OUT AND ABOUT WITHOUT A CAR: Taking the bus to Napa and beyond
By Steve Price and Janet Byron
Who knew that the wine country could be so accessible without a car? We walked over to El Cerrito Plaza BART, rode one stop to Del Norte BART, and then took Vine Transit buses to the wine country of Napa Valley. The bus ride to the city of Napa didn't take much longer than a car ride — less than an hour. It required a quick bus transfer in Napa to get downtown, and a short walk to our hotel in downtown Napa.
Downtown Napa has densified in recent years, and the waterfront along the Napa River has multiuse trails, restaurants, and shops. It's pretty upscale—understandable considering that it's the gateway to the wine country. The next morning we took another Vine Transit bus to Yountville, where we wandered around the residential areas admiring the many houses with attractive porches and gardens. We walked by the famous French Laundry restaurant (too rich for our budget), then we shared a flight of three wine samples at Jessup Cellars (more affordable). Afterward we caught Vine Transit back to Del Norte, transferring buses on the way in Napa. Our friendly bus driver, Curtis, cheerfully transported us between Napa and Del Norte BART both days. All in all, it was an inexpensive but elegant car-free outing.
