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If your group texts are anything like ours, they were full yesterday after finding out our beloved Dolly Parton had passed away.

There are a lot of feelings about people these days, but one clearly stands out: everyone loved Dolly. And for good reason! She was the best selling female country artist of all time, a movie star with hit classics - how will we get through Steel Magnolias now? - an incredibly generous philanthropist, and as Miley Cyrus said “the most loved person on the planet.”

And now, what will be one of her greatest legacies is her Imagination Library, created to ensure that children everywhere have access to books at no cost, with Napa being a recent addition to their distribution. You can find all the details here, our first ever group text.

So today, we will be streaming our favorite Dolly songs, working 9 to 5, and looking for some butterflies to help ease this epic loss.

Thank you to our very own Book Lady 🦋

What do you want to talk about?! Ask away and we will happily start the chat.

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I’m Christina, married to my husband Joey, and together we’re raising our energetic two-year-old, Maddie, with baby number two arriving this fall. Joey works in tech, and I wear lots of hats helping run our family vineyard and winery, Tognetti Family Winery. Our family has been farming the same Carneros vineyard for more than 60 years, so between work, family, and chasing a toddler around, there’s never a dull moment!

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What's your Napa origin story?

While Joey and I moved to Napa in 2020 after meeting in San Francisco, my family’s Napa story goes back much further. My grandpa, Jack Tognetti, purchased our 20 acre Carneros ranch in 1964. What started as pears and prunes eventually became vineyards, and today our family is still farming that same land.

We’ve always thought of ourselves as growers first. For more than 30 years, our family has proudly grown Chardonnay grapes for Schramsberg’s sparkling wines, and today we continue that partnership. In 2012, my parents, Bob and Wendy Tognetti, decided to produce a small amount of wine under our family name, and that’s how Tognetti Family Winery began.

I grew up spending weekends at the ranch with my grandparents, and now it’s incredibly special to watch my daughter and all of my nieces and nephews create those same memories.

Tell us about your family!

Our little family is my husband Joey, our two-year-old daughter Maddie, and baby number two coming later this year. But we’re lucky to be part of a much bigger family that’s part of our everyday life. My parents, siblings, nieces, and nephews are all very close, and many of us work together helping run our winery, so it’s not unusual for Maddie to spend the day at the vineyard with her grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles.

What do you think the best part of having a family in Napa is?

I’m always telling people about the “Napa bubble” because it’s one of my favorite things about living here. It just feels like such a safe, welcoming place to raise a family. We run into familiar faces everywhere we go, our community genuinely supports one another, and it’s easy to spend most weekends outside.

What is your favorite thing to do as a family in Napa?

We’re definitely a “let’s go for a walk” family. On slow weekends we’ll usually grab coffee and pastries - our favorites are Deuces, Moulin, and Model Bakery - then wander through the Napa Farmers Market or let Maddie scooter around Oxbow Commons. We also love venturing up valley. We recently grabbed pastries from Under Study before heading to Crane Park in St. Helena, and it made for the perfect morning.

During the week, you can almost always find my mom, sister, and me walking downtown, popping in and out of local shops.

We also have a family tradition of Pizza Fridays, so we’re either trying a new pizza spot or visiting one of our longtime favorites. (My husband is currently 5–0 on the claw machine at Fazerrati’s, and yes, he’s very proud of it.)

What is the one thing you wish Napa had?

I’d love to see a larger community pool, an outdoor splash pad (which I’m hopeful is still on the horizon!), and even more locally owned shops for kids and families.

Give us a “change your life” parenting hack:

Build your village.

One of the biggest shifts for me happened when I intentionally started making other mom friends in Napa. Those friendships have been such an incredible source of encouragement - not just as a mom, but as I help build our family winery, too.

Having my family nearby has also been the greatest gift. I see my mom and sister almost every day, and I don’t take that support for granted. Parenthood really is better when you don’t try to do it alone.

Where Are You Eating, Playing, and Shopping This Month in Napa?

• Eating: Our go-to lunch spots are Contimo and Gott’s. For family pizza nights, we love Kitchen Door, especially because we can sit outside and Maddie can run over to the squirrel and acorn play area afterward.

• Playing: Fuller Park, Yountville Park, and Oxbow Commons are our favorite spots for scootering and burning off toddler energy.

• Shopping: Napa Bookmine is a family favorite and Hopscotch & Bark has quickly become one of our favorite spots to find thoughtful gifts for kids.

What do you wish you could tell yourself before you became a parent?

I wish I’d known that I’d never feel “caught up” again and that it’s okay.

Before becoming a mom, I was always racing to check everything off my to-do list. Now, most days I’m squeezing work into nap time and after bedtime, and I’ve learned to celebrate the small wins instead of feeling like I have to accomplish everything at once. The to-do list will always be there, but these little years with my kids won’t.

How is your business serving families of Napa Valley?

For years, our family has grown grapes and made wine, but we’re finally able to welcome guests onto our family ranch for seasonal vineyard gatherings. It’s something our family has dreamed about for a long time, and it’s given us the opportunity to share the vineyard the way our family has enjoyed it for generations.

As young parents ourselves, we wanted to create the kind of wine country experience we were looking for - one where kids are genuinely welcome while parents can relax and enjoy being together. On any given day at the ranch, you’ll find three generations working, playing, and sharing a meal together, and that’s exactly the feeling we hope to create for our guests.

How can WE as readers support YOU?

Follow along, share our story with a friend, or join us for one of our seasonal vineyard gatherings!

As a thank you to readers, we’d love to offer early access to our seasonal gathering invitations before they’re released publicly. Space is limited so we’d love to make sure local families have the first opportunity to join us.

Building a small family winery truly takes a village, and we’re so grateful to be part of this Napa community.

Thank you for joining for this Golden Grapes post. Say hi and share your love to Trevor and crew in the comments below 💛

And if you’re new here, you should also get to know:

• Trevor Terrill of Theda’s Ice Cream

• Cordie Brown of The Art Nest

• Chelsea Gregory of Grape Jammers

• The Chamblin Family of Napa Bookmine

• The Cortese Family of CTS Gym

• The van Zyl Family of Belong Wine Co + The River Club

• The Ochoa-Llamas Family of Tiny Vines Fútbol Club

Do you know a family that would be great to feature? Reach out and let us know at napasubstack@gmail.com!

A…

A great reminder: our latest what are we doing? post highlighted the ongoing summer activities and events listed by each day of the week. A great quick guide for what to do should you find yourself with some free time alongside your kids this summer.

B…

Be ready for Napa’s SoFi District Battle of the Bands! While we still miss Porch Fest, this is a great substitute and fun for all. (Oh, hi Voltage!)

C…

See yourself getting a sitter and heading to Napa Valley Education Foundation’s new + FREE outdoor movie nights each Friday night in July! (This event is 21+)

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1…

The one thing keeping us caffeinated, satiated, and celebrated.

2…

The two things that caught our eye:

• Waldo is back! Get your bingo card and start searching for him around your fav local spots to be entered for fun giveaways.

