What an amazing and truly great experience I had at the Napa Valley Wine Train. This was my first…read moretime and we decided on the gourmet lunch experience. Each cart is called by number and you get in a line before boarding. Before boarding they also take your picture which you can purchase at the end of the tour. Food options were delicious and they have extra options to add on such as appetizers and extra drinks. It was a 3 course meal with dessert. You are seated throughout the tour and have small breaks to get up and walk around. Truly a wonderful experience but be prepared to sit for long hours. Staff were beyond great and made the experience even better!

I purchased the Legacy Experience. Overall, 2.5/5 stars…read moreTrain 3/5, fun experience, but not a necessary way to enjoy all Napa has to offer. The rail follows alongside the highway so views were not necessarily 'outstanding' because I was on the train. I do not need to ride this train to see these views. I did not have to drive, that brings the rating up, but there are MANY ways to not drive in Napa. It was a little rickety, but acceptable. The food, 2/5 stars, substandard for the cost. Portions were small (half a piece of bacon, 1 small egg for a Benedict, etc.) and taste was middle of the road. The service/staff 4/5. Most everyone was very hospitable and did their job well. However, it did feel as if we were 'just another group'. Everything is very script and not especially personalized. For example, I'm on a wine train and no one asked my wine preference. Which brings me to the wine we tasted on the train 1/5. I expected a higher quality of tastings. In addition, offer a choice of flight, white or red or a mix of both. Or, hear me out...offer wine pairings for each course (included with my ticket, not for extra cost). Stopping at the sign and enjoying the tasting in the open car was a wonderful choice, wine selection is greatly lacking and to be honest, a great disappointment. Overall, I enjoyed my time, but this was not necessarily due to being on the Napa train specifically, it was because I was on vacation in Napa. I could see the business cutting costs in almost every aspect and that is unfair because I am paying a premium cost of approx. $100/h. And for some of that time, I'm at the winery and not even on the train. Which brings me to the end of my rating, for the stops 2.9/5. The stops felt rushed, especially our first stop. They are about an hour each, but this includes disembark and reembark times. I wanted a little more time at each winery to make a purchase or walk the grounds. I will not be recommending this particular experience, I believe many improvements can be made. Lastly, I booked this experience due to several social media content creators experience. These creators are getting their experiences paid for. Be sure to read ratings from those of us not being sponsored.

The owner gave us an awesome ride down the Napa river.... It was a great experience and would…read morerecommend it to anybody to do at least once. Looking forward to renting canoes from him to enjoy during the summer.

This was my first time ever going on a gondola and I took my family as well. The staff were so…read morepatient and kind as they assisted my grandmother, who was having a hard time getting into the gondola. They tried different ways to assist her and she finally got in. In my party, there was 5 of us, who were all curvy and we all got in and had a fun time. Shawn, our gondolier and owner, played music, gave us information, and even sung songs. I would definitely be back to experience it again and try their other cruises as well. It was such a peaceful and beautiful moment. I believe everyone should try it at least once. Big thanks to Shawn and Nolan.

We booked a Saturday tour and were picked up at a parking lot with ample spaces to park. Our guide…read morewas nice and friendly and we stopped at 3 wineries. The first two wineries were touristy and about $50 each for a tasting. The third winery was small but was the best out of all three. Lunch was salad and pizza at a restaurant. It wasn't "gourmet" as stated in the description but was tasty. Also, if you have long hair you might want to bring a hair tie because it's a windy ride.

We reserved this experience for our first day of our Napa vacation. It was a great experience and…read moreour tour guide/driver was excellent. We stopped at four different wineries and had a fantastic catered lunch at one of them. One thing to be aware of is that the tasting fees at each winery is a separate charge, so budget accordingly. I would highly recommend this as a better value than the wine train.

