Our Favorite Napa Valley Honeymoon Ideas & Places To Stay

76 of Our Favorite Napa Valley Honeymoon Ideas, Activities & Places To Stay

Event by Blissful Events. Photo by A. Loving Photography

Fall In Love with These Napa Valley Honeymoon Ideas and Activities

• Stress less and trust our expert advice on where to go and what to do on your Napa Valley honeymoon
• Get to know the best places to stay, play, dine and drink in California wine country on your honeymoon
• Learn about the three major areas you’ll want to visit during your trip to Northern California

Before we start delving into the delicious details of our favorite Napa Valley honeymoon spots, a quick geography chat might be helpful!

One of the most famous parts of California wine country, Napa and Sonoma are located north of San Francisco. Divided by a mountain range, the rolling hills of these two counties are also two of the most beloved wine destinations in the world. Inside each, you’ll find a bevy of cities, towns, and valleys with unique activities and personalities. 

So, a Napa Valley honeymoon wouldn’t be complete without visiting a spot in each of these areas:

• Napa Valley
• Sonoma Valley
• San Francisco

Below, we’ll explore our favorite places to have an adventure, see great art, eat delicious food, drink some of the world’s best wine, stay in luxury, and more. The order and duration of your stay are, of course, up to you. However, we’d recommend starting your journey in San Francisco, heading to Napa, and then working your way back to Sonoma. 

Of course, you can also use this guide to plan a trip to any of these three locations on their own—especially if you’re in town visiting us as we design your laid-back, luxury wedding.

Without further ado, here are our recommendations of where to go on your Napa Valley honeymoon when you say, “I do.”

Book as early as possible! Many of these popular locations have waiting lists that are months long.

When you’re planning a trip to California wine country for you and your future forever-to-be, it’s best to start at the beginning, literally. If you’re flying into the California wine country area, you’re likely to arrive at a San Francisco area airport, so we’ll start our journey there. Instead of rushing from baggage claim to the road, spend a day or two in the Golden City.

While you’re there, give in to your inner tourist and check out one or all of these three popular experiences: Alcatraz Island, Fisherman’s Wharf, and the Golden Gate Bridge. If you’re ambitious, try taking a walking tour of all three in one day. Or, to see all three from one vantage point, try hiking Slacker Hill, which offers some of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge and downtown San Francisco. 

After a full day of exploring, you’ll likely be hungry—and San Francisco doesn’t disappoint. Since its debut in Michelin’s best-of-the-best guide in 2007, the city has gone on to earn more three-star awards than even New York. Dine at any of the area’s 61-starred restaurants, and savor cuisine from all over the world.

Whether your time in the city lasts a day or three, make sure to plan to stop by Mount Tamalpais State Park. Located just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, the top of this mountain offers breathtaking views—on a clear day, you can even see the snow-covered Sierra Nevada range. Our insider tip? Drive as far as you can up the mountain and then hike the final 10 minutes to watch the sunset from what feels like the top of the world. During the summer, if you’re in the area, try to catch a show at the Mountain Play Theater, a uniquely Greek-style amphitheater on Mount Tamalpais.

After your sojourn in San Francisco, it’s time to make the journey into California wine country. We suggest starting your Napa Valley honeymoon in Napa County, home to some of the world’s best restaurants, vineyards, resorts, and more.

Another quick geography note: Napa Valley includes five distinctive towns: Calistoga, St. Helena, Yountville, the city of Napa, and American Canyon. Each city has its own unique identity that invites exploration. It’s about 40 miles from the southernmost American Canyon to the northernmost Calistoga, so we find it’s best to pick a home base of where to stay for the Napa Valley portion of your honeymoon.

There’s no shortage of luxury resorts to choose from. In Calistoga, the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley is the newest hotel in California wine country and is surrounded by hundreds of acres of vineyards framed by picturesque forests and majestic mountains. The Solage Resort & Spa and The Bungalows at Indian Springs Resort and Spa, also in Calistoga, offer an upscale respite as well. If you want to stay in the heart of the valley’s namesake, book a room in downtown Napa at the Andaz Napa, Carneros Resort and Spa, Poetry Inn, or Silverado Resort and Spa. In St. Helena, the Alila Napa Valley is a 1907 Victorian-style adults-only resort with a spa, vineyard fire pits, a restaurant with farm-to-table cuisine, private helicopter service, and Tesla charging stations. For Yountville lodging, check in to the Bardessono Hotel & Spa or The Estate Yountville for lavish amenities.

With more than 375 wineries open for tastings and 90 urban tasting rooms in Napa Valley, there’s literally a vintage for every palate in the region. If you’d like to explore and have a carefree experience, take our advice and hire a driver for the day. With My Napa Valley Driver, you’ll see and taste California wine country with a regional expert at the wheel.

So where to visit? Some of our favorite vineyards to tour and taste include the following in each area of the Napa Valley:

Angwin

CADE Estate Winery (Plus, you can enjoy a private dinner there, too!)

Calistoga

Castello di Amorosa

Napa

BRION estate winery (Open for tastings by appointment, and the wines are made available via allocation twice yearly.)

Darioush

Odette Estate Winery (Also offers a private dinner.)

Oakville

Promontory Winery (Another excellent location for a private dinner.)

