Experience California’s fall magic on a luxury road trip through Napa, Gold Country, and Lake Tahoe — where golden vineyards, orchard feasts, and lakeside luxury define the season.
California’s fall season is an incredible mix of nature’s golden hues and unique seasonal indulgences. A week-long road trip starting in San Francisco Bay Area and ending in the High Sierra region will take you through some of the most luxurious experiences in the lap of nature. Immerse yourself in the offerings at California’s golden vineyards, Central Coast’s orchards, and Lake Tahoe’s alpine wonderland, spotlighting harvest time, fall foliage, farm to table culinary excellence, live music, and local culture.
NAPA VALLEY
Day 1
A scenic 1.5-hour drive from San Francisco International Airport takes you to the picturesque Napa Valley. Napa Valley is renowned for its world-class wines and is a top destination for luxury getaways, beautiful scenery, and charming family-owned wineries.
For the ultimate luxury, Relais & Châteaux’s Auberge du Soleil in the Napa Valley is the ideal choice. The adults-only Forbes Five Diamond property sits in a 33-acre olive grove on the slopes of Rutherford Hill. The property boasts one of the finest spas in the area, as well as a Michelin-starred restaurant. Alternatively, head out to the city of St. Helena to relax at the Forbes five-star rated Spa at Meadowood, the ultimate spot for rejuvenation in harmony with nature.
Head over to the 150-year-old HALL Wines St. Helena, a 33-acre winery situated at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains in Napa Valley offering a private art walk, beautiful views of fall foliage, and sample one of the best California wines. Dinner is a must at Thomas Keller’s iconic The French Laundry, a farm-to-fork concept restaurant with its dedicated 3-acre garden that supplies fresh produce for its Michelin three-star kitchen. End the day by relaxing and unwinding beside your hotel’s fire pit under the stars.
Day 2
Fall is incomplete without indulging in the freshest produce that’s ripe for harvest. California’s wilderness is peppered with farm to table experiences such as seasonal hands-on harvesting, olive oil tasting alongside the melodies of autumn. In Rutherford, Caymus Vineyards offers exclusive private grape harvesting and winemaking sessions. Owning a personalized vintage is an unforgettable experience. For the refined palate, Round Pond Estate offers olive oil estate tours and gourmet picnics in the crisp fall air, where you can taste fresh-pressed olive oils and local. They also provide some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley.
Blue Note Napa is a jazz club and gourmet restaurant at the historic Napa Valley Opera House. It blends the quintessential jazz club experience, Northern California’s wine country ambience and the historic architecture of the nineteenth-century Napa Valley Opera House. Dining at Blue Note Napa is an experience to delight all the senses, blending world-class music, gourmet cuisine, spectacular local wines, and captivating art.
End the day reminiscing or journaling about your beautiful experiences of the day while enjoying a nightcap on your suite’s terrace, before retiring to a room filled with luxurious amenities and warmth.
GOLD COUNTRY
Day 3
Another glorious day on the road awaits as you head to Gold Country, about 2.5 hours away from Napa Valley, in the backdrop of foothills and orchard-studded roads. After arriving in Apple Hill, check in to Eden Vale Inn, a luxury bed and breakfast nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Placerville. The inn offers unique rooms with private outdoor soaking tubs, fireplaces, and patios. Enjoy gourmet breakfasts, expansive gardens, a spring-fed pond, and a wedding pavilion, making it an ideal setting for romantic getaways and intimate events. Alternatively, Nevada City’s historic National Exchange Hotel, originally built during the Gold Rush, offers uniquely decorated rooms that blend Victorian elegance with modern comforts as well as a restaurant and bar.
Luxury apple picking and orchard picnic awaits at High Hill Ranch, the largest Apple Hill farm of Placerville, where you can enjoy cider, apple pies and doughnuts, fresh-pressed apple ciders, handmade arts, and crafts, and more. The apple farm features an on-site restaurant and bakery that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all while hosting a large selection of farm attractions for kids and families to enjoy.
In the evening, head to The Independent Restaurant & Bar for an unforgettable experience with American fusion cuisine, craft cocktails, and warm hospitality in a cosy indoor space with a lively bar, or savour the outdoors on the garden patios.
Unwind at the end of the day with fireside s’mores or a comforting glass of mulled wine at your inn.
Day 4
Start the day in the charming Gold Country with a guided mushroom foraging walk in the Sierra foothills, which your inn can arrange with local naturalists and try your hand at cooking with the freshly foraged produce You also have to the option to celebrate with pumpkins, which are a fall classic. Continue the fall journey with a pumpkin patch visit and a private pumpkin pie-making class at Boa Vista Orchards, a fifth-generation family farm in the Apple Hill countryside for over 100 years. The farm also offers a diverse selection of fresh produce, delicious baked goods, crisp apple ciders, flavourful wines, picturesque vistas, and friendly service.
Stroll through the foliage-lined streets of Nevada City and explore its history as a former gold miners’ town and witness its current art scene. A night of live folk music and dancing awaits at the legendary Crazy Horse Saloon with drinks, food, and socialising among locals. At night, make the most of your luxury room amenities by cosying up by the fire at your hotel.
LAKE TAHOE
Day 5
As you drive further into the High Sierra region, the landscape changes with beautiful alpine mountains as you drive out to Lake Tahoe, 2.5 hours away. Experience the ultra-luxe ambience and amenities of Edgewood Tahoe Resort or Ritz-Carlton in Lake Tahoe, before embarking on scenic outdoor activities.
Fall colours are a short-lived sight which are best experienced on a quiet lakeside hike along the Spooner Lake Trail or Eagle Lake Trail. Eagle Lake Trail is a picturesque hiking trail offering a moderate hike, making it accessible to a wide range of outdoor enthusiasts. Modern luxury is taking the good life on the trail with you. Explorers are treated to stunning views of the surrounding mountains and forests leading to Eagle Lake, a serene alpine lake that provides a perfect spot for relaxation and enjoying the natural beauty of the area.
Dinner at Edgewood Restaurant is a must before ending the evening with a private lakefront fire pit experience, complete with wine and s’mores.
Day 6
Charter a private boat from Camp Richardson Marina for a personalised outing on Lake Tahoe’s crystal clear blue waters. Enjoy a curated gourmet lunch on the boat or spend the afternoon in an intimate fall picnic on the beach. which can be arranged by your resort, curated with local cheeses, smoked trout, and warm apple cider.
Experience life like a Lake Tahoe local every September when Lake Tahoe hosts the Sample the Sierra Farm-to-Fork Festival. As the region’s largest gathering of local culinary talent, craft beverage creators, and artisan makers, this one-of-a-kind event is a true reflection of the Tahoe spirit.
Attend an intimate acoustic gig at the charming Grove on the Lake to enjoy California’s vibrant local music scene and culture. Ultimately, savour your final lakeside sunset followed by a cosy fireside drink.
Day 7
On your final day, enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your resort before taking a walk along the lake for one last glimpse of Lake Tahoe’s autumn beauty. Drive to Reno-Tahoe International Airport, approximately 1.25 hours away, for your flight to San Francisco, where you can continue your California adventure.
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