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It’s easy to be impressed by the many different international destinations expected to be popular in 2024.
Far-flung destinations like Tokyo or Dubai may be many people’s favorite destinations right now, but there are destinations closer to home that travelers are talking about.
One of those locations is California’s Napa Valley, a region that has gained international fame in the past year.
Known for its excellence as a premier wine region, Napa Valley has a lot more to offer besides tastings, which may be why it looks set to become a trending destination in the United States in 2024.
It receives international recognition
It really seems like Napa Valley is catching on in one large road on an international scale.
The region was recently named the number one trending destination in Tripadvisor’s 2024 Travellers’ Choice Awardsand has also been included in Travel and Leisure’s prestigious Best Places To Travel in 2024 list.
And last year, the city of Sonoma, Napa was also named one of the most popular destinations in the US – it’s hard to ignore when a place is consistently so highly rated.
Award-winning locations
Napa Valley is one of only twelve wine regions in the world included in the Great Wine Capitals program – and the only one in North America.
It was recently awarded several major awards as part of the Great Wine Capitals 2024 Best of Wine Tourism awards.
Seven different Napa locations won awards in seven different categories, including Four Seasons Resort & Residencies (lodging), Trefethen Family Vineyards (innovative wine tourism experiences) and Oakville Grocery & Wine Merchant (wine tourism restaurants).
You can visit all year round
Naturally, summer is a great time to visit Napa, with temperatures regularly reaching the low 80s from June to September.
Fall is also one of the most popular times as a harvest season for many grapes, so you may be able to witness firsthand one of the most important stages of winemaking.
But even winter isn’t a bad time to go to Napa – while it can be a bit rainier than normal, temperatures usually reach the high 50s, and when it’s sunny it feels pleasantly warm compared to many places in the country.
Huge choice of flightsS
Napa Valley is incredibly well served by several major airports, including San Francisco International, Oakland International, Sacramento International, and Sonoma County Airport.
All of these airports are less than a two-hour drive from the region, and with so many choices you can almost always find a cheap flight.
Renting a car is one way to get there from these airports. Alternatively, you can take the ferry to Vallejo from San Francisco and from there use a transit bus known as the Vine.
More than just wineries
While the Napa Valley region may be home to more than 400 different wineries, a nice glass of your favorite drink isn’t the only reason to consider visiting this region.
There are a number of world-class golf courses in the area, such as Silverado and Mount Saint Helena Golf Club, as well as the opportunity to soak up some of the fascinating history at the Napa Valley Museum in Yountville – it only costs $5 to enter .
Hangover treatment standard
Napa Valley is actually a great area for outdoor enthusiasts, as well as wine lovers.
The beautiful hills surrounding the valley are ideal for a bike ride, which can help you sweat out your hangover from overindulging in Napa’s finest produce.
You can even soothe your weary head by taking a peaceful hot air balloon ride over the golden and green vistas – perfect at sunset or sunrise.
The event scene is popping
There are many annual events held in the Napa Valley region, which grow in popularity every year.
Naturally, many of these revolve around food and drinks, like the Napa Truffle Festival in January or Calistoga’s Harvest Table in September.
There are also plenty of events for the active, including the Napa Valley Marathon in March, or for music lovers with several major festivals such as Napa Valley Jazz Getaway, Blue Note Jazz Festival or Napa Porchfest.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