• Trade your too many tomatoes for someone else’s copious cucumbers at the Yountville Library’s upcoming Crop Swap on Friday 7/10. (And be sure to check out this month’s calendar of events, there is so much happening at each branch.)

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The three things to add to next month’s calendar:

• Fill up on rides, food, activities, animals, and fun at the Napa Town & Country Fair (8/6 - 8/8)

• Blue Oak’s Kids Night Out (8/7, registration required)

• School is back in session, woahh that happened fast. Make sure your bucket list items are checked!

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Did we miss anything?
(The answer is always yes.)
We would love to hear what you’re up to this July!

I’m Trevor, originally an East Bay kid, married to my wife Chelsea (Strong), who was born and raised here in Napa. We have two girls, Delaney, 16, and Madison, 9, two rescue dogs, Piper and Nessie, plus a couple cats running around the house. After more than a dozen years marketing in the wine industry, I now own and make ice cream at Theda’s Ice Creamery, while Chelsea is the Director of Creative at The Raley’s Companies.

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What's your Napa origin story?

After meeting my wife, who was born and raised in Napa, we did a short stint in West Palm Beach, Florida for a couple of years before realizing there’s just nowhere like California. We moved back almost as quickly as we could. I’ve now been rooted in Napa for almost 20 years. Both of our girls were born at the Queen, and aside from maybe retiring somewhere near water one day, I can’t really imagine us ever leaving.

Tell us about your family!

We have two daughters, Delaney, a sophomore at Vintage High, and Madison, a third grader at Willow Elementary. Delaney’s passion is marching band, drum corps, and color guard. She’s been spinning since she was 8 years old, with much of her time spent with the Concord Blue Devils organization. She'll spend her entire summer touring across the United States with the Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps out of Denver, performing in NFL and college stadiums across the country for hundreds of thousands of spectators. When she returns in August, she’ll be one of the captains of the Vintage High Color Guard.

Madison is a competitive gymnast, training at Mastery of Sports more than 12 hours a week ahead of her competitive season this fall. I swear this kid spends more time upside down than right-side up. She also recently completed her first stage production, singing and dancing in Willow Elementary’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

As a family, we love to travel. Some of our favorite memories have come from road-tripping through Scotland, cruising to the Bahamas, running around Disney parks, or just taking little day trips around the Bay Area together. Lately, a lot of our travel has revolved around Delaney’s marching performances, so we spent New Year’s 2026 in Pasadena for the Rose Parade, and we’ll spend this upcoming Thanksgiving in New York City when she performs in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

What do you think the best part of having a family in Napa is?

We always joke that “we live where other people vacation,” and honestly, it’s true. Sure, Napa can be expensive. Sure, it’s tough watching some local spots disappear in favor of another hotel. But there’s a reason people want to be here. It’s freakin’ beautiful.

The green hills, the river, the vineyards, the trees, our dog park... it’s just an incredible place to live and raise kids. We still stumble across places we’ve never seen before. We recently went to Linda Falls in Angwin for the first time and I couldn’t believe I’d lived here nearly 20 years without knowing it existed.

And beyond the beauty, I think it’s really special growing up in a community built around agriculture, hospitality, and craftsmanship. Our friends and neighbors are the best in the world at growing something from the earth and sharing it with the world. That’s pretty cool.

What is your favorite thing to do as a family in Napa?

Honestly, we just love spending time with our people. Whether that’s paddling the Napa River together, hanging at a park with the kids, cooking for friends at our house, or celebrating holidays and milestones, that sense of community brings us a ton of joy.

Chelsea grew up here in Napa, and over the years, she’s established an incredible group of women and families that just completely match our vibe. Everybody started having kids around the same time, and one of the moms opened a daycare that so many of our kids went through together, and now they’ve all basically grown up side-by-side like family. We definitely don’t get together nearly enough these days, but when we do, it’s just easy. I don’t take that for granted at all.

What is the one thing you wish Napa had?

I’m probably going to sound like a broken record, but honestly, more for kids and more affordable places built with locals in mind. I love seeing local families open successful businesses, but I’d also love to see more spaces intentionally designed to serve the people who actually live and raise families here year-round.

Give us a “change your life” parenting hack:

Find your tribe. Build a community around you that you trust completely. I know that if we ever needed help, our friends and family would drop everything, and they have. Whether it’s school pickup, watching our dogs while we’re out of town, checking in on our kids, sharing intel on how they’re behaving when we’re not around, or simply helping us through life, having that kind of support system is invaluable. It really does take a village, and we’ve been lucky to find ours.

Where Are You Eating, Playing, and Shopping This Month in Napa?

We’ve been really excited about George + Kin’s opening. Our family LOVES breakfast, and we’ve already been there quite a few times. We’re honestly fans of anything Ben and Ali do, and they’ve been incredibly supportive neighbors and collaborators through our Neighbor Flavor partnerships with Mother’s Tacos and now George + Kin’s.

Maddy’s excited about the Fuller Park renovation, and we’re big Saturday morning Napa Farmers Market people. We also love wandering around Oxbow Commons and the Riverfront area. We all had a blast at BottleRock this year, and we’re excited for all the music coming through the Uptown and Napa Music Hall this season.

What do you wish you could tell yourself before you became a parent?

"Everything’s gonna be okay."

There’s no perfect way to do this whole parenting thing. You just make the best decision you can with the information you have at the time and keep moving forward. As long as it’s coming from love, you’re probably doing alright.

And yeah... everybody says it, but time really does go by way too fast. The fact we’re already talking about driver’s licenses and college honestly blows my mind.

How is your business serving families of Napa Valley?

I joke sometimes that Theda’s is just a front to funnel money back into the community. I’m positive we’ve put more money into the community since opening than we’ve put into our personal bank accounts.

Every decision we made building this place was passed through the “community filter.” Even choosing the Grapeyard Shopping Center. It’s safe, surrounded by neighborhoods and schools, easy to find parking, and full of other locally built businesses we genuinely love.

We support local organizations through dine-and-donates, sponsor sports teams, partner with other businesses through our Neighbor Flavor program, donate to schools and non-profits, and employ many kids in their very first jobs.

At the end of the day, we just try to make a really good product at a fair price, and create a place where people feel welcome. The community has absolutely shown up for us in return.

How can WE as readers support YOU?

Come grab a scoop. Celebrate the big stuff and the little stuff with us. Come by after a game, dance recital, doctor’s appointment, rough day, great day... whatever.

Tell us what flavors you love. Tell us what you want us to make next. Ask us to sponsor your team or support your fundraiser. We can’t say yes to everything, but we’ll always try.

And most importantly, just continue being kind to our Scoop Crew and supporting local businesses around Napa. That support, and not just the financial kind, means more than you’ll ever realize.

Thank you for joining for this Golden Grapes post. Say hi and share your love to Trevor and crew in the comments below 💛

And if you’re new here, you should also get to know:

• Cordie Brown of The Art Nest

• Chelsea Gregory of Grape Jammers

• The Chamblin Family of Napa Bookmine

• The Cortese Family of CTS Gym

• The van Zyl Family of Belong Wine Co + The River Club

• The Ochoa-Llamas Family of Tiny Vines Fútbol Club

Do you know a family that would be great to feature? Reach out and let us know at napasubstack@gmail.com!