If you're a foodie then this foodie tour is for you. We…read moreactually had originally done this Napa tour back in 2015. My wife was adamant in wanting to do the Sonoma foodie tour since she had never been in Sonoma before. Sherry kept in constant contact with my wife by email & text as she was our same tour guide back then. In fact she called her the day before & expressed concern of establishments not fully opened due to covid. So she managed to persuade my wife to do the foodie tour in Napa again instead. Maybe bc my wife told her she was wearing a long dress. Yup that did it! Sherry had started us at the infamous Oxbow public market with taking pics of the 4 of us in front. Yes that was a plus bc how often do you vacation & you do a quick selfie of everywhere you go? Ugh...all the time! LOL Sherry was informative, personable & quite the leader for our tour. She was sensitive to our needs & we totally enjoyed our six different stops walking leisurely from Oxbow market to throughout downtown Napa & back to the market. We had even walked by their farmers market which was on a Tuesday but unfortunately they were in the process of closing up since it was already noon. Our tour was a full three hours & we were totally satiated. What was quite enjoyable was we were with another couple whom we already knew in advance. Supposedly there was supposed to be 6 of us but that third couple mistakenly came the day before. Haha my wife said it was bc the Mercury was in retrograde! This foodie tour was ultimately like our own private tour! Yay! It was also to celebrate my wife's birthday. She had the time of her life. Thank you Sherry! Hope to go on your foodie tour in Sonoma one day soon! Book your next foodie tour here in Napa with Sherry! I highly recommend her. Remember to support these small local businesses & don't forget to tip!

Wow!! What an experience!! Sherry was our tour guide and a great one! She picked the perfect spots…read more Every item we ate was amazing. We went back and grabbed more English muffins from Model Bakey, they're to die for! Would def recommend for anyone heading to the Napa area. So glad we did it! We also met a nice couple who was in our group. Nicely priced too.

Nick let us on a spectacular three-day winery trip in Napa. We had the privilege of meeting many…read moreof the owners of small vineyards that he took us to, which led to a very personal and rewarding visit. Furthermore, all the wines were spectacular. We would highly recommend you use Nick for your wine tours and allow him to pick the vineyards. The small personal visits were so much more rewarding than going to big vineyards that are more commercial. He is also very accommodating and allowed us to change schedules as needed. He is extremely personable and knowledgeable about the area as well. I cannot say enough positive things about him and our experience.

Nick is awesome. He crafts excellent itineraries of hidden gems you wouldn't find on your own. His…read morevan is clean and spacious, he is professional and punctual, and he's just a nice guy to spend the day with. I've hired Nick both times I've been in the Napa Valley, and I'll hire him every time I return. You should do the same!

Well, we booked a wine tour while in Napa at the suggestion of our hotel. After checking their…read moreratings here (4.8 stars with 1.1k reviews), we felt comfortable with that. Actually, impressed. If Platypus keeps up the experience we had, that 4.8 will go even higher. Our driver, Gary, was personable and accommodating. He gave us some info along the drive to three boutique wineries, but did not drone on and on as some tour drivers can do. This allowed the 12 of us to chat, get to know each other a bit more and build some rapport. We stopped at three wineries: Rutherford Ranch, Ghost Block and Backstage. Each gave us 4 to 5 tastings. At Ghost Block, we also had a very nice box lunch. By the end of the tour (it was all day), we had all had some wonderful conversations and experienced some great boutique wineries. If you are in Napa, I highly recommend Platypus!

The best small groups wine tasting tour at an attractive pricing. I honestly never really thought…read moreabout the fact that I am drinking and driving. Met great people who made the journey even more fun. By the end of day you are best friends If you have specific wineries you want you can book a private tour with the guide. So many fun facts I learned about the industry.