St. Helena

750 Wines (This tailored wine experience can give you access to unique and hard-to-get bottles)

Yountville

Cliff Lede Vineyards

1. Laz Wine Collection (Another tailored wine experience from the wine director for Dean & DeLuca)

RH Yountville Wine Vault (Enjoy wine tasting and charcuterie in the garden before heading to dinner at RH Restaurant.)

Like wineries and tasting rooms, the Napa Valley has no shortage of world-class restaurants. In Napa, try Kenzo Napa for exquisite delicacies created with ingredients flown in daily from Japan. Looking for a view? The Archer Hotel’s rooftop bar offers an open-air spot to soak in the energy of downtown Napa. In Yountville, you’ll find one of the most well-known restaurants in the world, The French Laundry, and chef Thomas Keller’s take on a Parisian café, Bouchon Bistro.

In between the dining and wining, adventure awaits for your Napa Valley honeymoon. You can drive or pedal the Silverado Trail, the first permanent road linking Napa to Calistoga. This country road offers a tranquil, scenic route, snuggled up against the valley’s eastern hills. 

Of course, the most iconic Napa Valley adventure is a hot air balloon ride. While this experience will require you to wake up early (we’re talking before dawn), the views are absolutely worth it. For a curated ride, check out Napa Valley Aloft.

For a feast for the eyes, reserve a personalized gallery experience at ÆRENA Galleries & Gardens in St. Helena, Yountville, or Healdsburg in Sonoma County.

Like the Napa Valley, Sonoma County covers nine incorporated cities and many other smaller towns. While Sonoma’s attractions are a bit more disbursed, it’s still best to choose a home base to explore.

For lodging in Forestville, check out the Farmhouse Inn, a romantic and rustic boutique hotel that’s known for its incredible Sonoma dining and wine tasting. In Healdsburg, you’ll find various exquisite options, including the Harmon Guest House and the Montage Healdsburg—one of the newest hotels in California wine country and voted one of the best 20 in the world. If you plan to stay in Sonoma proper, try the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa, or Sonoma Bungalows.

With more than 425 wineries, choosing a favorite in the Sonoma Valley is a tall task—but someone had to do it! After much research and many wine glasses, here are some of our top picks for places to sip in Sonoma.

Geyserville

Garden Creek Ranch Vineyards Winery

Glen Ellen

Abbot’s Passage Winery and Mercantile

Healdsburg

Healdsburg square tasting rooms (Sonoma County’s best tasting rooms line the charming town square and surrounding blocks.)

Jordan Vineyard & Winery

MacRostie Winery Estate House

Medlock Ames Historic Healdsburg Tasting Room

Ridge Winery 

Santa Rosa

Paradise Ridge Winery (Insider tip: visit for wines and sunset on a Wednesday night.)

Willi’s Wine Bar (This charming roadhouse cottage with a cozy patio offers a wide selection of local wines.)

Sonoma

The Donum Estate

Three Sticks Wines

No Napa Valley honeymoon is truly complete without enjoying the dining known for its quality around the world. When in Bodega Bay, savor the fresh California seafood, from oysters to sweet Dungeness crab to rockfish, salmon, cod, albacore, and halibut.

In Healdsburg, make a reservation at the charming Barn Diva, Campo Fina, or SingleThread Farm-Restaurant-Inn. For an effervescent experience, book a sparkling wine pairing with a five-course dinner at The J Bubble Room. Or, sip in the view at the rooftop at Harmon Guest House before heading downstairs for dinner at Valette.

If you’re in our hometown of Petaluma, be sure to dine at Central Market Petaluma or Seared Petaluma. In Santa Rosa, dine on worldly flavors at Bird & The Bottle or the Yeti Restaurant.

While you’re satiating your appetite for fine dining and wine, don’t forget to quench your thirst for adventure. Have a main character moment while riding horseback on the beach at Bodega Bay before you dine on oysters and fish and chips. To see the majestic redwood forest from above, explore the unique courses of Sonoma Zipline Adventures. Or, for a more grounded experience, head to Samuel P. Taylor State Park in Lagunitas, which is much less crowded than the more popular Muir Woods.

For a taste of local living, check out Sonoma’s Tuesday Night Market. Bring a bottle of wine, make a picnic from the local food stands and enjoy live music. 

If finding a diamond in the rough is your idea of a fun afternoon, then the antique shops in Petaluma will not disappoint. Our historic hometown is filled with well-preserved buildings, Victorian homes, and a collection of fine paintings, furniture, clocks, California pottery, crystal, and jewelry that will take you hours to peruse.

After all that adventuring, take a break poolside at Francis Ford Coppola’s pool. Lounge by the crystal blue waters with a bottle of bubbles in hand for an A-list experience. (Insider Tip: Book one of the 28 European-style cabines in advance for a more luxurious lounge.) 

If a spa experience is more your style, head to Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa for a day of rejuvenation at an ancient thermal mineral spring. Or, head to the Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary for stunning Japanese gardens and the unique Cedar Enzyme Baths body therapy from Japan.

Which Napa Valley honeymoon ideas and activities will you choose?

The heart of California wine country, the Napa and Sonoma valley offers an experience that can be tailored to every couple’s desires. We hope this list of our insider picks has helped you start to plan your perfect Napa Valley honeymoon!

If you want this insider knowledge to make your wedding day dreams come true and enjoy it as a relaxing, bliss-filled day, book a consultation with Blissful Events. Learn more about us here.