If you’re a kid, it’s the best time of year, but if you are a parent, the usual predictable schedule is gone and now it’s up to you to figure out what to do each and every day. But no worries, we’re here to help!

Below, we have outlined resources for you to build your summer bucket list, what to do when it get’s hot, a list of Napa summer camps (never too late!) and regular weekly events for when the calendar opens up and there’s some time to fill.

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Last summer, we worked hard to put together guides for you to help you build out your summer plans. We went through and updated links (and maybe some typos) to make sure you are making the most of these valuable resources:

🌊 What are we doing? Making our summer bucket list 🍦

☀️ What are we doing? Surviving the summer heat ☀️

⛺️ What are we doing? Planning our 2026 summer camp schedule 🌳

Inevitably, childcare lapses, camp schedules don’t align and a free day (or week) opens up that you have to fill. So, instead of building out a calendar of events, we thought we would highlight regular happenings for each day of the week so you can check in to see what to do when your time is called.

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A…

A great reminder: June is Pride Month! 🌈 There are plenty of family friendly activities popping up all around Napa County. Let’s celebrate!

B…

Be ready for a StoryWalk with First 5 Napa. Think parks, walks, crafts, face painting, and free books!

C…

See yourself at First Thursdays! It’s the first week of June, so time for good food, good friends, and good music down at the Oxbow Commons.

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The one thing keeping us caffeinated, satiated, and celebrated.

2…

The two things that caught our eye:

• Mini Golf in Napa! Finally!

• Carneros Resort’s Moonlight Movies are happening every Friday all summer long. Some showings are kid friendly, and some are made for date night. Take advantage of the fun in our own backyard!

3…

The three things to add to next month’s calendar:

• July 4th in downtown Napa including a parade, festival, and drone show - 7/4

• Napa’s SoFi District is having another Battle of the Bands - 7/26

• Yountville’s Annual Camp Out + Movie Night (registration required) - 7/31

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Did we miss anything?
(The answer is always yes.)
We would love to hear what you’re up to this June!

It’s May. We made it through Mother’s Day, Bottlerock, and a month of random school chaos - we’re in the home stretch and we can see the summer light at the end of the tunnel!

So for all the aforementioned reasons, we thought, no need to work harder this month - we’re already maxed out - let’s work smarter and organize all of our resources into one easy to navigate post.

And as always, we would be grateful if you took a minute to share this with a friend. We are here to trying to provide organized, topical information on *topics that are not already out there* and the only way to keep us going is if you keep sharing!

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💦 Making our summer bucket list: a guide to fun things to do during the summer in Napa Valley. Stay tuned, an updated version coming to a inbox near you soon.

☀️ Surviving the summer heat: helping you cool off when it gets toasty.

🏕️ Planning our 2026 summer camp schedule: you still have time, kinda. Here is a list of where you can send your kids this summer!

🎈 Putting our party hats on: covering every aspect of planning a birthday party in Napa. (Word on the street is it’s a good one)

📷 Making the most of our memories: got pictures? Take them out of the phone and save those adorable memories for a lifetime with this guide from a Napa photog.

🫧 Getting our spring cleaning on: whether it is spring or not, we are always cleaning out. This will help you know what to do with all that stuff

🍇 Welcoming guests to wine country: what a treat hosting our friends in such a beautiful location. Here we give a few recs on family friendly things to do when friends come to town.

🎾 Making resolutions right on time: YOUR New Year can literally start whenever you want. Looking for more fitness and new hobbies - aka time away from your family - take a look and treat yourself.

Also, while we are here, we made a little crowd sourced Costco list and were the first to let you know about the free books from Dolly!

Thanks for joining us on this month’s What are we doing? post. Let us know what we missed or what you’re looking to hear in future posts!

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Our quick little note as we tread through May.

A…

A great reminder: you really are doing great. Just remember how far you have come in 2026 alone!

B…

Be ready for Music on the Mansion Lawn at Silverado this summer, starting 6/18.

C…

See yourself at Bilco’s. Yup, you read that right. They are welcoming kids (3-17) for free billiards with one paying adult during their new “Family Days” on Saturdays and Sundays from 12-6pm.

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1…

The one thing keeping us caffeinated, hydrated (hi hibiscus cooler), and celebrated.

2…

The two things that caught our eye:

• The Department of Music at Napa Valley College is offering a large selection of musical instruments at significantly reduced prices. Think baby grands, violins, violas, pianos, and cellos. Appointments are necessary for this event that runs 5/28 - 5/30 - ring them at 707-312-0041 to make yours.

• Vine Water Polo is offering a summer season for elementary, middle, and high school athletes. Keep them booked and busy this summer!

3…

The three things to add to next month’s calendar:

• June is 🌈 Pride Month and there will be plenty of ways to celebrate, but we are noting Yountville’s Pride in the Park on 6/14.

• It’s movie in the park season! Catch “Up” on 6/26.

• The inaugural Summer Fest looks fun! Family, friends, flowing wine, fundraising, fun kids activities, and more all at the beautiful Tres Sabores - 6/28.

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Did we miss anything?
(The answer is always yes.)
We would love to hear what’s on your radar for May and June.

Giving you all the information you need without any of the texting interruptions.

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We once told you that come April, Fuller Park would be back to hosting our kids with new structures and heart eyes in tow. And then construction delays, ahem, calendars said not so fast!

So here’s to holding out a little bit longer for the finished project and hopefully it is worth this long awaited wait!

What do you want to talk about?! Ask away and we will happily start the chat.

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I’m Cordie, a Colorado native who met my husband in San Francisco before his firefighting career brought us to Napa eight years ago. We have two kids, Jack (almost 10) and Olive (6), plus a Hungarian sheepdog named Rocky who looks more like a mop than a dog. I’ve spent much of my adult life working in early childhood education, with a background in massage therapy as well. We feel incredibly lucky to call this beautiful valley home.

What's your Napa origin story?

We were living in San Francisco when my husband put himself through school to become an EMT and paramedic, then was applying for firefighter positions all over the state. When a spot opened up in Napa’s fire academy, it felt like we’d won the lottery. My husband worked incredibly hard to earn that position — it’s competitive, and I’m so proud of him for really pulling himself up by the bootstraps and creating this amazing opportunity for our family. At the time, our son Jack had spent the first two years of his life sleeping in the closet of our rent-controlled apartment — I used to carry him to the laundromat in a laundry basket. Moving to Napa felt like exhaling. I still marvel every day that I can find a parking spot and do laundry in my own home. Life here is just a little easier, a little less frenetic, and a different kind of beautiful.

Tell us about your family!

I’ve primarily been a stay-at-home mom, though I’ve always found ways to work with flexibility — teaching when my husband is home or bringing my kids along with me. Life in a first responder family isn’t something people easily understand unless they’ve lived it. When my husband is gone for long stretches, I do his jobs and mine, without family nearby or much outside help. It’s taught me a lot of grit, independence, and flexibility. Having my own business has been a gift because I can set my own hours while keeping my kids as my first priority.

