Things to do in Napa

Here is small list of things to do in Napa (and most I have already tried):  There are many other special events and activities that I have not listed below, mainly because I have not attended them.

1.  Napa Wine Train:  Whether you are visiting or live locally, the Napa Wine Train is worth at least one trip.    You can have a casual lunch or dinner, catch a Murder Mystery, wine tour or check out one of their special events.

2.  Oxbow Market:  I absolutely love the Oxbow Market.  My favorite bakery - The Model Bakery - is there and is one place I never miss when I'm in the area.  Check out the specialty cheese shop and Kara's cupcakes for some extra treats to take home.  Or pick from the several restaurants to eat at.

3.  Wine tasting:  Napa County as well as Sonoma and other neighbor counties are well known for their wine.  There are two many wineries to list, so pick a brochure or check them out online.  You can read about one of my visits HERE.

4.  Holiday B&B Tour:  There are many historic Victorian homes as well as other homes of architectural interest.  Many have been turned into Bed & Breakfasts/Inns or business buildings, a few are privately owned.  On the Holiday B&B tour, you get to tour several participating B&B's and Inns, sample local wine, beer, and restaurants   You can read more about my experience at last year's tour HERE.  The Historic Society also gives tours of other historic homes (see below).

5.  Searching for Ancestors in Napa:  This may only be of interest to those who know they have ancestors who lived in Napa.  The Historic Society has a great index of resources available as well as many special events.  You can read about my search at the Historic Society HERE or check out their website HERE.  Besides the Historic Society you will not want to miss the Napa Valley Genealogical Biographical Society's research library, the main Napa Library (which has most of the Napa newspapers on microfilm), Tulocay Cemetery (the oldest cemetery in Napa) and pick up copies of records at the Napa County Recorder-Clerk's office.

6.  Shopping:  There are many shops in Napa that may be of interest or you could check out the Napa Outlet stores.  Check out the Downtown shops HERE and the Outlets HERE.

Have fun!

Searching for Ancestors

One interest I have and really haven't blogged about is genealogy, also referred to as family history.  In today's society we sometimes lose our family history and I think it is important for each of us to know where we came from.  What's even more important is our family's medical history.  Do you know what conditions run in your family?  Heart Disease, Cancer, etc.  There are so many conditions that have a genetic link or increased risk.  Remember those medical history forms you complete at the doctor's office, well it helps to know more than just your parents or even grandparents' history.

On a recent trip, I went searching at the Napa County Historical Society.  The staff was very friendly and helpful at the Historical Society.  Check out their online catalogue from their website if you are searching for your ancestors.

When you get started with your own family history, you will usually end up having to go past records you can find on Ancestry.com or Familysearch.org  Which means you need to go to genealogical societies, historical societies, county records, archives and so much more.  And the Napa Historical Society is a great resource for those with roots in Napa.  Don't forget the Napa Library, Napa Genealogical Society and the County Recorder for records in Napa. 

And if you don't mind visiting cemeteries looking for your ancestors, check out Tulocay Cemetery.  General Vallejo's brother, Salvador is buried there.

Good luck on your search and if you need help I am here to help you. 

Christmas in Wine Country

There are so many places and events in both Napa and Sonoma County during the holidays.  This Christmas we decided to attend the Napa B&B Holiday Tour, which features local B&B's, artists/musicians, restaurants/chefs, and wineries/breweries.  It is worth the money to attend and have a taste of local foods and drinks as well as touring each B&B.  The money from the tickets go to local charities which I think is a great idea.

 

I loved the decorations and entertainment at each B&B, some B&B owners even told you about some of the history of their building.  You couldn't get any better. 

The food was delicious as well as the different tastings of wine and beer.  I loved being able to sample the wines and find out which ones you liked (or least liked in some cases).  Even the two breweries were great.  Artisan or local breweries (depending on who you talk to) are the best!  No huge commercial beers in cans here, please.  And don't worry about driving, there are buses to transport you to the B&B's that are too far apart to walk and the rest are within walking distance.   Everybody was friendly, helpful if you had questions and just a pleasure to meet.

 The stain glass in many of the B&B's was stunning, but then I love stain glass windows. 

Next time you are looking for something to do around the holidays take a look at the events locally or other areas and find something new to try.  If you decide to try this tour please click here for details.