Bouchon

Napa Valley is amazingly dog-friendly, with scores of wineries and restaurants welcoming four-legged visitors accompanied by humans. When it comes to hiking, head to Moore Creek Park, on the north side of Lake Hennessy near St. Helena. Among 15 miles of trails here is the serene, 5.6-mile Shoreline Trail/Alta Hennessey Loop, which traces the perimeter of this fresh-water reservoir with a jaunt into the hills along a dirt road. more »

Looking for ways to combine hiking with wine tasting and a really tasty lunch? A new opportunity for DogTrekkers awaits along the newly inaugurated Napa Valley Vine Trail, a paved, multiuse path that eventually will stretch 47 miles from the Vallejo ferry terminal to Calistoga. For now, a 12.5-mile segment from Napa’s Kennedy Park to the tony enclave of Yountville is ready for feet, paws and bicycles, with only a short stretch requiring a detour onto city streets. more »

The dog-friendly attitudes that prevail at Napa Valley wineries extend to many of the region’s famous restaurants, as well, meaning that as long as the weather is fair, you can dine at an outdoor table with Bodie at your side. Let’s start with the dog-friendly, Michelin-recognized places first. more »

The Napa Valley wine harvest is in full swing right now, but not for long. Come October, the vines will be blazing orange and high-season crowds will have dissipated. Go midweek if you can—and if time is short, consider staying at the Meritage Resort in the south end of the valley, just an hour from San Francisco or Sacramento. more »

The dog-friendly attitudes that prevail at Napa Valley wineries extend to many of the region’s famous restaurants, as well, meaning that as long as the weather is fair, you can dine at an outdoor table with Patch at your side.

Let’s start with the dog-friendly, Michelin-recognized places first. Earning “Bib Gourmand” (“eateries that offer excellent food at reasonable prices”) designations in 2015 are newcomers Grace’s Table (global cuisine) in downtown Napa and The Farmer and The Fox, a British-style gastropub in St. Helena. Retaining their ratings are Bistro Jeanty (French) and Redd Wood (Italian-inspired) in Yountville; and Oenotri (southern Italian) and C Casa (at the Oxbow Public Market; order at the outdoor window if you have a dog in tow) in downtown Napa. One-star restaurants that also boast dog-friendly patios include Bouchon (French) in Yountville and Solbar (farm-to-fork) in Calistoga. more »

The only aspect of a wintertime visit to Napa Valley that can be problematic is mealtime. While many restaurants, both casual and upscale, welcome dogs on their open-air patios, cool weather and reduced clientele mean few of those patios are open in winter. Your best bet on a sunny day is to call ahead and ask (or beg) to be served at an outdoor table, preferably one with a heater. more »