After My Own Art…read more Located on 217 acres of pristine Napa Valley land, the Di Rosa is a contemporary art museum that's been operating publicly since 1997. This museum is the personal collection of Rene & Veronica di Rosa. The Good: *Temporary exhibits rotate approximately every four months. *Complimentary umbrellas (more on that later) *A good portion of the exhibits are outdoors along their gorgeous property. *Shuttle if you don't want to or need assistance walking from building to building. *You really have to like weird shit because this place is full of it. Personally, I love it, but if you're more "serious" art person, then this probably won't be your jam. *Picnic tables on the grounds, as you're encouraged to bring food and drink to enjoy in their outdoor area. *Friendly staff The Meh: *General admission of $25 might be a touch high for an art museum. The Ugly: *Be wary when visiting during inclement weather,as there's a large part of this museum that's outdoors. So you'll probably miss out on some of it, but the free umbrellas (mentioned above) did come in handy. Conclusion: Fun art museum with some really cool pieces and doesn't take itself too seriously.

Great art collection. The car by David best was my favorite - a local. The political exhibits were…read moreinteresting as well. Thought provoking and inspiring conversations. The outdoor gallery seemed so vast and too much to cover in one visit. Appreciated the shuttle ! Everyone that worked there was so knowledgeable and excited about the works. Highly recommend.

A small, sweet and informative community nature museum, focused on children. Exhibits are all at…read morekid-level for easy viewing. Focus is on animals, birds, insects and rocks found in the Napa area. Although animals and birds are stuffed (road kill) they give kids a very complete picture of the wildlife found in the Napa area. displays are simple but the animals are all in great condition (not a dozens of years old like in some museums). There are also several hands-on exhibits such as pelts of a raccoon, bear, deer, etc for kids to touch; coloring sheets for young kids; and other activities. There is a small library and rug area for class visits and presentations. There are also ongoing programs on the weekends for local kids, A small gift counter sells pencils, books, bookmarks, inexpensive earrings and other items. This nature center is staffed lovingly by volunteers. Not a destination place exactly, but if you're going to Copia with kids 10 and under, worth a stop. NOTE: There is no parking directly in front of the museum, but plenty of parking in the park adjacent to it. Hours are Sat and Sun 1-4pm; other hours for class visits during the week. Call ahead since museum is run by volunteers.

The Carolyn Parr Nature Museum recently reopened after the Aug. 24, 2014 quake. It's housed in a…read moresmall temporary building. It's kid and family-friendly, with helpful volunteers. The dioramas exhibit the different Napa Valley habitats- woodland, riparian, chaparral. Like Pt. Reyes NS, they have tons of creepy taxidermy- some which can be held, like a barn owl or a bear's claw (the bear claws at Buttercream Bakery are less intimidating) An enormous bear greets visitors, with a mountain lion beside it. One gets the sense that at one time, these animals were very much alive. They have a little library, as well as a small display on local geology- which, unfortunately, leaves out the nearby West Napa Fault. The Carolyn Parr Nature Museum has a pleasant little gift shop, as well as an overgrown California native plant garden outside. A fun outing.

Staff were incredibly friendly!…read more The upper pond was lovely. Lots of spots to sit down. Perfect place to bring some snacks and hang out. The flowers were pretty. A lot of the trails were shaded!

The Sonoma Botanical garden was much bigger than I thought it would be. At 67 acres, I think it's…read morethe largest in the bay area, The garden felt more like an arboretum with trails and lots of trees rather than a stroll garden with flowers. The first time I went I didn't realize you could look at a map beforehand because it's not a simple find on their website but I suggest looking beforehand to see what it offers (plan your visit-visitor information-download map). The rose garden here was underwhelming. This one was quite small and didn't look like it was maintained. If you want to see roses I'd recommend the nearby Cornerstone gardens, which have a much better rose garden, and they don't charge an entrance fee. I loved the pond with the lily pads and the Asian garden with all the greenery and small bridges. I also loved how garden was right next to a vineyard. Sonoma is beautiful and warm and it's nice driving up the 12 looking at wineries and admiring the scenery.

