Napa

For views of Downtown Napa and the Napa Valley, Alta Heights is the place to be. “It’s a small bluff on the east side of Napa, just at the edge of city limits,” says Gary Rose, a sales associate with Golden Gate Sotheby’s who grew up in Napa. “It has a winding road that takes you to the top, and the homes there have beautiful views of Napa and Up Valley toward St. Helena.” Downtown Napa is within walking distance of most homes, and the overall CAP Index Crime Score here is 3 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4. The Silverado Trail in the neighborhood’s west connects to the rest of the Napa Valley.<br><br>The top of the bluff is known as Montecito Heights, and the curvy, two-lane Montecito Boulevard and spacious lots give the area a rural feel. The custom-built homes here are designed with large porches and huge windows to take in the views of the Napa Valley. A three-bedroom Mediterranean-inspired home can start at $1.4 million, while a four-bedroom 21st-century modern house with Napa Valley views can cost $4.1 million. <br><br>On the lower part of the bluff near downtown, minimal traditional, midcentury modern, and Craftsman-inspired homes sit close together along gridded streets. Sloped yards are large enough for a single-car driveway and ornamental tree. According to Rose, these homes typically range from 1,000 to 1,400 square feet. A two-bedroom minimal traditional near downtown can start at $630,000, while a three-bedroom midcentury modern home can cost $1.7 million. <br><br>Local kids can start at Alta Heights Elementary, which earns a B-plus from Niche, then attend the B-minus-rated Silverado Middle. The B-plus-rated Napa High is known for its choir and instrumental music programs. Singers can join one of six ensembles in the school’s 350-member choir, and musicians can learn an instrument in the orchestra or jazz band. Private options include the A-rated Napa Christian for kindergarten through Grade 12 and the B-plus-rated Kolbe-Trinity School for transitional kindergarten through Grade 12.<br><br>The 2-acre Esther Deaver Park in Alta Heights’ center is a popular place for neighborhood kids to play together on the jungle gym. At the 7-acre Lakeview Park in the southeast, dog owners can take their pups for a half-mile walk around the lake, where they might see geese or deer. Residents can also take a stroll at the 13-acre Oxbow Preserve in the west, where they can wander along the Napa River floodplain in search of Bob the Rhino, a rhinoceros statue along the trail. Golfers can join the Napa Valley Country Club, 2 miles east of the neighborhood, which has a par-72 course, as well as a pool, tennis program and bocce league. Nearby houses of worship include Napa Valley Korean Seventh-Day Adventist Church and Creekside Church Napa.<br><br>“It’s a 10- to 20-minute walk to Downtown Napa,” Rose says, “but it’s a hard walk back because it's up the hill.” The Oxbow Public Market is a popular marketplace downtown with cafes and local vendors. For a night out, locals head to Cole’s Chop House, a traditional steakhouse known for its 21-day dry-aged beef. “It’s a classic,” Rose says. “You feel like you’re inside of a winery.” Angèle Restaurant and Bar is popular for its upscale French menu and riverfront patio. Residents can sample Napa Valley wines at several wineries to the neighborhood’s east, including Shadybrook Estate Winery and Tulocay Winery. Fresh produce is available each Saturday at the year-round Napa Farmers Market downtown, and nearby grocery options include Nob Hill Foods and Raley’s.<br><br>The Silverado Trail is in the neighborhood’s west, and East Avenue passes through its center. Downtown Napa is a short trip across the river on 1st Street. The Vine bus stops along East Avenue. Dedicated bike lanes and low-speed residential streets make the area bike-friendly. While there are few sidewalks, many residents enjoy walking downtown or taking strolls with their dogs. Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center is 2 miles northwest. Napa County Airport, a public airport with no commercial flights, is 7 miles south; San Francisco International Airport is 58 miles south, and San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport, a smaller airport with mostly domestic flights, is a 51-mile trip.<br><br>The Napa Valley Expo, to the neighborhood’s southwest, hosts some of the area’s largest events. Over 100,000 people come out for BottleRock, a three-day music festival with famous acts like Stevie Nicks, Pearl Jam and Queens of the Stone Age. The festival also highlights Napa’s food and wine with booths from some of its most famous restaurants. At the Napa Town and Country Fair each August, families can check out local agricultural displays and carnival rides.<br><br>The Tulocay Cemetery in the neighborhood’s south has served as Napa’s final resting place since 1859. Residents can visit departed loved ones or take a self-guided tour of the cemetery’s historical sites. The Napa County Historical Society also hosts monthly walking tours during the summer.<br><br>Homes west of the Silverado Trail are in a Special Flood Hazard Area and can flood when the Napa River breaks its banks; residents here are advised to purchase flood insurance. The last flood was in 2005 before the Napa River Flood Project built floodwalls to reduce the risk. <br><br>Alta Heights is at risk for wildfires, and residents here are likely to experience reduced air quality during nearby fires. The last major wildfires in the area were in 2020, when the Glass Fire and LNU Lightning Complex burned areas to the north and east. Residents can sign up for Nixle emergency alerts to be notified during emergencies.

