Napa Cellars & Sonoma Valley Sunsets

The best possible start to a Napa day — a local food hall on the Napa River with artisan coffee, a full oyster bar, fresh pasta, and local provisions. Browse the stalls, grab an espresso, and orient yourself in the valley before heading into wine country.

Thomas Keller's beloved Yountville bistro — French onion soup, steak frites, and croque-madame done with meticulous care in a warm, bustling room. One of the best value lunches in Napa, and far more relaxed than The French Laundry next door.

Francis Ford Coppola's historic Rutherford estate, one of the oldest in Napa, with cave tours through 19th-century stone tunnels and tastings of their flagship Rubicon Cabernet. The grounds alone — ivy-covered château, formal gardens, reflecting pool — are worth the visit.

Dinner in a restored 1874 barn on a working farm — wood-grilled meats and vegetables grown feet from the kitchen, paired with estate wines poured without ceremony. One of the most honest and satisfying dinners in Napa Valley.

California's largest historic town plaza, anchored by the 1823 Mission San Francisco Solano and surrounded by tasting rooms, boutiques, and cafes. The Saturday morning farmers market is exceptional. Walk the plaza, pick up provisions, and ease into the day at the pace Sonoma was built for.

Farm-to-table Californian cooking right on the plaza, with a seasonal menu that changes with what's arriving from local farms. The wood-fired dishes and natural wine list make this the most interesting lunch in Sonoma.

The 1,400-acre Beauty Ranch where Jack London lived and wrote, tucked into the forested hills above Glen Ellen. Walk to the ruins of Wolf House, his dream stone mansion that burned in 1913, and the cottage where he actually lived and wrote. The trails through the oak woodland are some of the most peaceful in Sonoma Valley.