We have a wonderful community of female friends and fellow moms in Napa who truly show up for each other — I’m so grateful for them. As a family, we love hiking at Alston Park or Westwood Hills, visiting the dog park with Rocky, and cheering hard for all our Colorado teams — the Broncos, Nuggets, and Rockies. When we travel, we’re either visiting my family in Colorado, my husband’s family in Florida, or sneaking away to Hawaii, our special getaway. Last year we even took the kids backpacking in Yosemite. We’re hard workers, both of us, and our vacations tend to center around family and the outdoors.

What do you think the best part of having a family in Napa is?

The quality of life, and the way this town is connected in a way I’ve never experienced anywhere else. Everyone seems to know everyone, and that creates a real sense of security when you’re raising kids. My friends at school are like aunties to Jack and Olive — always looking out for them. The fire department community has also been an incredible support. And honestly, it’s just so beautiful here. Getting to raise my kids in this place feels like a privilege every single day.

What is the one thing you wish Napa had?

More free spaces for children — especially a public pool and splash pads. It doesn’t seem right that a town this hot in summer doesn’t have a public pool for families who need somewhere to escape the heat. I’d also love to see more affordable, quality Asian food. I really miss the dim sum and Vietnamese hole-in-the-wall spots from San Francisco — nothing fancy, just really good food. And finally, I wish there was a more organized effort to address litter, especially in South Napa. There’s a disconnect between how beautiful this valley is and the amount of trash on the roadside. I’d love to see more community pride around keeping it clean.

Give us a “change your life” parenting hack:

Two things transformed our household. The first sounds almost too simple: I learned it was okay to say no. As an early childhood educator, I was trained in responsive language — the kind where you narrate everything and offer choices. If a child was standing on a table with a knife, you might say, “I see you’re standing on the table. Would you like help getting down?” But as a parent, I realized sometimes you just need to say stop and no. Learning the difference between being a teacher and being a mom was its own learning curve.

The second hack came from a child psychologist when Jack was young and having intense tantrums. She suggested I completely ignore the bad behavior and then overreact with praise when he was doing something right — make it a huge deal. It completely flipped a switch. He started chasing the positive attention instead. My mom put it best: some kids just want to play tug of war. So I remind myself — don’t pick up the other end of the rope.

Where Are You Eating, Playing, and Shopping This Month in Napa?

My husband and I love sneaking out to breakfast or brunch together when the kids are in school — it’s quality time without the babysitter cost. Winston’s is a favorite, and we’re regulars at Naysayer Coffee.

The kids love Alston Park, playing down at the creek, and Shurtleff Dog Park with Rocky.

For shopping, I love supporting local — Juniper Station, Napa Bookmine, and Jeffries General are three of my absolute favorites. The women running these shops are thoughtful, generous, and truly wonderful people. I’m especially excited about Jeffries current collaboration with Blue Tin Fabrics, run by the incredible Jessica Rockwell.

What do you wish you could tell yourself before you became a parent?

Nothing truly prepares you for how all-consuming parenthood is until you’re in it. I’d tell my pre-kid self: don’t judge the parent with the screaming toddler in the grocery store. Children are learning, parents are doing their absolute best, and the fact that you care this much means you’re probably doing a wonderful job. You are the perfect parent for your child.

How is your business serving families of Napa Valley?

The Art Nest was born out of a desire to give children a place to truly explore — where the process matters more than the product. When I moved to Napa, I was surprised by how little process-oriented art there was for young children. I wanted to create a space where kids slow down, connect with nature, and take genuine pride in what they make — without adults stepping in to make it look “perfect.” I see myself as a facilitator, and my classes are really offerings for children to explore alongside their caregivers. I welcome anyone who loves a child — babysitters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nannies. Community is at the heart of everything we do.

How can WE as readers support YOU?

Keep coming to The Art Nest and spread the word! And please — send me your ideas. If there are topics, times, or skills you want your child to explore, I genuinely want to tailor my classes to what this community needs. You can find our current schedule online, and I’d love to see you in class.

Cordie is extending a discount for NapaStack subscribers: $5 off your trial class — an extra savings on top of an already discounted trial price. Use code: GOLDENNEST5 at checkout.

Thank you for joining for this Golden Grapes post. Say hi and share your love to Teacher Cordie family in the comments below 💛

And if you’re new here, you should also get to know:

• Chelsea Gregory of Grape Jammers

• The Chamblin Family of Napa Bookmine

• The Cortese Family of CTS Gym

• The van Zyl Family of Belong Wine Co + The River Club

• The Ochoa-Llamas Family of Tiny Vines Fútbol Club

Do you know a family that would be great to feature? Reach out and let us know at napasubstack@gmail.com!

Our quick little note as we jump right into spring.

A…

A great reminder: Free Cone Day is coming to a Ben + Jerry’s! Who doesn’t love a chance to get some ice cream, and to top it off - it’s free?! Stop by between 12-8pm on 4/14 and treat yourself.

B…

Be ready for Napa’s Earth Day Festival. It’s a day to celebrate with plenty of family friendly activities, entertainment, and refreshments. This is a free community event you do not want to miss!

C…

See some public art! Napa is putting on a Public Art Tour on 4/7, and while the event is free, registration is required.

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1…

The one thing keeping us caffeinated, hydrated, and celebrated.

2…

The two things that caught our eye:

• Strong HER Academy is building confidence and strength for young girls. While the inaugural session is underway, this is definitely something to keep your eye on if you have a pre-teen gal in your house.

• Mastery of Sports recently opened up an evening Me & My Shadow class. If the weekday or Saturday mornings weren’t fitting the schedule, be sure to check out this super fun way to burn off that toddler energy!

3…

The three things to add to next month’s calendar:

• Mother’s Day is coming! And it’s never too early to order flowers, make a brunch reservation, or start asking around for gift ideas - 5/10

• Hop on two wheels for Napa’s bike to school and work day - 5/14

• Grab your veggie starters at Juniper Station - 5/3 (in addition to 4/19 + 4/26)

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Did we miss anything?
(The answer is always yes.)
We would love to hear what’s on your radar for April.

This one proved to be a little harder to organize than most “What are we doing?” posts, as each business or organization operating on different donation needs, there is no one category that fits all, but hey, we tried our best. (And if all else fails, search this article for keywords!)

While we usually save our What are we doing? posts for paid subscribers, considering so many business below operate on in-kind donations, we thought we would share this with all of our followers.

And one last note - we would be grateful if you took a minute to share this with a friend. We are here to trying to provide organized, topical information on *topics that are not already out there* and the only way to keep us going is if you keep sharing!

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Okay, okay, let’s get to it!

Clothing:

👚 Cope will accept gently used items for mothers and babies. This is where this idea all started - we had so many baby supplies that we no longer needed, and in great shape - and we hated the thought of tossing it because so much of it is not accepted at other organizations. Then we found Cope! They host weekly meetings for parents in our community and put any items out for them to take as they leave - you name it, they have accepted it from us.

