Napa: Markets, Art and Nature

Get to know the city of Napa through its markets, a train ride with wine tastings, river landscapes, trails and theater history. If you’re looking for hotels in Napa, tailor your choice to the themes that matter for your stay.

Markets and Local Produce

The Oxbow Public Market is a 40,000-square-foot marketplace in Downtown Napa. It features local food vendors, artisan cafés and a marketplace for organically grown products from local farms. The market is located along the Napa River and the Napa River Trail, next to Oxbow Preserve and Oxbow Commons.

The Napa Farmers Market is located in Downtown Napa at 1100 West Street. As an inclusive venue, it offers you the chance to buy freshly harvested, sustainably grown fruit and vegetables, specialty products and artisan goods directly at the source. The two markets have different emphases: local vendors and cafés are part of the marketplace at Oxbow Public Market, while the Napa Farmers Market focuses on the products listed above and shopping directly at the source.

Parks, Trails and River Landscapes

Westwood Hills Park offers three miles of trails through oak groves and grasslands, with wide-ranging views of the city. Skyline Wilderness Park has 25 miles of shared fire roads and singletrack trails for a range of skill levels, from easy to challenging. These parks can be compared by different features: Westwood Hills emphasizes scenery and city views, while Skyline Wilderness Park also specifies a range of trail difficulties.

At Skyline Park, Martha Walker Native Habitat Garden invites you to discover plants from across the state of California. Oxbow Preserve is a 12.7-acre natural area along the Napa River. Trancas Crossing Park provides access to the Napa River, its floodplain, wetlands and riparian habitats. The sites differ both in their landscapes and in the natural features mentioned for each.

Theater History, Exhibitions and Art

Napa developed as a commercial and transportation hub because the Napa River divided the city. The Napa Opera House officially opened with a gala ball on January 9, 1880. Uptown Theatre opened in August 1937 with a premiere in the style of Hollywood premieres from the Golden Age.

The Napa County Historical Society presents two rotating exhibitions each year and offers a research archive with reference services. Its research library is open to the public by appointment. The Napa ARTwalk is a changing exhibition of juried sculptures held twice a year in Downtown Napa. You can also explore Downtown Napa’s art collection with the free Otocast app and hear directly from the participating artists about their works and inspiration.

Train Rides and Other Experiences

The Napa Valley Wine Train offers curated train rides with multi-course gourmet meals, wine tastings and impressive scenic views. The station is also part of the visitor experience, with an on-site café and gift shop. The Napa River History Tour departs from 100 Riverside Drive in Napa. The completed Napa Valley Vine Trail includes a section from the city of Napa to the city of Yountville.

Discover more destinations: Oakville, Angwin, Saint Helena, Pope Valley, Calistoga, Yountville, American Canyon

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