Where to stay

I think near downtown Napa (DT Napa) has the best options for kids. I’m sure any place with a pool is good but I have the most experience bringing my kids to the City of Napa and Yountville so I’m restricting my advice to those areas. Always interested in tips though! So reach out with any good experiences.

In general, I enjoy staying at Airbnbs or the like with kids so we have extra space to unwind or get a nap in if needed. Now that my kids are getting older I see the benefit of hotel amenities and the one with the most for kids is:

The Meritage Resort in Napa.

There is a bowling alley, a pool and shuttles to and from downtown. My kids would probably find shuttles the most memorable part of the trip, so likely a win for everyone.

Favorite Playgrounds

Yountville Park - Can grab a nice latte at the fancy service station nearby (Kelly’s). Enjoy the modern play structure, small but beautiful park, and Friday movies in the summer.

Playground Fantastico - The most advanced playground in Napa. Think big structures and an expansive toddler area + two sand boxes.

Kennedy Park - Nice play structure, great for picnics and can walk along a duck pond nearby.

Fuller Park - Sunny playground with sections for bigs and littles. Park planted with indigenous trees with lots of places to enjoy a blanket with shade. Usually a corner vendor sells fruit cups and fresh watermelon. Easy walk downtown.

WINE TASTING - a lot of places are 21+ but here are a few

Feast it Foward! (with me)- Book a tasting with me and hang out with festival vibes and good wine. Lots and lots of areas for your kids to run and play and they can view the wine train from the patio, always a big hit.

Hoopes - I haven’t been here myself, but I hear lots of good things about their animals that the kids can pet while you sip wine.

Matthiasson - I took my kids here for a release party recently. They played wih legos on the little patio and we enjoyed wine. I liked how small and low key it is and Steve Matthiasson is a big promoter of organic farming.

Farmstead - You can eat here, but in my opinion the food has gone a bit downhill. However, I love walking around the gardens and you can taste the wines here at their General Store with lots of space to roam. You can also play boardgames at their take-away cafe.

SPECIALTY KIDS ACTIVITIES

Connelly Ranch - Wonderful ranch with pigs, chickens, donkeys, a teaching garden, a mud pit and rope swings. A kid paradise. Sign up for Saturdays on the farm at 10am in advanced.

GUILD - Great art classes for kids. You can sign up for full day camps when the schools are closed. A pro tip may be to look up when NVUSD is out of school and plan your trip around sending your kids to a day camp here while you wine taste. Everyone wins!

CIA Copia - Cooking classes offered intermittenly for kids. I have not taken them yet but heard good things about the adult programming.

Summer Music in Veteran’s Park (DT Napa) - - a few Fridays in summer there is free live music, this is a great locals activity.

Summer Movies in Yountville Park - Not every Friday, but a few have movies, check the local events in Yountville for dates.

Lighted Art Festival in DT Napa (winter) - For a few weeks in Feb light installations are all over Downtown. The first week usually coincides with restaurant week in Napa, so great deals on food!

Bottlerock Festival - Memorial Day weekend Napa is taken over by this. It’s kid friendly in that there is a kids area and buses running to the festival. However, prices to stay this time of year are sky high.

restaurants

I like nicer restaurants (so I can still scratch that vacation itch) that are loud so my kids ipads or a random startling noise won’t disturb anyone. These are my favorites:

Napa

Breakfast

Contimo - This is where I go the most for take-out sausage biscuit sandwiches and NoLa coffee on the go. I have them make me a seasonal sandwich for a picnic lunch that I take with me in the AM.

Southside - Great open air brunch and coffee spot with hanging chairs to lounge in.

The General Store - Situated on the Napa River with a lot of space to run along the river front after a nice hearty breakfast. Also has beautiful public art to check out and photograph.

Napa Farmer’s Market - Saturday & Tuesday mornings - yummy donuts and lots of local purveyors, even a story time on Sat.

Lunch

La Cheve Bakery & Brews - Mexican food with awesome baked goods situation in the oldest builiding in Napa. History with a side of beer & tacos!

C Casa - Nice outdoor patio at the Oxbow Market and decent kids menu options. The crab taco and the seasonal taquitos are my go-to.

Gott’s - Great burger stand-by, also has a kids menu with impossible nuggets and hot dogs. The ahi tuna burger will make you feel like you’re on vacation.

Dinner

Moritmoto Asia - has large dragon scultptures and tasty dim sum - excellent food kids & adults can enjoy.

Oenotri - Some of the freshest pasta and pizza in Napa that also features seasonal changes. Nice to sit on the patio when it’s open. My five year old loves their basic salad with lots of cheese grated on top. He’s not usually into salad so this was a big win.

Napa Yard - Kids can run free in this mixed used area near the oxbow market.

Palisades - Kids eat free on Wednesday and the burgers and beers are refreshing after lots of wine.

Napa Sport - Great kids menu that includes a drink and ice cream for dessert. Lots of screens for entertainment. Also, it’s in the same facility as the movie theater

Yountville

Breakfast

Bouchon Bakery - Downside, there is usually a long line. Upside? The best baked goods in Napa.

Lunch

Ottimo - Gelato and pizza, must more be said? Very casual.

Addendum - This is a great picnic spot to get boxed lunches from during summer (it closes late Fall/Winter). You can order ahead and let your kids play on the grass. The caviar is divine and a (relatively) great deal too!

Dinner

La Calenda - My favorite fancy Mexican restaurant in Napa. Great margaritas and the mole enchilada is to die for. Excellent kids meals and quick servcie for them.

Activities within driving distance that we frequent

Di Rosa Museum (Carneros - 15min drive) - outdoor tram and sculpture garden with picnic tables. Pack a picnic.

Train Town (Sonoma - 20min drive) - 10am train ride and carnival style rides, followed by lunch at Hop Monk Tavern

Old Bale Grist Mill (Calistoga - 30min drive) - followed by lunch at A&W Rootbeer

Bay Area Discovery Museum (Marin - 1 hr drive) - entry at 10am, lunch at the Cafe inside

Cal Academy of Sciences - grab coffee, breakfast and sandwiches for later from Contimo. See the rainforest first, acquarium, then eat in the play structure area.

Muir Woods (Marin - 1hr drive) - need reservations

Bodega Bay / Dillon Beach - 1 hour 30min drive