While most people plan their Napa vacation around visiting wineries and dining at the excellent Napa restaurants, there will always be a little bit of downtime for other activities, and Napa shopping is a great option for filling the hours in between other attractions. While Napa, St. Helena, Yountville, and Calistoga are all small towns, they do offer a number of quality Napa Valley shops to provide a little retail therapy.
One of the great Napa shopping options is the V Marketplace. Located in Yountville on the 23-acre Vintage Estate, V Marketplace offers over 30,000 square feet of retail space. The historic market was once known as Vintage 1870; it now features a variety of specialty shops, art galleries, and eateries, and also host events and entertainment. There are also several dining options at the marketplace. The Pacific Blues Cafe provides American comfort food, Bottega offers Italian cuisine, and the traditional Cups and Cones offers old-fashioned candies, organic coffee, ice cream, and other treats. The V wine cellar offers diverse wines, including both California and international wines, as well as library wines. V Marketplace is open daily from 10 am to 5:30 pm, making it easy to fit a visit into your itinerary.
For foodies visiting Napa Valley, one of the great ways to combine Napa shopping with food explorations is with a visit to the downtown Napa farmers market. Held Tuesday and Saturday mornings, the market offers everything from fresh produce to locally made preserves and baked good. Also on offer are olive oils, chocolates, tea, and flowers. This kind of Napa shopping is a great way to support local businesses and to learn about local products. Just be sure to arrive early in the day—the market wraps up by lunchtime. Napa shopping for food and wine can also be done at various wineries, many of which have stores onsite.
Downtown Napa is also a great place for shopping, with a number of boutiques. If you're staying in the downtown area, take a stroll by with your morning coffee to check out the wares. In addition, there are also some great Napa Valley shops in Calistoga, a nearby small town that is renowned for its spas. In between treatments, you can get in a little Calistoga shopping by simply strolling the few blocks of Lincoln Avenue, the town's main street. From pottery and jewelry to clothing, stationery, and gifts, Calistoga shopping offers a good variety given the size of the town. There are also bookstores and wine stores, along with a few unique art galleries. Since all the shops are in close proximity, it's easy to take in a lot of Calistoga shopping at one. Afterward, you can easily recharge at some of the downtown restaurants.
Napa Valley shops do well in presenting visitors with several different options. Whether you visit the V Marketplace in Yountville, the farmers market in downtown Napa, or the shops along Calistoga's main street, you are sure to find some unique keepsakes to remind you of your Napa vacation.
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