💼 Catholic Charities accepts a variety of items, check the list here, but mainly are in need of clothing, kitchen items, bed linens, sleeping bags and blankets, and hygiene products. These items are used for families transitioning into housing, recovering from crisis, or working toward renewed stability.

👗 Field Day Napa is a local business that accepts gently used women’s and children’s clothing, shoes, and toys. But be sure to check out her instagram on what she accepts for trade - there are specific brands that she does not accept. When you bring items in, you can score store credit to buy new items (to you). And any items she does not accept, have the option of being donated directly to Voices Napa.

Children’s Items

🎒Expressions of Hope accepts clothing, diapers, cribs, strollers, backpacks but their needs often change throughout the year, so check their updated list as you prepare to donate.

🖍️ The craft table needs a clean out too? Juniper Station regularly hosts Craft Swaps with The Craft Yard to share gently used crafting items so they get the creative love they need. And take a search on the Napa County Library Events page for “Craft Supply Swap.” Finally, if you have some nice supplies, check with Nimbus Arts to see if any of your crafting supplies would be useful to their programs.

📚 If you have an overflowing library, or are moving on to new levels of reading, you can take your books to Napa Bookmine and receive store credit in exchange. And if they are not able to accept all of your books, you have the option for them to donate to The Napa County Library. And it never hurts to check in with your local school to see what books teachers or students might need!

🚲 The California Corrections Bicycle Refurbishing Project accepts used bikes that get repaired by inmates who get to learn new skills and give back to their community. Once the bikes are ready for their next riders, they are given to children, schools, non-profit organizations to get bikes to those who need them most. You do have to make the drive to Vacaville, but we think it might be worth it.

🧸 Have you seen Claudette Shatto around town with her adorable book Gazill Hill? Part of the fun of her book readings is that kids have the chance to adopt a stuffed animal. While her storage is full (we checked), she does occasionally accept very gently used stuffed animals. So reach out to her and support a local author!

Clothing AND Household Items:

🏠 Community Projects accepts pretty much anything from your household! Be sure to take a look at what they do and don’t accept because there are caveats (too many to list here) but is a great start for an assortment of items.

Consign and Design, right off Trancas, accepts clothing, accessories, shoes, housewares and furniture. Just be sure to make an appointment if you would like to bring your items in.

👕 American Cancer Society Discovery Shop accepts adult clothing, shoes, jewelry, housewares, and furniture - all which will benefit The American Cancer Society.

🏡 Goodwill will also accept a wide variety of items, so best to head there if you have a trunk full of random things to get rid of!

🪑Habitat for Humanity Restore, based in Fairfield, will come and pick up furniture from smoke free, pet free homes.

🧳 Seventh Day Adventist Church accepts clothing for women and children along with food, household items, bedding, furniture, luggage, bicycles, strollers and more.

🧥 The South Napa Shelter accepts food, toiletries, and clothing and take a look at their wish list for newer, unopened item needs too.

Other Misc Items:

🐾 Napa Humane has a wish list of items that they constantly need, but here are the highlights of some of the things you might be cleaning out: cat carriers, cat + dog toys, puppy training pads (parents of littles, I know you have them) collars and leashes. They also have been known to take stuffed animals, but always check in before taking your haul!

💎 Glenda Rescued Treasures will accept variety of miscellaneous items, just no clothing.

🏥 If you have medical supplies, we found Share the Care accepts gently used or unopened medical supplies. While most of their needs are for older generations, diapers are on their list.

🚗 And should you have a car that needs to go, these organizations are all willing and ready to accept: Napa Humane, Jameson Humane, and Napa NEWS.

Internet places and spaces:

If you are willing to spend a little time making a post and sharing your address with social strangers, there are a few reliable options to get ride of items.

💻 Specifically in Napa, we have a handful of Facebook groups that offer the ability to pass along items for free. You can select a person to come and pick it up or share your address and give to the first individual who is able to snag it. We personally have scored some great gives - jogging strollers, dyson kids vacuum, slides, and more. If you want to go this route there are a few group options:

• There is a broad group for a range of items, called Buy Nothing Napa or Napa Valley Buy, Sell, and Trade.

• Or if If you have more specific kids items, we recommend Pay Nothing - NAPA VALLEY KIDS.

🖥️ There is also the wildly entertaining Next Door or if you are willing for a few more steps you can find spaces like Poshmark or Thrift Up to sell your gently used items.

Don’t forget about these places too:

There are so many great organizations in Napa that we looked into, but currently do not accept in-kind donations. Still they are worth noting, should you choose to donate:

• NEWS Napa does not accept used donated items, if you are looking to help those in our community, take a look at their kits where they outline new and unopened items that are beneficial to their organization.

• Napa Community Foundation

• LBTQ Connection

• Voices

• Community Action of Napa Valley

• Napa Valley Education Foundation

• Nimbus Arts

Thanks for joining us on this month’s What are we doing? post. There’s always more to share and we would love to hear if you have any other ideas of where to take your items, in the comments below.

And let us know what we missed or what you’re looking to hear in future posts!

Leave a comment

Our quick little note as we long for more spring days.

A…

A great reminder: If you have a little one under 5, sign them up to receive free books from Dolly! And if they are over 5, you can get your free books at the Library with that library card.

B…

Be ready for Napa Valley Education’s Spring Catalog. From our quick search, we spotted a K-Pop Choir, Spring Cupcake Making, and a Lego Robotics course - just the start of all the varied programming available to our Napa youth!

C…

See your little one catch their breath. Yoga West has a few weeks left on their Little Yogi class (ages 7-12) to introduce them to vinyasa, breath work, and the history of yoga. And Care 4 Em has been offering her mindful movement to those 3-6 at Little House Play Studio!

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1…

The one thing keeping us caffeinated, hydrated, and celebrated.

2…

The two things that caught our eye:

• Benny’s Hawaiian Grindz is popping up all around Napa with their authentic and delicious bites that has our mouths watering (and wishing we had a trip to Hawaii on the books).

• Our local Football Club is having a pre-season meet and greet this Friday night. Warm weather, spring sports on the horizon, and a little family fun - yes, yes, yes.

3…

The three things to add to next month’s calendar:

• 3/4 - Jonny Donuts will be popping up at Taste of Oxbow from 4 - 7pm (all ages)

• Thursdays, Fridays, + Saturdays - Contimo is testing out some new hours and dishes with their new Konbini (all ages)

• Spring Break! is on the horizon - if you’re staying local, don’t forget about our list of summer camps, many of which have options for Spring Breakers.

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Did we miss anything? (The answer is always yes.) We would love to hear what’s on your radar for March.

Even though summer is a few months away, February marks the start of mapping out the summer calendar to make sure the kids are booked and busy as school comes to a close. And while we are not able to personally organize your calendar for you, we are able to help get you started. Below you will find a list of summer camps throughout Napa Valley offering a range of interests, ages, dates, and times.

There are also a few great camps that have not released their summer dates or registration yet, but as they do, we will be sure to update this list! Happy planning!

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Our quick little note as we launch right into 2026!

A…

A great reminder: It’s still Restaurant Month! Take the kids out for a meal deal or snag a babysitter and get a night out on the town.

