A Postcard from Napa
The sight of hot air balloons drifting across the expanse of vineyards is pretty unforgettable. That slow pace of travel captures the feeling this countryside vacation home gives us - just lazy summer days, sipping local wine on our deck. Life is good.

  

About Napa, California
Let's get right to the point: Napa is beautiful. It sits at the gateway to the Napa Valley wine country and plays its welcoming/hosting role perfectly. Tourists come in droves (4.9 million) to see, smell and taste the bounty of this area, and most begin their visit in Napa. Those with second homes not only begin, but end the day enjoying the good life of wine country.

The Mediterranean climate, which makes the grapes flourish, also makes life very sweet here. Summers are dry and warm, winters are cool and damp, and really not to extreme in either season. The land is captivating, with the glorious fall colors on the vineyards, and the fragrant smell of the grapes as harvest time approaches. Nearby lakes and mountains offer good recreation options. Napa has gone out of its way to add quality cultural events right in town. But if you still want more, San Francisco is only an hour away.

The Napa Valley wine country consists of 6 towns; from north to south are St. Helena, Calistoga, Rutherford, Oakville, Yountville and Napa, with almost 250 wineries in the valley. Although not inexpensive, this lovely Northern Californian area offers a wide selection of second home possibilities. With hundreds upon thousands of acres full of grape vineyards, a vacation home gives your front row seat at every wine tasting festival.

Local History

Settled originally by the Native American Indians, the first non-native settlers were farmers in the 1830's. The town was established in 1847, and the gold rush attracted more people, who stayed on even when gold fever subsided. The first grapes were planted in 1861, birthing the industry that has sustained the valley. The countryside is still as beautiful today as it was when Robert Lewis Stevenson rode through it on his honeymoon in 1880. Many of the old historic buildings in the town have been carefully preserved.

An Average Lifestyle in Napa, California

Upscale, affluent and wine connoisseurs, people of Napa are very community minded and proud of their town. Napa itself is actually the most down-home of all the valley towns, with a strong mixture of permanent residents and second home owners.  Schools and zoning are as important as tourism for Napa residents. People are actively involved at every level. The recent creation of a major cultural center and the support of the local theaters is all due to the commitment of the community to create a thriving place to live. Continuous planning for improvements keeps Napa fresh and new, attracting more people to call Napa home.

Housing

42% of houses are rentals, with a good rental market. Three bedroom houses rent from $1,200 to $2,800.

Median Home Costs: $426,000 with a range of $190,000 to over 1 million

Things to Do in Napa

Hiking along woodlands, river and mountains

Bicycling through vineyards along country roads

Hot air balloon rides

Spas

Golf

Camping in nearby state parks

Enjoy the best in California Cuisine

Wine tasting tours

Ride the Napa Valley Wine Train

Kayak down the Napa River

Bird watching on the Napa River

Cultural Activities in Napa

Copia - The American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts

Napa Museum

Mondavi Theater at the Napa Valley Opera House

Napa Valley Repertory Company

Jarvis Conservatory for Opera and music 

Near-By Excursions

Fishing and boating on Lake Berryessa (20 minutes)

Explore San Francisco

Hot Springs at Calistoga (40 minutes)

Nearby casinos established by local Indian communities

Old Faithful Geyser in Calistoga

Location
In Northern California, Northeast of San Francisco, between Mt St Helena and the Mayacamas Mountains, Napa is the county seat of Napa County.

Elevation: 33 ft

Size: City of Napa is 18 miles long; Napa Valley is 35 miles long, 5 miles wide.

Distance to other major cities

Sacramento, California: 63 miles

San Francisco, California: 47 miles

Getting To Napa, California

By air to San Francisco or Sacramento; then by car.

Weather
The climate is moderate, with clear air and good sun.

Annual Average Temperature: Winter 34 to 57; summer 52-82.

Annual Average Rainfall: 23.8 inches (November to march).

Demographics and Economics

Population: 71,412, (county is 121,000)

Population Projections: Expected cap of 85,000

Median Age, 2000: 36.1 years

Median Household Income: $53,600

Principle Industries: agriculture (wine) service(tourism)

Higher Education

Napa Valley College

Napa Community College

Pacific Union College