommend making a reservation here.
Where to Eat in Napa
Can’t decide where to eat in Napa? Gott’s Roadside is the perfect stop between wine tastings while you’re in Napa. The service is usually very quick and the food is delicious. We love the St. Helena location, but you can also visit them in the Oxbow Market (another great spot for lunch). The burgers are great (they also have a vegetarian Impossible burger option) and don’t miss the sweet potato fries.
Another great lunch spot in Napa is Oakville Grocery. Cory and I split a wood-fired pizza for lunch and it was delicious. They also have a good selection of sandwiches and sweets and bottles of wine. This is also a great spot to grab items for a picnic at a winery!
One of our favorite spots for dinner in Napa is Farmstead Restaurant at Long Meadow Ranch. This was our second time dining here and it’s truly amazing. The farm-to-table aspect is something we truly love and everything is always so fresh and delicious here. PS be sure to make a reservation here as it can be very busy for dinner.
We also dined at The Charter Oak while we were in Napa, and the experience was incredible. I had heard really amazing things about this restaurant before our visit, and now I totally get it. Every bite of food was truly delicious and I told Cory we are totally coming back here again. I would HIGHLY recommend visiting for lunch, dinner or happy hour. Again, a reservation here is probably a good idea!
On our last night we dined at TORC in downtown Napa. If you’re staying downtown Napa this would be a perfect option to walk to. We really enjoyed our food and everything tasted amazing. I will say the ambiance of the restaurant was average for me (compared to Long Meadow Ranch and Charter Oak). But, again the food was delicious and if your’e staying downtown I would totally go here for dinner.
Also, don’t forget to check this blog post with more tips, tricks and recommendations for San Francisco and Napa.
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