USA | Napa Valley/Healdsburg, CA

A trip to the beautiful rolling hills and vineyards of the Napa Valley area is an absolute must for all wine lovers. From sauvignon blancs to chardonnays and pinots to cabs, it may be the most perfect place on earth. I’ve had the opportunity to visit the Napa region, Sonoma region and now Healdsburg, and each is as lovely as the next. For me, Healdsburg is by far the most mobility friendly of destinations. Hotels are nestled within the town among wineries, boutiques, restaurants and bars, making it easy to get to almost anything with less than a two-block walk. For those who want more activity, it’s just as easy to stroll the streets and shops or take a walk or run on the nearby trails. It’s easy to understand why Healsburg is gaining a reputation as the trendiest area in the northern California wine region.

As a person traveling with limited mobility, this is the first trip I have taken in a long time where there was no obstacle from an accessibility perspective. I went with five girlfriends to celebrate a milestone birthday. We ate, drank, and laughed our way through four days of fun, making countless new memories along the way.

High Marks: 

• While the wineries are all on hilltops and mountains, the city is pleasantly flat, making it very easy to walk along the sidewalks. There are several curbless entries situated along the sidewalks so you need not go far if curbs pose a problem for you.
• Car Services such as Private Wine Drivers are available to help you plan out your itineraries and/or follow the ones you create. Renting a car service not only allows you to enjoy as much wine as you want, they also drop you right at the front doors of your destinations. They’ll also let you in on hidden gems of the area, like where to buy the best olive oil, or how to get a last-minute reservation for a tasting. With this group in particular, all of their cars have runners so they are reasonably easy to get in and out of as you enjoy the sites.

• Healdsburg is a compact city so we were able to get to restaurants, markets like the oh-so-cute Oakville Grocery, bars, local wineries and gift shops within a 2-minute walk.

• The food scene is ah-mazing! Healdsburg boasts Michelin star-rated restaurants such as Barndiva as well as Montage’s Hazel Hill with locally sourced ingredients. You’ll also find BBQ, burger joints and more. For night life, Duke’s was a group favorite with a hoppin’ bar, fun music, tap beers, fabulous cocktails and of course, wine! Duke’s is open on weekends until 2 am, so for the late night party-goers who like to dance, be sure to keep Duke’s on your shortlist.

• There are a plethora of easily accessible wineries with fabulous wines to enjoy. You can plan walking tours, request golf carts at some, or simply stick with tastings and/or food pairing experiences which involve no walking commitments. Request our four-day itinerary and get the inside scoop on booking a fabulous, mid- to high-end winery experience.

Missed the Mark:

• Healdsburg is not for the frugal traveler. Just like its million-dollar views, it’s expensive to eat, drink and be merry in this trendy urban wonderland.

• If you fly into San Francisco International airport, the traffic can get backed up with a moment’s notice. Allow 2 (or more) hours for drive time from San Fransico airport to Healdsburg to be safe. Sonoma has an airport with flights directly into wine country but you will likely need to take connections and you will pay more in airfare for this convenience.

• The list is short, Healdsburg and the surrounding areas are pretty much nothing short of spectacular.

What to know before you go:

• Car Service fees range from $50 per hour with your own car to $150+ per hour for larger cars, limos and buses.
• Healdsburg is a very bike-friendly city; if you are comfortable on a bike, you can reserve bikes, trailers, e-bikes and more, or even go on planned rides with experienced guides.
• Make reservations! If you just wing it, you may be ordering takeout and missing the best wine and restaurant experiences. Some book months in advance while others book weeks or days in advance. And some you can just pop into. Just make sure you do some planning for your faves (use our itinerary for some higher- and mid-end options)
• Dress up not down; it’s a very trendy city and folks are pretty much always decked out in their wine country attire. Think breezy linen, flowing dresses, floppy hats and sandals.
• Bring a jacket or sweater; the arid climate is cool in the mornings, warm in the daytime and cooler again at night.
• Bring a water bottle – you’ll want to stay hydrated with all that wine drinking!

Get your itinerary now:

Want the fully vetted itinerary? Click here to sign up for the pre-release itinerary subscription services. For only $2.95 per month, you’ll unlock access to a library of growing itineraries, vetted guides and special discounts. And, during the pre-release phase, we will personally email you a downloadable itinerary, Healsburg 4-day Itinerary for Wine Lovers of All Abilities. This itinerary contains:

• Exclusive insider Travel tips specific to the Napa Valley, Sonoma and Healdsburg areas
• Links to booking our recommended hotels, restaurants and wine tastings (book directly or we can help)
• The best private tour guides (we’ve tried several!)
• Price ranges for budgeting
• Helpful links and more!

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