Things to Do in Napa Valley Besides Wine Tasting: A Different Side of Wine Country

Last Updated on October 28, 2026 by Lauren Belzer Sanford

Some travelers arrive in Napa with a tasting itinerary in hand, reservations stacked back to back, and a designated driver already confirmed. I love that traveler. I often am that traveler. But Napa has so much going on beyond the glass.

Max’s parents moved to the valley in early 2020, and years of visits have shown me that Napa has a whole other life beyond the wineries. Whether you’re carving one wine-free afternoon out of a longer trip, traveling with someone who doesn’t drink, or simply want to see the valley from a different angle, these are my favorite things to do in Napa Valley besides wine tasting, from the bucket list to the simply lovely.

The best things to do in Napa Valley besides wine tasting are grazing your way through Oxbow Public Market, wandering Yountville on foot, building a picnic at Oakville Grocery, an olive oil tasting at Round Pond Estate, a cooking class at the Culinary Institute of America, a gondola ride on the Napa River, a Calistoga mud bath, and, if you’re braver than me, a sunrise hot air balloon ride. Most of these are easy to fit around one or two tastings a day.

Still deciding where to stay? My guide to the best hotels in Napa Valley covers every corner of the valley, and when you’re ready to head back to the tasting room, here are the best wineries in Napa Valley.

Graze Through Downtown Napa & Oxbow Public Market

Downtown Napa deserves more credit than it gets. It’s become a walkable stretch of boutiques, galleries, and some of the best restaurants in the valley. Spend an afternoon strolling the riverfront and popping into independent shops, and follow the Napa Art Walk, a free, self-guided collection of large-scale sculptures that rotates around downtown.

Then make your way to Oxbow Public Market. If you’re any kind of food person, give it at least an hour, probably two. Vendors rotate, but you’ll reliably find specialty coffee, fresh oysters, charcuterie and cheese, handmade chocolate, and an olive oil bar. It’s a perfect first stop on a Napa morning (coffee, a few treats, a seat on the sunny deck) or an easy lunch between tastings. It gets busier as the day goes on, so earlier is better.

Build a Picnic at Oakville Grocery

Oakville Grocery has been a wine country institution since 1881, and a stop here feels as essential as any tasting room. The little market sits right on Highway 29 and is stocked with local wine, artisan cheese, charcuterie, and all kinds of gourmet goodies. Put together a picnic, grab lunch on the go, or just wander the shelves for things to bring home.

If you take nothing else from this post: buy the mustard. It’s not cheap, but it’s one of the best things I’ve ever put on a sandwich, and I’ve restocked it every visit since my first jar.

Take a Class at the Culinary Institute of America

If wine is the soul of Napa Valley, food is a very close second, and the Culinary Institute of America has two campuses here. Downtown, CIA at Copia is the more accessible of the two: a bright, modern space with hands-on cooking classes, demonstrations, a kitchen shop, and The Grove restaurant. Classes range from pasta to pastry to cuisines from around the world.

Up in St. Helena, the Greystone campus is the more dramatic of the two, a 19th-century stone building set among the vineyards and home to The Gatehouse. The setting alone is worth the drive north. For more options around the valley, browse Napa cooking classes and culinary experiences on Viator.

Explore Yountville on Foot

I have a soft spot for Yountville that borders on obsessive. It’s a tiny town, less than a mile long with a few thousand residents, and yet it’s one of the loveliest, most walkable places in all of California. Tree-lined streets, galleries, tasting rooms, and some of the most renowned restaurants in the valley, including The French Laundry. It does get busy, but Bouchon Bakery is a must at least once, for a morning croissant or an afternoon macaron (or both).

It’s the kind of town where you park once and don’t need the car again. Stay nearby, come for a long lunch, or spend an afternoon in and out of shops; Yountville moves at exactly the right pace.

Book an Olive Oil Tasting at Round Pond

Napa is serious olive oil country, too, and Round Pond Estate makes both wine and estate-pressed olive oil. Their olive oil experience walks you through the working mill and the harvest and pressing process, then lets you taste fresh extra virgin oils alongside flavored oils and vinegars. It’s a lovely way to include a non-drinker or the designated driver in the fun.

Ride a Gondola on the Napa River

Napa Valley or Italy? Downtown Napa has a fleet of Venetian-style gondolas that glide along the Napa River, guided by real gondoliers who are happy to serenade you if you ask. It’s romantic, a little silly, and completely charming, especially in the evening when the waterfront lights up. Book ahead on weekends.

Float Over the Valley in a Hot Air Balloon

I’ll be honest: heights are not my thing, so this one is still on my list. But if the balloons drifting over the valley at sunrise are that beautiful from the ground, I can only imagine the view from the basket. People who’ve done it say it’s hard to put into words: the valley spread out below, the light still soft and gold, rows of vines running toward the mountains in every direction. One day I’ll find the courage.

Flights usually last about an hour, but plan on three to four hours with check-in, inflation, landing, and the breakfast many operators include. Small-group options keep the basket intimate, which makes it a lovely morning for two or a few friends. Compare dates and group sizes before you book, directly or through Napa hot air balloon rides on Viator.

Book a Spa Day (or a Calistoga Mud Bath)

Wine country and a spa day are a natural pairing. Several of the valley’s best hotels have spas worth booking even if you’re not a guest; Auberge du Soleil and Carneros Resort and Spa come up again and again as two of the best.

For something more unique, head north to Calistoga, where geothermal hot springs have made mud baths a local tradition. Calistoga Spa Hot Springs pairs its treatments with mineral pools, and you can stay right there. It’s also a hotel, so you can make a night of it; the link below books a room there.

Plan a Meal Worth the Trip

You could spend a whole trip to Napa without setting foot in a tasting room and still eat extraordinarily well. The valley is home to a concentration of Michelin-starred and James Beard-recognized restaurants that rivals any big food city. The French Laundry in Yountville is still one of the most coveted reservations in the world, so book months ahead (it’s on my list). For something special and a little more within reach, Bear at Stanly Ranch has become one of my favorites in the valley. For a casual lunch, Gott’s Roadside in St. Helena (and next to Oxbow in Napa) is a staple. My guide to the best restaurants in Napa Valley has the full list, sorted by occasion.

If you want it all laid out, start with my Napa Valley weekend itinerary, then add an afternoon or two from this list. You’ll leave knowing the valley a little better than most.