Despite its name, suburban Browns Valley is filled with greenery, from parks to vineyards and hiking trails. Kids riding their bikes down tree-lined cul-de-sacs are a common sight. “Browns Valley is a real family community,” says Stephanie Gibson, an associate broker at Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty who’s lived in Napa for 43 years. “If you're going to have kids, that’s where you go.” The neighborhood’s highly rated elementary school is within walking distance of most homes, and Downtown Napa is only 2 miles away. The overall CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4.<br><br>“You can get a pretty good value relative to other places in Napa,” says Bart Moore, a Realtor with Compass who grew up in Napa, “meaning you can probably get more square footage and a nice backyard with a lawn and pool." Along the tree-shaded residential streets here, homes here are mostly ranch-style and split-level homes built after 1960, though some 2000s Craftsman-inspired new traditional homes are also available; quarter-acre lots allow for paved driveways and manicured front yards. A three-bedroom ranch-style home can start at $726,000, while a five-bedroom new traditional can cost $2.5 million.<br><br>Local kids can start at Browns Valley Elementary, which earns an A-minus and serves transitional kindergarten through Grade 8. “It’s a very popular public elementary school, one of the better public elementary schools in Napa,” Moore says. “A lot of kids can walk or ride their bikes to school.” At the B-plus-rated Napa High, students can join 25 extracurriculars, including the Mariachi Club and Ceramics Guild; the popular 350-member choir has six vocal ensembles. Private options include the A-plus-rated Justin-Siena High and the unrated St. John’s Lutheran School for pre-kindergarten through Grade 8. <br><br>There are several parks in and near Browns Valley. At the 9-acre Century Oaks Park in the neighborhood’s center, kids can burn off some energy on the playground or shoot some hoops on the basketball court. The 111-acre Westwood Hills Park puts residents closer to nature; its 3 miles of steep trails are popular for hikers and dog walkers looking to enjoy views of the Napa Valley. In the neighborhood’s north, the 157-acre Alston Park is a popular landing site for Napa’s hot air balloon tours; residents often come here in the morning to hike and watch for balloons, and dog owners frequent the 30-acre off-leash dog park. Nearby houses of worship include Crosswalk Community Church and First Christian Church of Napa.<br><br>The centrally located Browns Valley Market is more than a local grocer. “It’s like a country store where you get all local fruits, vegetables, and breads,” Gibson says. “The original family still owns the market, and they have their own meat department with a great deli. It's what Whole Foods would like to be.” Other neighborhood grocery options include Lucky and Trader Joe’s. Next door to Browns Valley Market, Browns Valley Yogurt & Espresso Bar is where locals go for a cup of coffee or frozen yogurt after exploring the neighborhood’s parks. For a relaxed night out, Hop Creek Pub is popular for its large selection of craft beer and BLT sandwiches piled with bacon. The Napa Premium Outlets to the south include national retailers like J.Crew Factory and Levi’s Outlet Store. <br><br>Browns Valley’s southeastern tip borders Highway 29, granting convenient access to the rest of the Napa Valley. With no public transportation, most residents rely on their cars to get around, or use the neighborhood’s dedicated bike lanes to get to Downtown Napa, 2 miles southeast. Sidewalks make the area pedestrian friendly. Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center is 3 miles northeast. Napa County Airport, a public airport with no commercial flights, is 10 miles southeast; San Francisco International Airport is 61 miles south, and San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport, a smaller airport with mostly domestic flights, is a 54-mile trip.<br><br>The Browns Valley Family Club hosts regular events to raise money for Browns Valley Elementary. Their annual Spring Carnival each May has food trucks and kids’ activities like bounce houses and face painting, while the Jog-a-thon, held at the start of every school year, invites kids to compete for prizes while parents cheer them on. <br><br>Browns Valley is at risk for wildfires, but residents here are more likely to experience reduced air quality from nearby fires than any direct effects. The last major wildfires in the area were the Glass Fire and LNU Lightning Complex in 2020, which burned areas to the north and east. Residents can sign up for Nixle emergency alerts to be notified during emergencies.

