If you’re planning on doing Napa Valley right, do yourself a favor and make your home base Downtown Napa. The main reason? No need for a designated driver because everything in this eclectic, charming hub is walkable. The picturesque Riverfront looks like something out of a storybook. Moreover, the river itself is peaceful and calming, making it an ideal stroll for any time of day, especially in the early morning or at sunset.

The Riverfront is lined with boutique shops filled with handcrafted items, clothes and jewelry; eateries that include the local favorite, Napa General Store (set up an appointment for a blind wine tasting for a unique experience!), and upscale Japanese restaurant, Morimoto Napa; bars serving local brews and award winning wines; unique places to grab sweets and baked goods; and more.

Nearby is the 40,000 square foot Oxbow Market, a food hall and marketplace filled with local food vendors, artisan cafes, produce, eateries and specialty merchants. It’s a foodies’ dream thanks to the sheer size and variety of offerings. From Hog Island Oyster, Gott’s Roadside and Napa Valley Distillery to Kara’s Cupcakes, Three Twins Ice Cream and Anette’s Chocolates—you won’t be leaving hungry.

Back to the main event. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Downtown Napa is home to a whopping 35 tasting rooms, pouring up some of the Valley’s best wines. Make a stop at the Napa Welcome Center to buy a Napa Wine Tasting card for $15 which gets you half off nine tasting rooms in the area.

Another big draw of being in the Downtown area? The live music! Don’t miss out on these venues during a night out on the town.

JaM Cellars has an eclectic mix of rockin’ live music and top-notch wines in one place. With a disco ball in the ceiling, a Rolling Stones wall of album covers, leather couches and booths and even a separate room that doubles as a recording studio, it’s an unbeatable spot for a great night out.

Sky and Vine is the trendy rooftop bar at the top of the Archer Hotel. With panoramic views of the valley, fun games like corn hole and a menu of elevated bar bites, it’s a great place to start your evening. On Sunday and Thursdays swing by for a variety of local bands and artists performing live.

Blue Note Napa is a jazz club and gourmet restaurant located inside the historic Napa Valley Opera House. For those looking for an intimate listening experience where you’re directly in front of the stage while you enjoy local wines, art and farm-to-table cuisine, this is it!

Uptown Theatre offers an up close and personal live music experience and has played host to some of the biggest names in blues, rock, jazz, folk and country. The building is also a historic landmark restored art-deco masterpiece from 1937.

Lawn Hour at The Village at Vista Collina Resort is a weekly Saturday event, think happy hour, featuring live music, lawn games and a stunning setting ideal for sipping the afternoon away at nine tasting rooms on property.

Ca’ Momi has La Notte Latina every Friday and Saturday night which features a speakeasy-like ambiance with regional and national artists featuring predominantly acoustic acts. Sip on cocktails and indulge in late night bites while you listen.

Uncorcked at Oxbow has live music every Thursday. Guests can look forward to an open mic and performances from local artists, happy hour specials and award-winning wines.

Depending on the time of year, Napa throws live music events including the popular BottleRock Napa Valley and local favorites such as Napa Live Inside & Out, Napa Porchfest and Napa City Nights.

For those looking for a more quintessential Napa Valley wine tasting experience, Palmaz Vineyards is situated in a gorgeous setting of rolling hills and mountaintop mesas—a lovely place to sip on a variety of vintages including their focus, the cabernet sauvignon, alongside chardonnay, riesling, rose and more.

Palmaz Vineyards is a unique vineyard to tour, as they pride themselves on bringing together tradition with technology in their wine making philosophy. The wine making takes place in an 18-story cave of tunnels and domes that have been carved into rock at the base of Mount George. The Palmaz’ gravity-flow and gravity-finish subterranean winery needs to be seen in person to fully grasp how special of a winery it is!

Another beautiful vineyard? Pine Ridge in the Stages Leap District. Celebrating 40 years, this vineyard is best known for is iconic cabernet sauvignon wines and is widely regarded as a pioneer in establishing Stags Leap District as an American Viticultural Area during a booming time in the California wine industry.

To get the full experience, book an intimate wine tasting and cave tour or a special wine and food tasting that takes place in Cellar 47, deep in Pine Ridge’s network of caves. Called Savor Pine Ridge, this tasting is hosted by wine experts who guide you through each pairing of award-winning wines and bites, prepared by chef Susan Lassalette. Whether you choose a daily tasting or one of the aforementioned ones, Pine Ridge is without a doubt one of the top vineyards to visit in the region.