It's hard to miss this brightly colored building in downtown Napa and the historical marker on the…read moreside. I wasn't in a mood for drinking but I'm sure in a mood for a historical marker to share some of what has been. The marker is on the front of the building and reads, "Built in 1893, the Oberon was the hub of activity in downtown Napa. Patrons could buy a cigar, get a shave and a haircut for two bits, or relax with a cold beer while playing a leisurely game of pool or cards. Many a shoe was shined here. In 1932 the building burned down. Two years later the building was restored to its current Art Deco style. The Oberon was a hangout for boxing legend Rocky Marciano while training for fights. In 2010 the building was earthquake retrofitted by the present owner Joe Peatman and since 1994 has been the home of Downtown Joe's Restaurant and Microbrewery." "Dedicated September 21, 2013 by Sam Brannan Chapter #1004, E Clampus Vitus." There is street parking and while the beers aren't two bits any more, you can still get beer here though no shaves or haircuts. [Review 17658 overall - 449 in California - 1179 of 2022.]

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.

003/2026/Jan Passing…read morethrough this Old Navy shipyard which has a brewery , a bay trail, historical bldgs and public art attractions for tourist ! Wish could stay a little longer for a tour! For sure next visit will make time!!

Mare Island has regular scheduled tours which we missed so we decided to do a self guided tour…read more There are only a few buildings you can still go in but still great to walk around. The cementary and museum are closed, the church and admiral home are open with specific times. There are a lot of history on the island!

Trace the route of the Napa Valley Northern Railroad as you walk along side over 1500 feet of track…read morerepresenting a run from Napa north through Lake County with connections northbound to Portland and southbound to Stockton. My preschool-age train fanatic delighted in the detailed layout that had to have taken such patience and time. From the picnickers by the lake to the trains snaking through tunnels and hillsides, this miniature representation of life on the rails was expertly assembled by the Napa Valley Model Railroad Historical Society and if you'll allow, their hard work will transport you back to life in the 1940s.The society was formed in 1955 to advance the hobby of model railroading in the Napa Valley and surrounding areas. The organization was incorporated in 1966. The railroad is open to the public, be sure to check it out if you're in the area. Hours: Friday evenings 7:00 to Midnight Shows held in conjunction with events at the Napa Valley Exposition For more info dial: (707) 253-8428 or visit: www.nvmrc.org

Something that is free to take your kids to in Napa. This place is tiny, but if you or your kids…read moreare into trains, it's kinda neat to see the models. When you enter, there's a little brochure holder with checklist of things that kids can look for in the models (ie, Coca cola truck, etc). It's just down the road from Oxbow, so after hamburger with your kids, you should stop by here.

Known locally as the "Beaver Bridge" as a family of beavers has recently taken up space under the…read morebridge and even built a couple of dams. This is a big deal because it means that there is a habitat strong enough for them to recolonize an area that wasn't so great before. Though despite crossing the bridge a handful of times and trying to quietly spot them, they went unnoticed. The bridge joins links the West Street parking lot to a plaza near the historic Napa Valley Opera House. It is 80 feet long and a quite wide pedestrian bridge that is smooth enough for bicycles and baby strollers. The railings are quite high and easy enough to climb on so you can safely lean over to search for the beavers. The bridge was installed in 2019 and replaces and earlier laminated and glued timber bridge that had concrete decking which was damaged during the 2014 earthquake. If you spot the beavers and get a photo, let me know! [Review 17570 overall - 366 in California - 1088 of 2022.]

The Commandant's Residence, built in 1860, used to be the hot spot for fine dining in Benicia in…read morethe 70's and 80's. From 1975 to 1986, the Commandant's Residence served continental cuisine to many patrons in various settings ranging from one of their dining rooms to banquets outside the facility and even to banquets in the Clocktower Fortress across the street. Unfortunately a fire in 1986 brought an end to the restaurant's operations and the building sat empty and rarely used for years. Now, Arts Benicia has adorned the facility with many works of art created by local artists, not solely from Benicia, but mostly from areas nearby. It's a pleasure to see the facility restored and updated in many ways, including new electrical, an elevator, and new ADA compliant restrooms. There's a very small gift shop near the main entrance. Not a huge inventory of merchandise, but what is there is quite unique and artsy. Some items are not priced and the volunteers, (all of whom were very kind and cordial), may have difficulty getting a price if you're interested in purchasing one of those items. Hours are very limited, I believe they're open Thursday-Saturday from 1 pm to 5 pm. For me, it was a stroll down memory lane since I worked in the restaurant in the early 80's; but I believe most art enthusiasts would find a visit quite worthwhile.

It's a beautiful and emotional tribute to the 9/11 tragedy…read more Steel beams from the towers were utilized for this memorial. The garden is beautiful and serene. It is exceptionally well maintained. Personally, it's a must-see if in Napa.

Along Main Street at the Napa Creek crossing, the 9/11 Memorial Garden integrates 30 tons of steel…read morefrom the wreckage of the World Trade Center into the garden. Laminated glass panels printed with the names of those who lost their lives that day. The panels are illuminated with LED lighting at night. The garden doesn't quite insulate the noise from Main Street but if you can tune that out, you'll have the opportunity to peacefully contemplate the events of that day. [Review 17608 overall - round number 400 in California - 1127 of 2022.]

The Old Napa Register Building was constructed in 1905 and back then, this wasn't a downtown spot…read more Coombs and First Street was relatively far from the city center but the city grew and expanded to the point that this is quite the popular commercial neighborhood. The Napa Register, founded in 1863 as a weekly, is Napa County's largest newspaper. It began daily publication in 1872. George Milton Francis became sole owner and publisher in 1876 and ran it until the 1920s when his son, George R. Francis, took over. The Register moved to new offices on Soscol Avenue in 2018. This building was designed by Napa's leading architect of the time, Luther M. Turton. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. It survived the Great Earthquake of 1906 and the 2000 Yountville Earthquake. Following the Napa Earthquake of 2014, the building was purchased and restored by the grapegrower Beckstoffer Family. It is worth stopping by to look back 100 years in time. It was built of brick and covered with rusticated cement to give the appearance of stone. It is one of the few surviving examples of early 20th century commercial architecture in downtown Napa. Originally, both the first and second floors contained one large room each. The first floor housed the Napa Register and the second floor housed a dance studio. It's pretty darned awesome and I'm glad I had a chance to visit! [Review 17560 overall - 356 in California - 1078 of 2022.]