This place was amazing!!! We weren't sure what to expect because it was our first time going on a…read moreballoon ride, but it's definitely something I can say I'm glad I did. I'll start from he beginning cause there's alot to unfold in this review. We met up at the Napa Valley wine train at 5:30 am. Don't be late cause a few people were and we were waiting on them. They give you your itinerary and you sign a waiver , and the. You meet your pilot. They drove us in their vans to the take off point which was off the train track. See the video, it was amazing. I was worried that the wind might be to much fir the too lift off, but they said if they can't, they have alternative locations. Once we got I'm the air it was very smooth and very relaxing. There we about 20 people in our basket. Not alot of room, but keep in mind your not going to move around in the balloon basket . We rose up in the ir and went where the wind took us. After our pilot explained everything to us we were confident he knew what he was doing . He even took us inside a hillside where we were able to get close to some trees . Landing was pretty smooth. They picked up up with their vans and drive us back. And this is where it goes from 4 stars to 5. We purchase the champagne package which I highly recommend. We got to share a bottle of champagne with our pilot and he told us all about the first hot air ballon, which was way before airplanes , and explained to us where the name Pilot came from. Overall , it was a great end to a great experience and I highly recommend it .

I give it a 4.5. We had to arrive super early and wait for them to set up everything. It was cold…read moreoutside and they did provide coffee, hot chocolate and snacks. We the weather being so unpredictable we had to wait. I was fine with wait because i do value my life. I had the chance to cross off a major item from my bucket list. A hot air balloon ride and wow, what an experience! The views were absolutely breathtaking. Floating high above the landscape, seeing everything from a completely new perspective, was truly magical. The sunrise was especially beautiful as we drifted along, and the silence up there, broken only by the loud occasional burst of the burner, was unlike anything I've ever experienced. That said, there were a few things to consider. The heat from the burner can be overwhelming, especially if you're not prepared for it. I didn't wear a hat, and I really wish I had and i am short 5'2 those blasts of hot air can get pretty intense when they hit you directly! So, if you're planning this trip, definitely bring something to cover your head. The landing was a bit of a wild ride, too. The ground was much harder and more uneven than I expected, and we didn't quite know where we'd land until we were almost on top of it. Also getting in and out can be extremely challenging. It's hard climbing into and out of the basket and it's very tightly packed. Not a lot of space to move. I knew the risks going in but the whole experience was so worth it. Even with those little surprises, it was absolutely incredible. Would I do it again? Definitely not! Despite the heat and the bumpy landing, the beauty of the experience makes it all worthwhile and a one timer for me. I highly recommend it if you're looking for something unique and unforgettable to add to your list of adventures. Just don't forget your hat!

Hands Down the Best Driver in Napa Valley!…read more I discovered George on Yelp, and after comparing other Napa car services--many quoting well over $1,000 for wine tours--it's clear why his customers rave about him. His reviews truly say it all! There were plenty of reasons we chose George over the rest. From our very first contact, George was incredibly responsive and communicative. I had a party of 10 (6 adults and 4 kids) for my husband's 40th birthday celebration and needed a vehicle that could securely accommodate a car seat with a latch system--his car was absolutely perfect. He arrived right on time, greeted us warmly, and was super easy to talk to. Throughout the day, George consistently arrived within minutes at each of our destinations. He didn't just drop us off--he guided us to the exact entrances and exits of every winery, making the whole experience smooth and stress-free. On top of that, he shared insightful feedback about why each winery is special, adding a whole new level of appreciation to our tour. Another bonus, he provided water in an iced cooler and white glove door service! What really stood out was George's impressive local knowledge. Without even needing navigation, he expertly drove us from Petaluma to Napa while sharing fascinating stories and history about the wineries, estates, and the region itself. If you want a professional, friendly, affordable, and knowledgeable driver for your Napa experience, George is your guy! Highly recommend and would easily book him for our next trip!

The service provided by George was excellent. From initial conversation on booking, to suggestions…read morefor wineries, pick up and full day of fun. We were a party of 6 and would definitely recommend his services to any friends heading to Wine Country.

