Cameron Shaw

---

Fontanella—located on the top of Mount Veeder, this is my favorite family-owned winery in part because it’s in my neighborhood. Mostly known for Cabs (it is Napa, after all) the Zinfandel is also impressive.

Stewart Cellars—If you’re looking for a relaxing day strolling, shopping, and sipping wine with no driving and excellent scenery, head to Yountville. Stewart Cellars is located on the North end of town with a beautiful Courtyard and excellent white wines, though they’re primarily known for their Cabs. Winemaker Blair Guthrie makes a great Rose and the Sauvignon Blanc is killer good, too.

Southside—I’m a fan of the Mushroom Torta and Cauliflower Tacos, but they put a lot of care into their daily specials too. Owner Irma Robinson has been working to build up their non-alc offerings so if you’re ready to skip the booze she makes it easy.

Yak and Yeti—For me, it’s all about the Vegan Tofu Tika Masala. They make it with coconut milk, and I’m a huge fan. Their samosas are made in house too.

Golden Bagel—This is definitely a local’s spot. It’s rare to see a tourist here. The new owner, Nicole, took over last year and she’s been adding lots of frozen soups and grab-and-go items to the offerings. Grab a bagel sandwich and smoothie, and then pick-up a quick frozen weeknight dinner on your way out.

Platanito Pupusa—This is my favorite food truck in Napa. It’s typically located on Soscol Ave near the River Terrace Inn. All the pupusas are great, and the shrimp tacos, when they offer them, are a special treat on handmade blue corn tortillas.

Morimoto—My husband and I love sitting at the sushi bar at Morimoto on special date nights. We order the Tuna Pizza and watch the hardworking sushi guys make everyone’s food.

Rutherford Grill—The 2 most popular items here are the French Dip sandwich and Barbeque Pork Ribs, but the salads don’t disappoint either. Try the Kale Salad or the Macho Salad with cornbread croutons.

Riza Plants—This shop, located in Downtown Napa, is heaven on earth for house plant lovers. Owner Alyssa, and her whole staff are a wealth of information. Every plant I’ve bought from her is alive, happy, and healthy including my favorite office plant that we named Joy.

Rancho Gordo—I love all things Rancho Gordo: the cookbooks, the pineapple vinegar, the spices, the whole grains, the pozole, and…obviously…the beans. You seriously can’t go wrong with any bean they sell, but the Royal Coronas are especially impressive cooked because they’re just so darn big.

Bookmine—What’s better than a local bookstore? A local bookstore that sells coffee, snacks, and has an impressive used book section. You’ll find me perusing the vegetarian cookbooks with a full cup of coffee, while my girls curl up on the fluffy carpet on the floor of the kids room with a Harry Potter or Percy Jackson book.

Color Theory—If you’re wondering what to bring home for the kids (or grandkids) from Napa, try some art supplies from this locally-owned art supply store. It’s located in Downtown Napa, and it’s also my go-to spot for kid birthday party gifts.  

Linda Falls—This is the best kept secret hiking spot in Napa! The trail is only about a mile long, and it ends in a waterfall with a tiny swimming hole. You have to make your way up to Angwin to find it, but it is worth the drive.

Skyline Park—If you want to put in some mileage and get in a nice workout, Skyline is the best spot for a longer, more strenuous hike. I like the River to Ridge Trail and Manzanita Trail, but the aptly named Skyline Trail will take you around the perimeter of the park. Just dedicate a few hours to your hike, start early, and bring plenty of water.

Westwood Hills—Pretty much any trail in this park will take you to the summit for a great view of the Valley, it’s just a matter of how quickly you’d like to get there. The most direct route will take about 20 minutes to get to the top. Then veer downhill to the right and let the kids climb up the very impressive Spider Tree. 

I'm proud to a be a Gleaner on Napa Valley CanDo's Gleaning Team. Locals alert the Gleaning Team when they have fruits or veggies ready to picked. Often it's an abundantly producing tree on their property that would otherwise go to waste. Then the Gleaners come to harvest the produce and deliver it directly to the Napa Food Bank for those that are food insecure. As a lover of all fruits and veggies, harvesting produce is a really fun way for me to support my community.