Ready to live in Paradise?
So, you’re moving to Napa! These are the five things you must know before moving to, or buying a vacation home here in beautiful Napa Valley! And, the fifth is one you don’t want to miss!
You probably found my website because you were searching for things about Napa that you want to know before you make the move here – whether it is relocating or buying that dream vacation home in wine country. Well, you’ve landed on the perfect website for just that – so let’s get started!
Moving To Napa
Number One
Unlike other parts of the country, Napa offers a huge diversity of different architecture in our homes including mid-century modern, craftsman, farmhouses, Mediterranean, colonial revival and many more. There are over a dozen different and unique neighborhoods within the City of Napa, each offering beautifully styled homes which will suit the most discerning buyer. One of my favorite neighborhoods is in the Downtown area where you will find fabulous historical homes – 87 of them to be exact – many of which are on the National Register of Historical Properties including those on the Alphabet Streets, Coombs Street, Laurel Street, Main Street and many more.
If you are looking for a specific style of home, drop me a comment below and I’ll be happy to guide you to the perfect neighborhood for you.
Number Two
There are SO many things to do here in Napa and the surrounding areas that aren’t just phenomenal cuisine and the best wine in the world! For instance, if you love to hike or bike, Napa has some of the best opportunities for you. There are dozens of hiking trails to choose from which will keep your weekends busy during the cooler months from November through April. One is located just west of the very popular Browns Valley neighborhood (where I live) called Westwood Hills Park. A decent incline will take you to the top of the park’s hill where you will see vineyards and gorgeous landscape for miles.
As for biking, there is the ever popular Napa Valley Vine Trail that runs from Kennedy Park in South Napa up to the north end of Yountville, however the plans are to increase this to include the entire Napa Valley – a full 47 miles of biking trails from the ferry terminal in Vallejo all the way up to Calistoga! It’s a gorgeous trail that runs alongside Hwy 29 and the Napa Valley Wine Train tracks and there are lots of stops along the way including Laird Family Estates Winery just off of Wine Country Lane and restaurants galore in Yountville where you can stop for a delicious lunch.
Number Three
Speaking of wine and food… there’s simply no beating the culinary experiences you’ll enjoy when moving to Napa because they are literally on every corner of the Valley! From small, family owned two acre vineyards to hundreds of acres – there’s a vintage and varietal for everyone. You’ll find household varietals such as Chardonnays and Zinfandels to more unique blends including Sangiovese, Barbera and Grenache. Want a recommendation (or ten!) of some of my favorite wineries and tasting rooms? Leave a comment below and I’ll be happy to provide you with a few.
And when it comes to food in the Valley, well, it’s truly endless. Sure, there’s the tried and true American cuisine, but Napa is known for it’s vast array of food experiences, including seven Michelin Star restaurants (including Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery in Yountville). I actually created a separate video of some of my favorite restaurants that you can check out at the end of this video.
Number Four
The beauty of what moving to Napa has to offer is not only centered around the Valley itself. In fact, Napa is perfectly positioned in North Bay where there’s everything from the Pacific Ocean to the West. Yosemite National Park to the East, Lake Tahoe to the North and City life to the South to experience and enjoy year round! You truly cannot find this anywhere else in the Country! Each of these are within one to three hours away which can easily be made into either a day trip or a weekend getaway. P.S. Your family and friends will be visiting often and who could blame them after you tell them all about your amazing adventures in your new home!
Number Five
Ok, last but not least, and this is also an important part when thinking about friends and family coming to visit on a regular basis! You’re definitely going to want to keep a budget in mind for all the wine memberships you are about to join! One of the unsurprising commonalities I find with my buyers who are relocating or purchasing their vacation home here in Napa is that they all love exquisite wine. And with over 500 choices of wineries just in Napa County alone, you’re going to very quickly have more than a handful of favorites that you will be signing up for memberships. However, the good news about that is, is that each membership comes with their own perks, from unlimited free tastings to free group events and much more – perfect for your out of town guests!
So that’s my five things you should know about moving to Napa and what you can expect to enjoy and experience when living here. If you have any questions or would like more information about purchasing a home here, please reach out to me via the contact information below. I would be thrilled to speak with you and help you find the home of your Napa dreams!
I’m Suzanne Hawken, and I am living in Napa California.