B…

Be ready for: The Lighted Art Festival. Don’t miss out on one of the most fun events in Napa. This walkable, immersive, and FREE festival celebrates art, light, and the community of Napa. And while it is made for the night, a lot of these art installations are pretty incredible in daylight hours too.

C…

See your questions answered at this Saturday’s Napa Mom’s Annual Childhood Expo, an event full of community resources, enrichment programs for your child, and intros to businesses that cater to families of Napa.

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1…

The one thing keeping us caffeinated, hydrated, and celebrated (oh, hi dry January).

2…

The two things that caught our eye:

• Zen Together - Per usual, a mom saw a need - she needed zen - but couldn’t zen solo because she had littles, so she created a space where the two can co-exist. Click on the link if you have kids under 5!

• Fuller Park - or the lack there of. Originally supposed to be completed in February, we haven’t noticed much progress. We did a quick search and noticed the project is now supposed to wrap in April. We miss that playground!!

3…

The three things to add to next month’s calendar:

• Bookmine Story Hour + Oxbow Gnome Hunt: (2/7) - Start with a story and then pick up your passport from Napa Yard and explore the Oxbow area looking for all 12 gnomes, a part of the Lighted Art Festival.

• Westwood Hills Invasive Plant Removal Day: (2/21) - We all love spending time at this Napa park, so let’s help support a local park clean up,

• Oyster, Art, + Fiddle Fest: (2/22): Supporting Nimbus arts with food, fun, and of course, arts.

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Did we miss anything? (The answer is always yes.) We would love to hear what’s catching your eye this January.

This Friday marks an important day in the new year known as “Quitter’s Day” - the day that most people decide to abandon their recent resolutions. Well, we are not quitters…because you can’t quit if you haven’t started yet!

We are finally making our resolutions for the year, just when those are giving up because it is important to teach that it is “never too late to start anything.” So, with the spirit of a late start, we are highlighting some typical resolution categories and where you can find resources to help you better yourself in 2026.

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Health and Fitness is usually at the top of the list.

So start local! There are many Napans bringing community and fitness together - CTS, Valley Strength and Fitness, and NV Elite Fitness are great gyms offering a variety of workouts, sessions, and fitness levels in mixed group environments. Looking for more flow? Napa Valley Yoga, Napa Hot Yoga, Heatwave Studios, Yoga West and Pure Barre are all great options. Plus, there’s Body Rok and Club Pilates if you are looking to form and reform. And get your heart rates high and higher at The Society or Orange Theory.

And of course, there’s always one of the big three - HeathQuest, InShape, or Active Wellness Center.

Looking to step outside of the gym box? Try Aerial Fitness or Rockzilla for a great full body workout that is less about working out and more about moving. Or maybe you were inspired by Dancing with The Stars and want to learn how to Ballroom Dance.

Ready to pound the pavement? There’s a handful of run clubs including one with Mother’s Tacos (free tacos after your first run!) or a few options with Napa Valley Running Company’s weekly club. Athletic Feat also has this handy calendar with allll the run clubs, including a few Napa neighbors.

Cycling is a big part of the Napa lifestyle and we found this beginner’s guide to biking in Napa (thanks Napa Bike Coalition) and this favorites ride from Athletic Feat.

We even spotted a *new* walking club for mom’s pop up, starting once we get some sun. Just need to find a dad or two to create a dad version (or is that just golfing?!)

Speaking of - how about some tennis or golf? Napa Golf Course has a $35 monthly fee (with additional access fee) for monthly golfing. If you need to brush up on your swing, don’t forget about the Golf Simulator, Purefect Golf Club. The Napa Valley Tennis Association is spot for every level - entry, seasoned vet, or needing to brush up on your game with lessons and access to tennis courts included in your (approachable) membership fee. Silverado Country Club also offers lessons to members and non-members alike.

And better late than never if you want to try to start pickleball this year!

Maybe it is time to start something new, learn more, or find better habits?

If reading more books is on your to do list, you’re in good company with plenty of options to choose from! Napa Bookmine has a monthly Book Club, Yountville’s no obligation book club (where you come talk about what you have read), The Library’s Book Club, the come and read your own book book club, Copperfield’s Napa’s monthly book club, and of course Wild Plum’s Book Club (virtual on Substack and thankfully not another zoom call). Don’t forget if you have a library card, you have access to audio books and digital books with the Libby app.

Is cinema more your style? The River Club has a Movie Club where you watch a film - glass of wine and popcorn in hand - and end the evening with a chat about the movie. The Cameo has a monthly film class to dive deeper in to film culture and to keep the love of the cinema alive in Napa Valley.

And leave it to the Napa County Library to provide access to learn new skills (for free!) like the Yarn Club. You will probably find us learning to play this trendy game at Mahjong Napa Valley (who are also offering 101 classes, dm for more info) or at the Library’s Mahjong open play.

This just popped up on our Instagram - stitching together community and a hobby! If you want to try your hand at photography, creative writing or brush up on your niche subject, there are a variety of courses available to the community from from the Napa Valley College.

Are you participating in dry January? Go YOU!

Soak in that better sleep with more energy and great resources like Sober in the Valley. Or treat yourself to a great mocktail around town (oh hi, Chispa!)

Speaking of food and drink - Stoop Supper Club is a great jumping off point to find people who share your same love for all things yummy. They offer occasional dinners (they cook!) or Cook Book Club (you cook!) Either way, you will surely make new friends over delicious food. Oh yes, and if you love pasta, find more of your kind with the Pasta Lovers Club where the menu revolves around pasta with a side of cool people and great wines.

Less screen time? Always.
More time with your family? Of course.

One of the main reasons we started this Substack was the overwhelming feeling of trying to keep up on social media - it felt like a water hose of information from local happenings to parenting advice. The goal here is to try to distill and organize information and resources so you get a few more minutes away from the noise.

We are also really intrigued by Brick which actually takes the temptation away - would love to hear if any of of subscribers have tried it.

We’re helping where we can, but this one is on you boo. You can do it!

Thanks for joining us on this month’s What are we doing? post. There’s always more to share and we would love to hear what you are doing to better yourself in 2026.

And let us know what we missed or what you’re looking to hear in future posts!

Leave a comment

It’s been a few weeks since we last landed in your inbox and it had us questioning, did you even miss us?

Can we hope for both? Not missing us means you were probably on your phone less, soaking in the holiday season and days at home (or traveling) with your family. But we also hope you missed us - just a little bit - only because we want to be a part of your world.

Either way, we are delighted to be landing back in your inbox and gearing up for another fun year ahead.

While we are working hard on some new content, we didn’t want to leave you hanging for another week. Although, let’s be honest, we’re also trying to catch up and figure out how to work again. And while we have been creating over here, we also want to know - what are you enjoying about Napa Stack??

And do you have things you would like to see from us? Topics, things you need help with? Ideas you are looking for? PLEASE message and tell us and we will get to work.

‘Tis the season of . . . stuff. Lots of gifts. Lots of things.

So, when we saw ask her followers on Instagram for some ideas that would help keep Christmas morning exciting without adding (buying) more stuff, our ears (well, eyes) perked up. And the comment section delivered. We loved the sentiment and wanted to share in case it helps you this holiday season.