Located 3 miles from Downtown Napa, suburban Pueblo Park is conveniently located next to shopping and parks. “Pueblo Park is a good starter area that’s quite close to one of the busier shopping centers in town,” says Virginia Morse, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley who’s sold homes in Napa for 16 years. “It’s a very nice spot with larger lots and older homes.” Residents here have easy access to Target and grocery stores, and nature lovers can enjoy the trails of nearby Alston Park or the bike-friendly Napa Valley Vine Trail. With U.S. Highway 29 on the neighborhood’s east side, the entire Napa Valley is an easy drive away. <br><br>On Pueblo Park’s north side, midcentury ranch-style and minimal traditional homes sit close together along wide, sidewalk-lined streets, with yards big enough for an ornamental tree and paved driveway. On the south side, midcentury ranch styles are still common, but buyers can also find 1990s Craftsman-inspired new traditional homes; streets here are more shaded, and some lack sidewalks altogether. “The southern end is eclectic; there’s a lot of individuality,” Morse says. “A little bit north of that area, there are more modest homes at lower price points.” A two-bedroom minimal traditional home can start at $512,000, while a four-bedroom ranch-style with a pool can cost $1.5 million.<br><br>Local kids can start at West Park Elementary and then attend Redwood Middle; both earn a B from Niche. Students at the B-plus-rated Napa High can join the 350-member choir, which has six vocal ensembles. The school also has 25 clubs, including the Ultimate Frisbee Club and Mock Trial Club. Private options include the unrated St. John’s Lutheran School for pre-kindergarten through Grade 8 and the A-plus-rated Justin-Siena High.<br><br>U.S. Highway 29 borders Pueblo Park in the east, and Redwood Road is the main road in the north. The Vine bus stops throughout the neighborhood. Bike-friendly roads with low speeds and dedicated bike lanes connect to Downtown Napa, 3 miles southeast. Sidewalks make the area pedestrian-friendly. Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center is 2 miles northeast. Napa County Airport, a public airport with no commercial flights, is 10 miles southeast; San Francisco International Airport is 61 miles south, and San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport, a smaller airport with mostly domestic flights, is a 53-mile trip.<br><br>At the 2-acre Sutherland Park in the neighborhood’s northwest, kids can ride down a zipline or climb on the bright green play structures. Alston Park, to the northwest, is a popular place to watch Napa’s hot air balloon tours land; the 157-acre park has 3 miles of trails through grassy hills, and dogs can go off-leash at the 30-acre dog park. More hiking can be found at the 111-acre Westwood Hills Park to the southwest, where steep trails lead to views of the Napa Valley. Cyclists can access the Napa Valley Vine Trail on Solano Avenue; this paved path will eventually connect Vallejo Ferry Terminal to Calistoga, but for now, cyclists can take it north to Yountville or southeast to Downtown Napa and Kennedy Park. Nearby houses of worship include Cornerstone Fellowship Napa, St. John’s Lutheran Church and Hopewell Baptist Church.<br><br>Squeeze Burger, formerly called Squeeze Inn Hamburgers, is a Northern California chain that was featured on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” One of its seven locations is found in Pueblo Park’s northeast, where hungry residents crowd around the lunch counter to taste its namesake dish: a burger topped with so much cheese that it forms a crispy crust called a “cheese skirt.” Just east of Highway 29 in the Bel Aire Plaza shopping center, the family-owned Heritage Eats has lighter options, including globally inspired salad bowls and wraps. Big-box retailers can also be found here, including Target and Outdoor Supply Hardware, plus the grocery stores Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s. <br><br>Pueblo Park’s residents are only 3 miles from events in Downtown Napa. The annual 4th of July Celebration includes an afternoon of local music and a kids’ zone with games; instead of a traditional fireworks show, the night is capped with an environmentally friendly drone light display. <br><br>Pueblo Park is at risk for wildfires, but residents here are more likely to experience smoke from nearby fires than any direct effects. The area’s last major wildfires were the Glass Fire and LNU Lightning Complex in 2020, which burned areas to the north and east. Residents can register for Nixle emergency alerts to be notified of active fires.