THE MERRY VALLEY: When you have a place as celebratory as Napa Valley, you can count on residents to step up their merry-making game for the entire month of December. And the good people of wine country do; from skating rinks to wine tastings to holiday open houses and beyond, the N.V. is rife with festive outings and choices, right up through the New Year.
DOWNTOWN NAPA: It's all about Napa on Ice, which is making things cold (in a good way, of course) through the first month of 2013. We like when an activity takes an athletic element, especially when it is adjacent to so many places we like to nosh. Perhaps you've heard that Napa is home to one or two interesting restaurants? Yeah, we think you've heard that.
YOUNTVILLE: California has postcard-perfect places aplenty, but we suspect that actual postcard makers might visit this little nook of a town to be inspired before their next postcard-making push. It's pretty hard to take a less-than-great snapshot of Yountville, and come the holidays? It's decked out. A holiday open house, a museum to-do, and a holiday tree lighting are all on the quaint calendar.
Besides those two hot spots -- we mean, delightfully chilly spots, what with the winter theme and all -- several wineries will be greeting the season in the libation-filled, celebratory way that wineries often do. Check out what's happening on the passport front, and see if you can't line up a tasting trip with the mirthful doings afoot.