Feel free to take a few minutes to read the comments, or let us save you a few by highlighting some of our favorites below.

ANNNNNDDD it’s never too late to start a new tradition! (At least that is what we are telling ourselves.)

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What do you want to talk about?! Ask away and we will happily start the chat.

If this post is looking a little familiar, it’s because it is. We heard from a subscriber or two (and more!) that our recent post on holiday fun was a big hit as well as quite helpful. And since hitting send over a month ago, more holiday events have popped up along the way… so we hit copy, took out all the events that have that have passed, and updated with new events coming up. Take a peek!

And in the spirit of giving, we are letting all subscribers in on our holiday fun. And if you find this list useful, please share AND subscribe!

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Santa sightings 🧑‍🎄

Somehow he is going to be everywhere on 12/6, please don’t tell us this is how Santa Con starts.

🎅 The City of Yountville is hosting a visit with Santa, photo included. Donations are welcome to benefit their Parks and Recreation Leader in Training Program. (12/6)

🎅 All aboard the Santa Train! An iconic wine country moment. (Multiple times + dates)

🎅 Story time with Santa - genius! Meritage is hosting a story time every weekend in December featuring one very special reader. (Dec 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 & 21)

🎅 Santa will also be taking moment to listen to Christmas lists and take a photo at Carneros Resort. (12/6)

🎅 Breakfast with Santa at Silverado Resort - Breakfast buffet, a picture snapped with Santa, a ride on the Santa Train, and of course memories being made. (12/6 + 12/13)

🎅 Riverfront Napa features a photo opp with Santa on a really, really big chair - you know the one, the big wooden one just by Napa Coffee Roasting Co. (12/6, 12/13, 12/19)

🎅 L’Agence is hosting a photo with Santa at their downtown office - cocoa and cookies too. Previous clients get to skip the line annnnd get a profesh photo taken. (12/7)

🎅 First Street Napa allows you to shop and see Santa. Or maybe you see Santa and then shop? Either way, he’s here, he’s there, he’s everywhere.

🎅 Enchanted Hills, atop of Mt. Veeder, will be hosting a Santa Brunch including meal, photo with Santa, and craft. (12/14)

🎅 Napa Moms is hosting Santa with some warm cocoa and treats - no registration or membership required. (12/21)

🎅 If you have more of a mermaid than elf vibe, Meritage is hosting Tinsel Tea with a Princess, a way to soak in the holiday season - tea party, story time, and ice skating all included! (12/6, 12/7, 12/13, 12/14, 12/20, 12/21, 12/27, 12/28)

Need to make sure those all important letters to Santa make it to him? L’Agence Napa Valley and The River Club have postal boxes with a direct line to the big guy. Because who can really rely on the postal service this time of year?!

Stay on the move 🏃

🏃‍♂️ Turkey trot - check! Now onto the American Canyon Reindeer Run. We are really looking forward to seeing that real life reindeer at this very family friendly run. (12/6)

🧊 What’s more fun than some outdoor Ice Skating at The Meritage? (11/25 - 1/4)

🚲 Napa Bike is hosting a ride featuring bikes with lights with a side of safety and cocoa. This *free* family event is truly one of a kind! (12/12)

🤸 Mastery of Sports will be hosting a Holiday Pajama Party for their monthly kids night out. It’s a double whammy - kids get some festive (and active) fun and parents can sneak in a quick date. (12/13: 5-8pm, ages 5+)

Partake in a parade 🎁

🚜 The Calistoga Tractor Parade and Napa parade are both this Saturday (12/6).

🚤 News to us - there is boat parade on the Napa River? From tractors to boats, Napa Valley really has it all. (12/12)

Get in a festive mood 🎄

🚂 If you went to The Silverado Tree lighting and couldn’t make it on the train, good news, the Santa Train at Silverado Resort continues to run. (12/6, 12/7, 12/13, 12/14, 12/20, 12/21: 9am - 11am)

🚃 The Napa Valley Trolley takes riders through Napa neighborhoods on a vintage cable car. There’s only two spots left - so, maybe join the wait list?

💡 There are plenty of streets currently decked out, but nothing quite compares to what the houses of Paradise Lane put on. Bring some cocoa and stroll up and down the street where music, lights, and maybe a little dancing will be had.

💌 Wreath making, letter writing, cookie decorating, but make it 19th century. Bale Grist Mill hosts its holiday fun, historic demonstrations included. Scroll allllll the way down to the bottom for more info. (12/6)

🥁 Grape Jammers, a music class for littles, has an upcoming Holiday Mini Series (5 classes) and a special little deal to go along with it. Jam your tiny hearts out! (11/17 - 12/17)

🎤 Jingle all the way to St. Helena for their Children’s Choir Holiday Concert. (12/13)

🐧 Jarvis Conservatory is hosting a holiday themed Puppet Extravaganza, a sure delight for the puppet lover in your life. (12/13)

🕎 The Carneros Resort is hosting a Festival of Lights including an evening Menorah Lighting followed by dreidel games. (12/14 - 12/22)

🎥 The Calistoga Library will be showing Home Alone, popcorn and drinks provided. (12/17)

🎄Lucky Penny Productions is putting on The Best Christmas Pageant Ever all throughout December.

🩰 Napa Regional Dance will have a handful of performances of the Nutcracker right here in Napa. (12/19 - 12/21)

⛸️ A *free* Ice Performance? You read that right - the Meritage uses their rink to host an ice performance for the whole family. (12/20)

🧝 Catch Elf on the big screen at Copia followed by some cupcake decorating and a chance to snap a photo with the Elf (impersonator) himself. (12/21)

🏠 Carneros Resort is doing a cookie cottage making event - $30 to get all the materials to build a sweet gingerbread house. (Daily 11/29 - 12/6)

🌲 Gingerbread house kit, mulled wine for adults, and and juice for kids is included with your ticket at Meritage’s Gingerbread Workshop. (12/5, 12/12, + 12/19, 5-7pm or 7:30-9pm)

Then enter your sweet creations in Napa’s Landmarks Gingerbread contest.

🍪 Farmstead holds a brunch with a bit of cookie decorating. (12/14)

🍦 We love the monthly flavor drops at Theda’s Ice Cream and December’s flavors will surely launch you into the festive spirit.

♥️ Treat YOURSELF. Between sickness, holiday cards, gifting, decorations, parties and more, take some time for doing it all this holiday season. There’s a few fun little holiday pop ups, made just for the adults - Stanly Ranch Bloom pop up, Charter Oak Yurt Supper Club and The River Club’s A Very Vintage Holiday Party.

Craft a gift (or two!) 🎁

🌲 The Napa County Library is supplying you all the supplies for a seasonal craft - a fun little “granny” tree for December.

🧸 Need another holiday mug? Head to the Home Depot for some mug making, holiday style. (12/6)

☕️ Holiday wreath, mug, candle, or ornament on your list? Carneros Resort can help you check that one off. (Daily 12/3 - 12/6)

🎁 Nimbus hosts a holiday ornament making event, wreath making, and even a weekend gift camp for kids to make gifts for their beloved family.

