Napa Valley for legendary food and wine, but dogs traveling with their uprights often have other ideas. After all, there’s not much exercise to be had in a tasting room, no matter how velvety the Cabernets, how elegant the appointments or how welcoming the staff.
If your Restless Rover needs to burn a few calories before settling down, we suggest starting your day at Canine Commons dog park, part of 157-acre Alston Park northwest of downtown Napa. This three-acre fenced romp space (small dogs have their own area) is custom designed for off-leash play. In addition, dogs under voice control are allowed to accompany you without a tether on almost 30 acres of open space surrounded by vineyards above the dog-park enclosure.
In addition to Alston Park, you’ll find off-leash areas for dogs under voice control at Napa’s Shurtleff Park and in the undeveloped areas of Kennedy Park. For leashed walks, take a stroll along the downtown portion of the Napa River or check out the newly opened Trancas Crossing Park, a 33-acre preserve where you can enjoy nature and even launch a kayak. To really escape the tourist crowds, try the serene, four-mile perimeter hike around Lake Hennessey, Napa’s municipal water-supply reservoir and a popular fishing and birding destination.