It has always been an item on my bucket list to see bioluminescent plankton. However I held very…read morelittle hope of ever seeing it because it was my understanding that you never know when or where it'll ever appear. So when my wife mentioned that Napa Valley Paddle was doing a guided kayak tour though bioluminescent waters in Tomales Bay I had no choice but to book a trip. I've been kayaking exactly twice before and both times on lakes in broad daylight. So I was a little nervous about kayaking in a salt water bay in the dark. Hopefully the water is smooth and it doesn't get too choppy for my wife and I. Also, I had low expectations, maybe the plankton won't be there that night, and if it is, it's probably a very subtle glow that you almost have to use your imagination to see. When we arrived we found ourselves in a parking lot at the Miller Boat Launch in Marshall. We got some basic instructions on kayaking, given life vests and whistles and headlamps set to red light to wear backwards. It was all pretty laid back and chill. As the sun went away and the fog came in we paddled out to Hog Island and by the time we were close to it, it was dark enough that some people were beginning to see the water light up. Fortunately the water was very calm and it was comforting to see all the red headlamps on the water to guide us on our way. We paddked clear across the bay to the other side where there were cliffs making the water especially dark there. This is where we turned off all of our lights. There was no subtlety at all, it was nothing less than magical. The water lit up with every paddle and every splash. It was a smooth blue glow in the dark with occasional spatks mixed in. We spent a good while paddling around and splashing and generally bring awed by the trippy water. Then it was time to start heading back, the goal was to paddle around the other side of Hog Island where the water is also very fun to look at. However the water glowed the whole way there even. Unfortunately this is also when conditions changed. We had a nasty headwind and the water got choppy. We were seriously worried we might capsize as we paddled like crazy to get to the island again. When we finally got there, we were done. We just wanted was to get back to the car and go home and drink hot coacoa. So we kept on paddling as hard as we could while we struggled to keep the kayak heading in the right direction. People were starting to scatter and soon the only lights to follow were at the boat launch we came from. Whether that actually was the boat launch was debatable but it was the only indication of civilization so we kept heading in that direction. Maybe it was because we were heavier than anyone else or perhaps we just couldn't paddle very well but we lagged behind in the dark. To make things even more interesting the conditions continued to worsen. We had to fight the wind and the choppy water harder as we made that last leg of the paddle back to shore. Fortunately the lights we were aiming for did happen to be where we needed to land and although we missed the dock we did get to shore soaked but not dreched and we managed to actually make it without going into the drink. Needless to say, it became an adventure however no one could have predicted conditions would change like they did. Apparently under typical conditions we would have had a tail wind and that part of the trip should have been the easy part. A professional paddle boarder who was with our group told us those conditions were "insane" and it was not something she would have willingly attempted unless it was over a short distance in daylight. So we feel better about ourselves having a hard time making it back. I'm very glad we did this, it's a beautiful memory, and a great story to tell, and I highly recommend going.

We met Tanya downtown at the river walk and she set us up with a Fagan Marsh kayak trip the next…read moreday. Loved talking with Drew beforehand, learning about wetland restoration efforts and how quickly nature can rebound. The slough was peaceful and sparkling on this sunny October afternoon. We observed cranes and fish nibbling at surface snacks. In the distance, you can see Mount Tam and a bit closer--the Brazos railroad bridge. While there is much to see and do in Napa, this experience at the end of our trip was a definite highlight.

Do yourself a favor and book MNVD for your trip. I could not recommend Mike Z or the company more…read more They were so easy to work with and the pricing is straight forward with no hidden fees. I loved that we were able to utilize our turo since we were already paying for that daily. The pricing is outstanding and the experience is even better! Mike Z was not only our driver, but also our tour guide and friend throughout our two days in wine country. We already had a booked itinerary, but he had great recommendations and even books your itinerary if needed. He is extremely knowledgeable of the area and had an answer to every question I threw at him. He went above and beyond! We will absolutely use this company again and request Mike Z next time we are back in wine country!

Tyler was awesome! Came right on time both days and was truly perfect. The fact that he knows both…read morevalleys super well and the wineries really made me feel comfortable with him. He is low key and knowledgeable and friendly. I only wish we could transport him to Southern CA. He helped make our trip perfect.