Napa Valley Bicycle Tours …
Bicycle Tour of the Napa Valley ….
If you are considering a cycling tour in America and you LOVE wine, then a bicycle tour of the Napa Valley is a must!
With over 500 vineyards through the Napa Valley region – it is not only known as the ‘Wine Capital of America’ but …
It is also world renowned for its heavenly climate, divine dining experiences and gorgeous natural scenery.
For cyclists, the Napa Valley region offers a great deal of riding variety and degrees of difficulty.
With its diverse landscape of rolling vineyards, steep mountain trails, winding country lanes and off-road tracks, there is enough to satisfy both the leisure cyclist and those of the more hardcore ilk.
Napa Valley Bicycle Tours – Top Places To Visit
If you are interested in taking one of these terrific Napa Valley bicycle tours you will be delighted with how much is on offer ….
There are spectacular vineyards, fabulous galleries, award winning restaurants, delicious cooking classes, jazz clubs, boutique hotels, colorful markets, wine tasting rooms, theaters, golf clubs, day-spas, hot springs, train rides, olive groves and great music venues – to name just a few.
The historic towns in the valley are bursting with culture and charm. And each one has its own unique set of attractions.
Calistoga
This town is touted as the ‘Hot Springs of the West‘. With its mineral-rich volcanic hot springs it offers saddle-sore cyclists the perfect means of relaxing and rejuvenating.
Calistoga is also home to the legendary wine estate Chateau Montelena, which in 1976 changed the course of the American wine industry forever, when it produced a Chardonnay so extraordinary, that when it was pitted against the finest French wines – in a blind tasting competition – it won hands down.
Lake Berryessa
Just east of the Napa Valley is Lake Berryessa, an area perfect for outdoor recreational activities – especially cycling, fishing and boating.
Lake Berryessa is one of the biggest fresh water lakes in the state of California. It sits around 165 miles / 265km of shoreline, is 3 miles / 4.8km wide and stretches 26 miles / 57km in length.
Oakville
The quaint village of Oakville is surrounded by 5000 acres of pretty vineyards. It is the perfect place to stop and picnic during your Napa Valley bicycle tour.
Alternatively you could stop at one, (or more!), of Oakville’s twenty four beautiful winery estates …
Or chain up your bike and take a trip on the The Napa Valley Wine Train which originates in the City of Napa and passes through both the villages of Oakville and neighboring Rutherford.
The City of Napa
The City of Napa is located on the Napa River and has evolved around its vibrant wharfing district.
The old dockland district has been revamped and carefully modernized. Industrial sites on the waterfront such as The Napa Mill – an old grain mill with silos 99ft / 30m high – have been redeveloped and are now home to great restaurants, jazz clubs, and specialty stores.
The riverfront district is also the new site for the much loved Oxbow Public Markets.
Founded in the 1800’s The City of Napa, boasts cultural attractions such as the beautiful old – but still very much used – Napa Valley Opera House , the Uptown Theater and a successful local art gallery.
Yountville
No Napa Valley bicycle tour would be complete without a gastronomical detour through delightful Yountville.
This charming town has been dubbed the Culinary Capital of the Napa Valley. It is world renowned for the range and quality of its award winning restaurants.
Napa Valley Bicycle Tours – Self Guided & Organized
A bicycle tour of Napa Valley can easily be done independently or if you prefer, by using the expertise of a local bicycle tour company.
Joining a group that will be lead by a knowledgeable local guide can great option for a couple of reasons:
- All the arrangements are taken care of for you and all you need to do is sit back, pedal, and enjoy the trip.
- Tapping in to local knowledge means you can get the most out of discovering the history of the region AND make sure you hit the high points of the area.
Having said that if you love exploring independently, stumbling across hidden treasures and making your own schedule, then the Napa Valley is a very easy place to navigate. There are loads of gorgeous places to stay, eat and visit.
Weather Watch: For Napa Valley Bicycle Tours
The Napa Valley, region is classified as having a wet temperate climate, a result of its proximity to the ocean and surrounding mountain ranges.
The range of temperatures experienced are not very extreme and the weather is generally beautiful with warm or mild days and cool evenings – perfect for a bicycle tour!
Rainfall
The wettest months are from December until March.
The driest months are June, July and August.
Summer
July is the warmest month with average highs of 83 degrees fahrenheit or 28 degrees celsius.
And average lows of 53-55 degrees fahrenheit or approx 11-13 degrees celsius.
Winter
December – January are the coldest months with average highs of 57 degrees fahrenheit or approx 13.9 degrees celsius.
And average lows of 39 degrees fahrenheit or approx 4 degrees celsius.