It's a very nice museum with a professional staff. The history of Napa included a long stretch of…read moremineral spring tourism. They also have a gift shop to support the facility. Admission is free.

Preserving History…read more Founded in May 1948 by local citizens, Napa County Historical Society is a membership-based archival and educational organization. Its mission is "to discover and keep history alive through exhibits, lectures, and events, as well as research, publications, and educational activities". It has been located in the beautiful Goodman Library building since 1970s thanks to Jess Doud who was the Executive Director at the time. Visitors can enjoy various displays, exhibits, and educational programs at this location. If visiting, you might check the calendar of events posted on their website in advance of your visit to take full advantage of the programs they offer.

Now I know there was a failed museum in Napa that focused on wine and food called COPIA. However, I…read morewasn't aware that there's been a local art museum next to Chandon in Yountville since 1972 until Jamie read about the special tiki bar exhibition running until the end of this month, "Tiki Dreams: From Far Away Fantasy to Pop Culture Phenomenon". Definitely up our alley. Well, given our recent run on patronizing tiki bars here and abroad, we just had to go. We went up on a recent Saturday, and the museum was crowded with tiki aficionados. It turned out Bank of America was sponsoring an admission-free day, so we took advantage and became engulfed in what felt like a claustrophobic space that was equal parts arts & crafts fair and vintage memorabilia. There was definite entertainment value if you miss this mid-century phenomenon. There were other exhibition rooms, but we weren't made aware of them by the staff. Perusing the website, I noticed some interesting past exhibitions like "The Great California Road Trip 1962", something that appeals to my baby boomer sensibilities. Next to Chandon and close to other attractions, this might be worthy of a return visit. RELATED - Exploring north of San Francisco? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2tIHlkV

Visited the Napa Valley Museum during the Tiki Dreams, Mini Masterpieces, and the Great California…read moreRoad Trip exhibits. I went for the Tiki Dreams exhibit in particular. The largest exhibit is in the main building on the ground floor with the admissions desk and gift shop. The tiki exhibit itself was quaint and small. Mugs, old menus, photos and history of tiki bars, one set of Witco chairs and table, plus a hand built bar by local artist Woody Miller. Interesting to see but ultimately a quick walk through maybe intended more for those looking for nostalgia. They were selling tiki merchandise and mugs at inflated prices at the gift shop. Mugs that were $150 at the original events are being marked up and sold for $230. Almost all of the gift shop merch was overpriced. The other two exhibits downstairs were small and it smelled of sulfur or sewage since they are located below the bathrooms.. Really off putting. We looked through mini masterpieces and Great California Road Trip exhibits in at most 15 minutes and left. Entry to the museum is $15 per person... We went during Bank Of America's Museum on Us which takes place every first full weekend of the month. Bring your Bank of America credit or debit card and entry is free. Luckily one of us got in for free with this promo.

Oh my goodness literally one of the most amazing experience gems in Petaluma. If you have a child…read moreand are looking for a wonderful way to spend quality time for a couple to several hours on a Saturday, you simply need to go visit the Petaluma Wildlife Museum. This beautiful space is run by high school students who are in animal husbandry or communications-type classes and each, and almost every one, of them are wonderfully informative, kind, engaging, and helpful. Whoever is training these students is doing an outstanding job! The minute you walk through the door they are there to guide you through this fun Petaluma experience. They have thousands of dollars (likely hundreds of thousands) in quality and unique taxidermy animals that are thoughtfully displayed, and where the children can get up close and personal with creatures from all over the planet. We particularly love the room that focuses on the national parks (as our favorite states are represented)! We have taken our grandson here three times at six months intervals and every time he discovered something new. They have a fabulous dinosaur room as well and the students we've encountered are highly educated and love to share tidbits of information. They also have a charming compact outdoor area where kids love to roam and they also have an arts space where kids can draw and explore. It's $5 per person as of 2026 (and I want to say that our almost 3 year-old grandson was free each time). GO! Check out this phenomenal community asset on any given Saturday and you'll be so glad you did! Five giant stars!

