Silverado Trail in Napa Valley, California: the scenic vineyard route less travelled
Since we did not find the Napa Tourism Office we had to make use of what is available to us. Luckily, we have two Napa winery brochures that we picked from the hotel, and as I was studying the trivial map with very little information on it, I noticed a side road with a ‘Silverado Trail’ note beside it. The road is parallel to the main highway, St. Helena and there was no additional explanation describing what the trail is all about except that my hunches are on radar high alert... and usually I am right.
As it is, most if not all of the advertised wineries offering package wine tasting tours on brochure leaflets distributed in hotels in San Francisco are located on St. Helena road. This doesn’t need a PhD to clearly understand that this hints mass tourism. I simply did not like the idea that everyone is going to the same place. I wanted something subdued, more refined, and moreover, I wanted to explore Napa Valley from the road less travelled. Thus, back to my hunches and without further ado, the ´Silverado Trail´ is it!
So I instructed my driver—the Dutchman to find the Silverado Trail which actually didn’t took us long to hunt. Driving on California State Route 29 you will find signs going to the Silverado Trail, and wow—we were so very glad to have taken this magnifique trail! The curving route is so picturesque, we see gorgeous valleys with rolling vineyard trellises and exquisite, stunning beauty of mountain backdrops.
Here are some facts: The Silverado Trail is a 30-mile road that was constructed in 1852 as an alternative route when the main Napa Valley road was inundated by water. Then a few years later, Silver was discovered in the area, and after a decade, wine agriculture and production flourished which lead to the road becoming more and more important.
There are about 40 winegrowers now along this historic route and you can find them here: Silverado Trail Wineries Association and upon browsing their website, it is good to know that this trail is indeed the road less travelled in Napa Valley, but sure is the most beautiful as well.
While we are busy searching for a wine estate to try and experience, let me post the beautiful fotos I took of this lovely Silverado Trail.
I hope you enjoyed the fotos that it makes you want to drive down to Napa Valley, California and follow the Silverado Trail =)
Next... a surprising lake detour
Travel Period: March 2011
As it is, most if not all of the advertised wineries offering package wine tasting tours on brochure leaflets distributed in hotels in San Francisco are located on St. Helena road. This doesn’t need a PhD to clearly understand that this hints mass tourism. I simply did not like the idea that everyone is going to the same place. I wanted something subdued, more refined, and moreover, I wanted to explore Napa Valley from the road less travelled. Thus, back to my hunches and without further ado, the ´Silverado Trail´ is it!So I instructed my driver—the Dutchman to find the Silverado Trail which actually didn’t took us long to hunt. Driving on California State Route 29 you will find signs going to the Silverado Trail, and wow—we were so very glad to have taken this magnifique trail! The curving route is so picturesque, we see gorgeous valleys with rolling vineyard trellises and exquisite, stunning beauty of mountain backdrops.
Here are some facts: The Silverado Trail is a 30-mile road that was constructed in 1852 as an alternative route when the main Napa Valley road was inundated by water. Then a few years later, Silver was discovered in the area, and after a decade, wine agriculture and production flourished which lead to the road becoming more and more important.
There are about 40 winegrowers now along this historic route and you can find them here: Silverado Trail Wineries Association and upon browsing their website, it is good to know that this trail is indeed the road less travelled in Napa Valley, but sure is the most beautiful as well.
While we are busy searching for a wine estate to try and experience, let me post the beautiful fotos I took of this lovely Silverado Trail.
I hope you enjoyed the fotos that it makes you want to drive down to Napa Valley, California and follow the Silverado Trail =)Next... a surprising lake detour
Travel Period: March 2011
