One of the most common worries guests share when they book is how to get around wine country if nobody wants to drive. The good news is that a car-free trip to Napa is not only possible, it is often more relaxing. Here's the three-day plan I'd give a close friend.
Getting here
Fly into San Francisco (SFO), Oakland (OAK) or Sonoma County (STS). From STS, it's a 45-minute private transfer to The Alder House. From SFO or OAK, allow about 75 to 90 minutes. Our concierge books cars from all three airports, and shared shuttles run from SFO several times a day if you prefer a lower-cost option.
Day one: settle in and taste at home
Arrive in time for a late lunch on the terrace at Alder Table. Once you're checked in, take a slow walk through the kitchen garden and orchard. At 4 pm, head down to the stone cellar for the Cellar Door Tasting. It's the easiest introduction to the valley's wines, and you can walk back to your room afterwards.
For dinner, take a short car ride to downtown Napa. Walk the riverfront promenade, browse Oxbow Public Market and choose a restaurant with a patio. A ride back to the hotel costs around $14 and takes nine minutes.
- Afternoon: garden walk and Cellar Door Tasting.
- Evening: riverfront dinner in downtown Napa.
Day two: bikes, Yountville and a driver
Have an early breakfast on the porch, then pick up bikes from our barn. The paved Napa Valley Vine Trail runs almost all the way to Yountville, roughly nine flat miles each way. Ride before it gets warm, stop for coffee and a pastry on Washington Street and wander the town's outdoor sculpture walk.
Here's the important part: don't ride back after tasting. Instead, call the front desk and our van will collect you and the bikes. From there, a pre-booked driver can take you to two appointment-only wineries in Oakville and Rutherford in the afternoon.
The best designated driver is the one who also knows where the back roads go.
- Morning: bike the Vine Trail to Yountville.
- Afternoon: private driver to two estates.
- Evening: dinner at Alder Table and an early night.
Day three: balloon, brunch and the pool
Yes, the alarm goes off before dawn. But floating over the valley at sunrise is the moment most guests talk about for years. The Sunrise Balloon Flight includes transfers from the hotel, so you don't need a car at all. After landing, you'll toast with sparkling wine and return to brunch on the porch.
Spend the warm afternoon by the pool or book a massage in the garden spa rooms. In the late afternoon, try the Cabernet Blending Workshop in the barrel room and take home a bottle with your own label. For your last night, reserve the five-course garden menu and let the sommelier choose the pairings.
- Dawn: balloon flight over Yountville.
- Afternoon: pool, spa and blending workshop.
- Evening: garden menu with wine pairing.
Practical tips for a car-free trip
- Book drivers and winery appointments at least a week ahead, and earlier during harvest.
- Ride-hail cars work well around Napa and Yountville but can take longer to reach up-valley estates.
- Wine shipping saves you carrying cases on a bike or in a shared car.
- Always carry water, sunscreen and a light layer for cellars and evenings.
Why car-free is better
Without a car, nobody has to count glasses or navigate Highway 29 at rush hour. You see the valley at the pace it deserves, from a bike saddle, a balloon basket and the back seat of a car driven by someone who knows every shortcut. Tell us your dates, and we'll put the whole plan together before you arrive.
