Linda Vista - Napa, CA Area Guide

With a name derived from the Nappan village that once lived there, Napa has enchanted visitors ever since its first exploration by Europeans in 1823. Nathan Coombs founded the city of Napa in 1847. The California Gold Rush in the 1850s provided plenty of opportunities for miners, contributing the city’s growth with newcomers from the East coast, Europe, and Asia.

Museums in Napa include the Napa Firefighters Museum with a collection of engines, hand pumps, and fire hydrants from as early as the 1850s and the Hess Collection, which features wine tastings along with an art collection that focuses on lesser known, living artists.

Residents of Napa stay busy with a flurry of annual cultural activity. The Napa Valley Film Festival brings the valley community together with its screenings of international films in four different locations, Napa and nearby Yountville, St. Helena, and Calistoga.

From world-class cuisine to greasy spoon, Napa’s got it all. Foodies come to this wining and dining mecca for a slew of both classic and innovative restaurants, serving dishes as unforgettable as the landscape itself.

Just outside of Linda Vista on California Way, Juju’s Mediterranean Kitchen uses the freshest local ingredients to create delectable and authentic Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine in a charmingly cozy dining space. Try one of their flavorful signature dishes, such as the kefta kabob made with ground lamb and beef, parsley and onion on a skewer, or the mezza combo plate featuring homemade hummus, baba ganoush, falafel, dolma and tabouli with the softest pita bread in town.

The pintxo bars of northern Spain inspire La Taberna, a modern take on the classic Spanish tavern. The perfect, casually chic place to linger over some tapas with good friends and great wine, La Taberna serves a game-changing oxtail empanada, and a suckling pig, squid and liver mousse.

With $2 to $5 drinks and appetizers during happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, the Napa Valley Bistro serves classic American with a twist at a friendly price in a casual atmosphere. For dinner, try the heritage grilled pork chop with apple and butter compote, or the wild mushroom and herb risotto perfectly cooked with goat cheese and truffle oil. Save room for dessert, such as the butterscotch pudding, or the apple, pear and dried cranberry crumble. Who cares about extra calories when they taste this good?

When the sun goes down, a dizzying array of nightlife envelops Napa, where classic wine mingles with innovative cocktails, and opera soars next to the Beach Boys.

Locals and visitors alike love the sleek and modern late-night tasting lounge at John Anthony Vineyards, which focuses on beautiful handcrafted wines made with the best fruit possible. Try one of the full-bodied Cabernets, and get ready to open your wallet to take a bottle (or case) home.

Residents looking for a more casual, family experience, as well as some friendly competition, head over to Billco’s Billiards and Darts with its 10 pool tables, seven dart boards and 60 beers on tap. Skip the salad, and go straight for the fried pickles and onion rings. With live music on Sunday nights, Billco’s provides a well-stocked shelter for locals to wear their favorite, goofy, printed t-shirts and get away from all that wine.

Music venues abound in venues from the Uptown Theatre to the Napa Valley Opera House. At the Uptown, check out performances from luminaries, such as Lucinda Williams, Ani DiFanco and Los Lonely Boys, in a stunning, warmly lit Art Deco landmark built in 1937. The Napa Valley Opera House showcases classic Tuesday night flicks, and hosts a variety of musical styles and backgrounds, from Irish traditional to Hawaiian guitar.

Linda Vista residents can get around using local public transportation, walking and biking, but benefit from owning a car.

The VINE transit system takes locals around the city and provides regional routes to Calistoga, Redwood, Sonoma and the nearest Bay Area Rapid Transit station, El Cerrito del Norte. Local routes cost $1.50, while getting to BART costs $5.50.

Bike riders enjoy numerous scenic routes in Napa Valley, but the city’s infrastructure revolves around driving cars. Uber and Yellow Cab Napa provide service in the area.

For car owners, public parking can easily be found on the residential streets of Linda Vista. Drivers also benefit from being close to Highway 29, which connects to the 80 Freeway toward the East Bay area.

To jog or walk off all that food and wine, locals head to one of Napa’s many parks for fresh air, open spaces and dusty trails. Alston Park at the edge of Linda Vista has breathtaking views of vineyards, as well as off-leash areas for both small and large dogs. With plenty of shade and benches, residents can spend the afternoon here relaxing while their dogs go for a romp. The Skyline Wilderness Park just outside of Napa has biking, hiking and horse riding trails with varied terrain, astounding views and an occasional deer sighting.

For residents who love both music and outdoor events, the annual BottleRock Festival features artists such as No Doubt, Robert Plant, and Snoop Dogg in a Coachella-like atmosphere where sunglasses, tribal prints, and flower crowns abound.

Beauty, bounty and fair weather come at a price. With a median one-bedroom rate of $1,678, the cost of living in Napa happens to be 4.8 percent greater than the California average. A typical price for beer at a local pub runs around $5 to $6. Locals pay 9.3 percent above the national average cost for gas.

Residents shop for gifts, clothes, and books at boutiques and specialty stores downtown and in central Napa. From vintage to of-the-moment, locals love quality, design and charm.

The Roost on Second Street has all the Pinterest-ready party supplies you need, as well as the vintage home décor and fancy candles you crave. Try Paddywax Apothecary’s soy wax candles in scents like rosemary and thyme. Slather on some of Oregon’s Molly Muriel bath products, such as the Soul Salad lotion with rosemary and sage, or the Trauma Healer with Arnica.

In addition to chain supermarkets, such as Whole Foods and Safeway, Napa has several small, family-owned grocery stores and a large public market for local, artisanal ingredients.

Kilburn Avenue’s Mi Familia Market stocks an affordable and fresh selection of meats and produce in a warm, friendly environment. This hidden gem serves some of the best cheap Mexican food in town.

The Oxbow Public Market houses a decadently diverse selection of local produce and artisanal foods, including Anette’s chocolates and meats from the Fatted Calf, a charcuterie and butcher shop dedicated to small batches and the best ingredients. Savor the chicken and veal terrine and pork rilletes with a crusty loaf of French bread, while enjoying views of the Napa River from the market’s outdoor dining deck.