Don't…
Go highbrow all the time

It can seem that everyone in Napa has donned their finest country-casual linens and is on their way to dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant. That's what the locals want you to think, so they can keep the area's richly quirky, humble, and loveably lowbrow secrets to themselves.

Instead…
Embrace the local scene

There are alternatives to highbrow 13-course tasting menus. For beer-can chicken and platters of ribs, brisket, and pulled pork, follow those in the know to Bounty Hunter in downtown Napa. Locals swear by breakfast (served until 2:30 pm) at the homey Gillwoods Café. Or grab a picnic table at Gott's Roadside. You'll have to stand in line to order your cheeseburger and fries, but the wine list is impressive for such a casual spot (this is still Napa, after all). Need a little nightlife fix? Pop over to Uva Trattoria in downtown Napa, where you'll find live jazz, blues, and rock Wednesday through Sunday nights.

Photo: Courtesy of Kirsten Förste, Flickr

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