Journeys›Photograph

A Late March Birthday Weekend in Napa

·Napa County, California·#bay area#napa-valley#public-art#wineries#spring#birthday
A light green two-story building with a porch, steps, and "DUCKHORN VINEYARDS" signage, surrounded by trees and landscaping.

We drove up to Napa for a birthday weekend at the end of March. Our first stop was Duckhorn Vineyards. The sky was heavy and overcast, which made the green grass between the rows of dormant vines look extra vibrant. It felt like the valley was just on the verge of waking up for the season.

That evening, we had a celebratory dinner out. A classic birthday dessert with some red wine to mark the occasion. We took a couple of photos outside the restaurant under the string lights before calling it a night.

The next morning, the weather had completely changed. The clouds were still around, but there was plenty of blue sky and the sun was out. We took a walk along the Napa River, which was incredibly still and reflective after the previous day's gloom.

We spent some time wandering around the area near the Napa Mill and its General Store. There's a lot of public art packed into that small space, from a large winged sculpture to colorful mosaic fountains. It was a perfect, sunny day for just walking around.

The highlight of the clear weather was seeing the spring blossoms. All over town, trees were covered in white flowers against the most brilliant blue sky. It was a great contrast to the previous day and a nice way to end our short trip.

Rows of dormant grapevines with green grass between them lead toward a distant person, trees, and cloudy hills.A slice of Happy Birthday cake with ice cream, chocolate, and caramel sauce, alongside two red wines and a water glass.A slice of birthday cake with whipped cream, chocolate, and caramel sauces, two red wines, and a water glass on a wooden table.Two smiling people pose for a selfie outdoors at night, with a stone wall and a tree with lights in the background.Two smiling people pose in front of a stone wall and a tree adorned with string lights.A wide river reflects a cloudy sky, with green banks, distant buildings, power lines, and birds.A brick building with "GENERAL STORE" lettering, a "NAPA MILL" sign on a silo, spiral sculptures, and a palm tree.A geometric metal sculpture of a winged woman stands outdoors with the Napa Mill building and a silo behind.A colorful round mosaic features a monarch butterfly and a dragonfly surrounded by a blue border on concrete, with pink petals.A multi-tiered mosaic fountain depicts farming and aquatic life next to a concrete silo and brick building.A tree full of white blossoms with bare branches visible, set against a deep blue sky.White blossoms with pink centers and green buds bloom on a brown branch against a blurry blue sky and white flowers.

More Entries