There is something special about a girls’ getaway that revives you from all the craziness of your responsibilities, giving you a chance to have fun, strengthen friendships, and enjoy amazing wine. On this latest trip, we decided to take an adventure to San Francisco and Napa Valley. We packed in a lot in four days, making the most of our time! Here is everything we did on our girls’ getaway to San Francisco and Napa Valley.
Table of Contents
Days 1 -2 Exploring San Francisco
Before heading to Napa Valley, we wanted to explore the city of San Francisco. We stayed at Hotel Adiago right in the heart of downtown. The primary callout for this hotel is that the staff were very friendly and accommodating. We were greeted with a champagne toast, and we did not encounter a staff member who was not pleasant.
Exploring the city
Of course, we wanted to be tourists, so we set out to get some great food and see popular spots. Most notably, the full-house opening scene in the park! Alamo Square not only has the same backdrop as the show, but it also features a whole dog off-leash area surrounded by beautiful redwoods. I could have honestly chilled there all afternoon!
For brunch, we ate at Sweet Maple. The restaurant was so good! They had a Ube Latte we wanted to try, but the food was even better. After eating, we were curious about the driverless cars! We’ve never seen or ridden in one before, so we downloaded the Waymo app and took one!
We took our driverless car to Pier 39 to take in the views of the beautiful San Francisco Bay, with Alcatraz and the Bay Bridge in the distance. We spent a little time watching the Sea Lions and enjoying delicious seafood at Pier Market and Seafood, where they served some amazing clam chowder fries.
Finally, we wound down with Halloween festivities on the town and good food at Bottle Pub Club directly across from our hotel. This was a bar restaurant with flavorful food. I got the hot chicken sandwich, and it was so good.
Saturday Morning
Before we ventured to our main attraction, Napa, we got up early to experience the morning market at the Ferry Building. The market mainly sold fresh and prepared food, so we had a late breakfast to get us through the day. Then, it was time for our driver to pick us up from our hotel and take us to Napa.
Day 3: Road to Napa
So, we debated joining a tour or doing it ourselves, and we unanimously decided to do it ourselves. We ended up booking a driver from Blue Label Limousine. This was an affordable option to pick us up from our San Francisco hotel and take us around to our winery appointments. At the end of the day, our driver dropped us off at our hotel in Napa. We visited three wineries on Saturday.
Artesa Winery
This was our first stop during our winery tour, and it is one of the first wineries you encounter when you enter Napa Valley. Artesa had sweeping panoramic views, modern architecture, and flavorful wine. It set the tone perfectly for what was to come. We took our time savoring each pour, already feeling the stress of daily life melting away. I loved how they offered different options for tastings instead of selecting them for me, and some came with a charcuterie board. My favorite wine here was the Pinot Noir Digon.
Del Dotto Winery
Del Dotto Winery has an Italian-inspired setting where you can sample wine directly from the Barrel in the caves. The winery is situated on an elegant estate with impressive garden views. The tastings primarily featured red wines and Cabernets. I loved how they gave us pizza at the end of the tour.
The Prisoner Wine Company
The Prisoner Wine Company was our final stop and a nice ending for the day. I love how they mixed it up and gave us more white and rose options. The tasting area has a more modern and industrial feel. I loved the Blindfold Blanc De Noir.
Ending the day, we had to stop at the iconic Welcome to Napa Valley Sign to snap a picture! We then ventured to our hotel, The Knoll Hotel Napa Valley, before our dinner reservations at RH Yountville. Restoration Hardware is absolutely stunning with its crystal chandeliers, velvet seating, and that gorgeous courtyard that sets the mood for the evening.
Day 4: More Wineries and Local Flavor
Our hotel luckily had an amazing restaurant within walking distance, La Cheve Bakery and Brews, which is very popular with the locals. We actually got up early and headed there right when they opened. There was already a line, but after we left, it had wrapped around the building. The food is worth the wait! We fueled up for a day of wine tasting.
Caymus Vineyards
Our first winery of the day was Caymus Vineyard, which has a great reputation for producing delicious wines. They lived up to their expectation. The property was like going through a secret garden, and it felt like an oasis in Napa. I loved how the winery has been passed down through three generations of family, and they have their daughter as one of the winemakers. I actually bought two of her blends because they were so good!
Cake Bread Cellars
Cake Bread Cellars was an added-on feature after two separate recommendations. I am glad they had room, because we were able to go right after our tasting at Caymus. I am so happy we came here, because this was the only winery that gave us a full tour of their property and wine-making process. One thing that sets them apart is that they make their wines in concrete barrels. It makes the heavier wines taste lighter. I ended up getting their Pinot Noir.
Azur Tasting Room
Our final stop was Azur in downtown Napa. This was a last-minute switch after a place we had planned to visit decided to close early, despite its stated hours. I am happy we stumbled upon Azur because it is women-owned and offers Rose.
After we finished our last wine tasting, we hopped right into a pre-scheduled car for our red-eye flight back home!
Things To Consider When Visiting Napa
- Make sure you map out where you want to go. Napa has over 600 wineries to choose from!
- Don’t try to do too many wineries. We visited three wineries on the first day and went too hard! Pace yourself and eat in between.
- Some wineries require you to pre-pay for tastings. The tastings can add up. Some are as low as $35, while others can reach as high as $200.
- Make sure you eat in between tastings, so you don’t get sick!
- Consider booking a car for the day! It is much easier to get around when you have a driver waiting for you at each stop.
This trip wasn’t just about the wine (though let’s be honest, the wine was on point!). It was about connection, laughter, new experiences, and creating memories with the people who matter most. From driverless cars in San Francisco to barrel tastings in Napa, every moment was a reminder that life is meant to be savored.
To my girls: Thank you for the memories, the laughter, and for being the best travel companions a girl could ask for. Until our next adventure!
Leave a Reply