🧵 Juniper Station holds their weekly Sunday Series, which will surely be holiday themed throughout December.

✨ We love that Guild is breaking the holiday mold - they are hosting a Wicked themed kids craft night, no trip to Oz required. (12/13)

Check off some holiday shopping

🛍️ First Street Napa will host their Makers Market with a bit of seasonal flair. And it looks like Santa might be there too! (12/7)

🌲 Support local makers and shop at the RAD Holiday Market where you will be sure to find something special and unique. (12/4-12/7)

🎅 Head to the Napa Expo and find Santa’s Helpers who have been working on making one of a kind gifts all year long. (12/13 - 12/14)

♥️ Holiday Bingo in Downtown is back! When you shop local, you win - literally. Check out the details and shop small.

📚 The Napa County Library is hosting the annual Friends of the Napa Library Book Sale - and did you know students receive 3 FREE books each day of the sale. (12/6 - 12/14, times vary)

Shop small. Shop often.

Give BACK ♥️

In a season of giving and receiving, one of the greatest gifts is the ability to give back to your community and you can never be too young to learn this.

📖 The Napa County Library is inviting families to bring a little bit of joy to local seniors by making holiday cards. All you need to bring is the creativity! (All of December)

❗️The CanDo Give Guide lets you explore Napa County’s nonprofits and find one that aligns with your family’s values to donate to.

🎁 And we have seen plenty of Toys for Tots boxes around town - grab a toy or two to keep in your car to drop off when you see a donation box.

And if you have made it this far, your veins are likely pumping with cocoa and cookies. But if you need a few more ideas to add your list and pump the sugar up some more:

• Host a Christmas movie night

• Put up decorations

• Make, decorate, (and deliver!) cookies - we love the local cookie makers who put together a Christmas cookie kit. YUM!

• Make paper snowflakes

• Have a Christmas music dance party

• Make a garland (popcorn, dried oranges, paper chain, pom poms - so many to choose from!)

• Send holiday cards

Now it’s your turn!

Download the printable and make your own holiday bucket list. Be sure to share any fun ideas you are adding to your bucket list in the comments below!

Napa Stack Holiday Bucket List Printable

382KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

Thanks for joining us on this month’s What are we doing? post. There’s always more to share and we would love to hear any of your insider ideas on what to do in Napa for the holidays.

And let us know what we missed or what you’re looking to hear in future posts!

Leave a comment

We’re the Gregory family — a fun, music-loving, adventure-seeking crew who spent the past year traveling the country in an RV with our two little girls, Harper (3) and Morgan (2), a cat, and a dog! My husband Glen, a former Navy SEAL from Alabama turned finance professional, and I are now happily settled here in Napa, soaking up the family, community, and beauty that make this place so special.

What's your Napa origin story?

I actually grew up here in Napa — my whole family still lives in town — so it’s always been home in my heart. We had been living in Dallas for a few years and desperately craved adventure, more hiking, and a sense of community. We packed up, put our house up for rent, bought a 5th wheel and took a leap of faith into a journey that we will never forget. After spending the year redefining what “home” meant to us, we felt our hearts pulling us back to Napa — for the family, the community, and the beauty that’s impossible to find anywhere else. There’s truly no place like it. So in June of 2025, we officially moved to Napa.

Tell us about your family!
We have two daughters — Harper is 3, curious, funny, and loves to read and take care of all of our pets (6 chickens, a cat named Kitty and our lovable pup, Rocky) and Morgan is almost 2, sweet, fearless, and always keeping up with her big sister. I run Grape Jammers, a parent-child music and play program here in Napa. Glen’s new role keeps him busy, but he still finds time to hit new PRs in his home gym, or the “shred shed” as he calls it, and religiously takes ice baths and saunas. As a family, we prioritize getting out in nature hiking Alston and Westwood Hills whenever we can.

What is your favorite thing to do as a family in Napa?
Aside from hiking, we love a good coffee shop– Stanly Ranch has a great one – Gavel. We like to walk through their garden and say hello to the silkies (fluffball chickens).

What do you think the best part of having a family in Napa is?
The sense of community. It’s incredible how welcoming and supportive other families are here. Whether it’s a local playgroup, a community class, or a spontaneous chat at the Farmers’ Market, there’s always a feeling of “we’re in this together.”

What is the one thing you wish Napa had?
I would love to see an indoor trampoline adventure park!

Give us a “change your life” parenting hack:
Music makes transitions magical. I use little songs for everything — brushing teeth, cleaning up, getting ready to leave the park — it helps the girls know what’s coming next and keeps things calm (and even fun). Also: toy rotation!! Only keep out a set amount of toys and store the rest. Rotate them every couple of weeks.

Where Are You Eating, Playing, and Shopping This Month in Napa?

• Eating: Taco Truck – any and all!! Gavel, Winston’s for a breakfast sandwich, and Rutherford Grill.

• Playing: Century Oaks Park and Little House Play Studio.

• Shopping: Honestly, we are in a Instacart phase (because toddlers), but locally — our favorites are Napa Bookmine, Juniper Station, and the Farmers’ Market.

What do you wish you could tell yourself before you became a parent?
Make sure, no matter what, prioritize self care. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

How is your business serving families of Napa Valley?
Grape Jammers offers joyful, connection-based music and play classes for families with kids ages 0–5 years. Classes are broken down into smaller classes by age– babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers. It’s all about helping parents bond with their children through rhythm, song, and sensory exploration — and building community.

Families can join weekly classes, birthday parties, or special seasonal events. You can sign up or learn more at grapejammersmusic.com

How can WE as readers support YOU?
We have some fun events coming up ahead that we would love to welcome you to:

• Nov. 16 - Kick off the Grape Jammers Holiday Mini Series at Little House Play Studio with 5 weeks of themed music classes covering Thanksgiving, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas and more! Classes are broken up by age. Learn more and and reserve your spot!

• Dec. 13: 9-12pm - Jingle & Jam with Grape Jammers at Little House Play Studio as part of their Merry Moments Celebration. Cookie decorating, face painting, music class, dance class, hot cocoa, craft activities, keepsakes, and much more. Limited to 15 spots. Be sure to follow @Grape_Jammers and @littlehouseplaystudio for updates and details.

And if you can’t do those, join a class, spread the word to other parents, write a review, or follow along on Instagram @grape_jammers to help our small local business grow. Every share, smile, and song sung together makes a difference. 💜🎵

Chelsea is extending a discount for NapaStack subscribers: use STACK20 at checkout to save 20% on any Grape Jammers Music Class booking. Expires 1/15/26

Thank you for joining for this Golden Grapes post. Say hi and share your love to the Gregory family in the comments below 💛

And if you’re new here, you should also get to know:

• The Chamblin Family of Napa Bookmine

• The Cortese Family of CTS Gym

• The van Zyl Family of Belong Wine Co + The River Club

• The Ochoa-Llamas Family of Tiny Vines Fútbol Club

Do you know a family that would be great to feature? Reach out and let us know at napasubstack@gmail.com!