Travel Guides Culinary Vacations
Nicole Findlay
California has an abundance of scenic road trips offering stunning views along its various pit stops. However, for food and wine lovers, one journey through northern California might be a dream come true. Napa Valley’s quiet two-lane road, bordered by vibrant vineyards and broken up by Michelin-starred restaurants and beautiful wineries, is one of the best road trips for those with sophisticated palates.
The Silverado Trail, created in 1852 to link Napa and Calistoga, is roughly 30 miles long, with world-class destinations to pop into along the way. To get to the starting line, you drive through Napa on California 29. Turn right on Trancas Street. The Silverado Trail will be approximately two miles down the road on your left-hand side. For those looking to stay in the area, the Silverado Resort (boasting room rates as low as $174) is located near the start of the Silverado Trail. This luxury accommodation with plenty of amenities (tennis courts, golf course and spa, to name a few) is a great starting point for those who want to bike the beautiful Silverado Trail.
Best restaurants near the Silverado Trail
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Head to the historic Soda Canyon Store for a fantastic lunch spot between wine tastings. Operating since 1946, the full-service deli also serves morning pastries, salads, and has an espresso bar. It’s the perfect pit stop on the Silverado Trail for a quick bite to eat and a little pick-me-up.
Looking for a long leisurely lunch near the Silverado Trail? Luckily, it’s easy to get around Napa Valley. The Silverado Trail runs parallel to Highway 29, and there are many fantastic eateries between the two. One local favorite is Bistro Don Giovani. It’s 3.5 miles from the Silverado Trail and is open for lunch and dinner. Fresh Italian food, a good wine list, and an outdoor patio with vineyard views — Bistro Don Giovani offers delicious food in a gorgeous setting.
Arguably, the most famous restaurant near the Silverado Trail is French Laundry. Open for dinner and just over two miles from the Silverado Trail, this destination eatery is expensive ($390 per person), but Chef Thomas Keller’s two daily tasting menus helped French Laundry earn the Michelin Guide’s highest rating — three stars (among other awards).
Best wineries along the Silverado Trail
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Napa is rated one of the best U.S. cities for wine tasting, and the Silverado Trail is home to many of Napa’s finest. Stags’ Leap is one of the most famous and worth a visit. Stag’s Leap’s Manor House Experience (running at $95 per person) takes 90 minutes and leads visitors around the property, teaching them about the history and terrain of the estate, and it ends with a tasting. The Porch Tasting ($110 per person) takes place on the historic Manor House’s porch. The views from the porch are spectacular, the wine is a treat, and the cushioned furniture is cute and comfortable.
More fantastic winery stops along the Silverado Trail include Joseph Phelps, Duckhorn, and Mumm Napa. Joseph Phelps offers tasting on a terrace overlooking its vineyard ($115 per person). The winery also offers a semi-private food and wine pairing ($350 per person) and a unique sensory experience — a blind tasting ($150 per person). Producing wine since 1976, Visitors to Duckhorn will can enjoy the veranda, strolling the gardens, and, of course, sipping and savoring the classic wines (starting at $60 per person). And for travelers on the Silverado Trail looking for something a little more bubbly? Mumm Napa is just the place! From $40 per person, guests can enjoy sparkling wine tastings surrounded by vineyards on the beautiful Silverado Trail.
