Every time I go to Napa Valley I feel like I’ve reached one of the most beautiful spots on earth.  My senses come alive – the smells, the tastes (oh, the tastes), the views, the sounds (or lack thereof) – no wonder people never leave this place!

There is so much to explore that each visit reveals new surprises and hidden treasures.  Above all, the people throughout Napa Valley are what make it such an amazing place.

During a recent trip I spent the majority of my time between Yountville and St. Helena – this post contains a small sample of the many photos I took.

I ate so much that I could have easily filled an entire post with photos of food from some great spots including Redd, Ad Hoc, Mustards, Bouchon Bakery and Bottega (sorry, no French Laundry this time) – instead, I decided to share some of the less flashy, but more inspirational photos from the trip.

To me, these photos represent the real Napa Valley and celebrate the hard work and dedication of local artisans and farmers.

In fact, I continue to be amazed by the commitment throughout Napa Valley to support these local farmers and artisans – it’s inspiring and a reminder that eating locally means eating seasonally – a concept that the restaurants throughout the valley truly understand.

As you can see, there is much to behold in Napa Valley and something special about every season – in my mind, it’s always a good time of year to visit the valley!

So, where do you go to find inspiration?