Sip, Savour and Sweat in Napa

Although Napa is best known for its wine, this lush Northern California valley also pairs perfectly with fitness. Rolling hills of fields of grapevines makes for an inspiring locale to work out in to feed your soul, plus there’s plenty of delicious wine and fare to reward yourself with afterwards. The risk here is over-rewarding rather than overtraining–but you can always just hit the gym an extra day or two once you get home. You are on vacation, after all. —Karen Kwan

stay. The soon-to-be-expanded Meritage Resort & Spa (145 guest rooms and an outdoor venue for concerts and events are just two of the upcoming additions) can be your one stop if you’re looking to stay-put for a couple of days. Complete with a six-lane bowling alley, Tuscan-inspired Siena restaurant, Trinitas Cellars tasting room and beautiful vineyard to stroll,
you could easily check in and not step foot off the property for a relaxing weekend getaway.

sip. Bike through the glorious Napa Valley from winery to winery for tastings with Napa Valley Bike Tours, who can plan your cycling tour to be as intense or moderate as you wish. On our pretty cruiser bikes, our ride took us from Yountville to Saint Helena where we completed our leisurely cycle with a wine tasting at Rutherford Ranch Winery and a picnic lunch. Non-cyclists seeking an equally breathtaking adventure should make their way to Sterling Vineyards. Here, an aerial tram brings you up to the winery where you’re rewarded with views of Napa in every direction and a most engaging wine tasting (think approachable rather than pretentious) paired with delectable cheeses.

savasana. Better than any sip and see you’ll ever attend: savasana and sip. Sounds like a winning combination to us. With such a stunning and serene setting, Napa is made for yoga practice. Your session may take you into a beautiful wine cave, as ours did at Trinitas Cellars, right amidst a vineyard or tucked into a rustic barn. Several of the wineries in the region offer special sessions you can register for during the summer and early autumn months—often with a wine tasting afterwards, once you’ve achieved maximum Zen.

sweat. Get that heart rate up with a run. But don’t worry; you’ll be so inspired by the gorgeous vineyard views that you won’t even notice the hard work you’re doing. Napa has loads of trails you can use for a jog (or stroll) such as Alston Park, Kennedy Park and Napa Valley Vine Trail. Get recommendations from the concierge at your Hotels.com accommodations. Or, if you’re a runner and planning on a destination race, consider the Napa Half Marathon, where you not only get a medal when you finish but also a bottle of wine.

spa. With daily workouts, including some time to recover is a required part of your itinerary. Book a massage at Spa Terra (add a restorative facial while you’re at it—it incorporates local grape seeds) in this underground sanctuary. Located in the Estate Cave, this supremely quiet spa delivers superb services that’ll help you recuperate for more workouts (and more wine tastings). In Calistoga, treat your entire body to a relaxing treatment at Calistoga Spa Hot Springs, where you move from a volcanic ash mud bath to a mineral whirlpool bath and finally, a visit to a eucalyptus steam room. You’ll walk out with baby soft skin and feeling centred from the hour of self-care.

savour. With so much physical activity, our cravings often turn to Italian fare, and dinner at Bistro Don Giovanni more than fulfilled our craving for carbs. The bustling restaurant serves up phenomenal appetizers to share (do not miss the carpaccio and crispy calamari plates), and fresh pasta and gnocchetti so good we feel blessed for our gluten tolerance. In Calistoga, the charming Sam’s Social Club is the perfect spot to grab a cocktail and comfort-good grub such as fried Brussel sprouts with pancetta and even a little taste of Canada—the lunch menu includes a braised-beef poutine.