(photo of Darioush Winery, Napa, courtesy of jimg944)

This week I received a wedding invitation, to attend a small ceremony in Napa County, California next summer. Destination weddings seem all the rage, at least with my friends anyways. This will be the 3rd one I have attended in the past 3 years.  

Having never been to Napa, the first thing that comes to mind is its world famous wine industry. The Napa Valley is very likely the most famous wine region in all the United States – even their county logo is an image of some tasty looking red grapes. The valley is home to more than 300 wineries, and more than 5 million people visit the region each year. Tour are available, so that you can explore the region by any method imaginable. 

Napa offers something for every tourist, and not only wine connoisseurs. (and of course, you can't tour wineries and test samples all day!)   The area also features hot air balloon rides, museums, spas, are galleries, and several local tour operators offer a vast array of services. 

There are also many parks and wilderness areas in Napa country, and the 850 acre Skyline Wilderness Park is open every day of the year, with more than 40 kilometres of hiking and biking trails available, and views of San Francisco on a clear day. 

San Francisco and Oakland are the nearest large metropolitan centres, just 70 kilometres away.