This is such a wonderful place to visit on Saturdays! It's donated by a local business man and the…read morehigh school students volunteer on Saturdays to help visitors understand the wild life displayed in the museum. Every high school student volunteers have extensive knowledge of the wild life. We were amazed by all the stories and information told. They even let us touch some of the animals there. It's not just for kids. Adults will definitely enjoy it too.

We had a fantastic experience at Hess Persson Winery--easily one of the best in Napa. We sampled…read morethe release wines, including the Moon Mountain Cab, and everything was exceptional. The cheese plate paired perfectly and elevated the tasting even more. The estate itself is peaceful, beautiful, and set high up on Mt. Veeder with stunning views--it's the perfect place to relax and really enjoy the moment. The wines are outstanding across the board, and the reserve pours were a real highlight. What truly sets this winery apart is the people. Alicia, the manager, was excellent--welcoming, attentive, and incredibly accommodating. Jason and another top manager also stopped by, made us feel right at home, and even treated us to extra pours of their high-quality reserve wines, which was a great touch. We will be back for another great experience if they will have us again

Absolutely unbelievably fantastic time! Our wine educator Lance, was the BEST!! If you are lucky…read moreenough to do a tasting with him, you are guaranteed a experience that is equally educational as it is fun! He went above and beyond for our bachelorette trip and this tasting was a highlight of the weekend. The space is beautiful and be sure to check out the art gallery. I'd recommend this winery a million times over.

Ever wondered about how Williams Sonoma started?…read more The Chuck Williams Culinary Art Museum houses the personal collection of the Williams Sonoma founder. Over four thousand artifacts that showcase the diversity, beauty and functionality of cookware, bakeware and kitchen tools. Interesting to see the wall filled with copper clad bundt pans. So many displays organized by theme and displayed beautifully. Gorgeous rolling pins. Butter molds. Coffee pots. Whisks. The historic kitchen displays are very interesting. The museum is located in the CIA, the Culinary Institute of America at Copia. Fortunately it is free as it is a very small museum. Perfect for a quick stop. Free parking is also available. Check out the large fork and the culinary garden while you are at the CIA if it is not in triple digits (like it was in October!!)

Bake Your Art Art…read moremuseum, of sorts, located inside the CIA** at Copia that features over 4,000 unique pieces is cookware, tools, appliances, and other unique culinary gadgets that have been collected thru the years. The Good: *Free! *Definitely interesting for those of us who enjoy cooking, gadgets, tools, and (D) all-of-the-above. The Meh: *While looking at this stuff is cool, it can only provide a certain level of entertainment. Read, it gets kinda boring after about 20 minutes. The Ugly: *The duck press is kinda wild. Read about it if you've never heard or seen one. Conclusion: Interesting for foodies and free, but don't expect to kill more than an hour here. **Culinary Institute of America, not that other CIA

The best museum I've visited in the north bay. Amazing and beautiful exhibits you can tell whoever…read moremade this museum put their heart and soul into it and the staff are very nice and friendly. Definitely recommend.

Stopped by with my wife on Friday since it's the only museum in Calistoga and we really enjoyed it…read more The place is quiet, neat, and full of local history including Calistoga, Ben Sharpsteen, and even the Donner Party. The exhibits are creative and easy to follow, not boring at all. Karen was the highlight. She was so sweet, full of energy, and made the visit fun and memorable. Usually you expect staff at small museums to be a little dry but she was the complete opposite. It's also free to visit, which makes it an easy stop if you are in town. Definitely worth checking out.

Disappointing. I was recommended to go here by another winery, but I guess arriving at 3:10p is too…read morelate to get a tasting for one person. The did give me a free pour for the inconvenience and said I could enjoy the courtyard, but please don't sit at any tab,es as they've been sanitized. So I had a glass of wine and just stood there drinking it. Blah

We had visited Del Dotto 20 years prior and it was such fun we wanted to treat the family to the…read moreexperience during a family outing to Napa/Sonoma.. it did not disappoint, and this time our tour guide was not chastised by Desiree Del Dotto for have us sample her dad's private stock..... it was fantastic Great wine and a fantastic learning experience since the tour/tasting guides are friendly and knowledgeable.. Their single barrel offerings are phenomenal! A must do if you're in the area!