TASTE News Service, December 19, 2018 — California State Parks invites Californians and visitors from around the world to usher in 2019 in a fun and healthy way with a First Day Hike on January 1.

TASTE News Service, January 17, 2018 – Some of nature’s most magnificent creatures ply waters along California’s Pacific Coast. San Diego offers a good vantage point for year-round viewing.

TASTE News Service, March 22, 2017 – From the magic purple carpet to a canyon of calla lilies, springtime is the perfect time to see spectacular, colorful displays of wildflowers throughout Monterey County.

TASTE News Service, November 4, 2016 - New England is where most Americans might say you’d find the best fall color in the USA, but not John Poimiroo. Ask him and he’ll say, “California.”

Scenic stretch of trail in summer

Yountville, CA February 17, 2014 – The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) and Visit Napa Valley (VNV) have announced they will each provide $2.5 million in funding toward construction of the Napa Valley Vine Trail, a pedestrian and bicycle path spanning 47 miles from the Vallejo Ferry Building to Calistoga. The combined $5 million contribution provides 40 percent of the local funding needed to build the hiking and biking trail.

"The entire Vine Trail Coalition and our 30 community organization board members are so thankful for the generosity and support that NVV and VNV are providing today," said Chuck McMinn, executive director of the Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition. "We now have $7.5 million of our $12 million local fundraising goal in hand. This will be used to complete the Vine Trail from South Napa to Yountville within the next two years, inviting residents and visitors to experience our county in a healthy new way."

Vine Trail Will Benefit Locals and Visitors

The goal of the Napa Valley Vine Trail is to provide a healthy, safe, scenic, free and family-friendly hiking and biking trail for Napa County locals and visitors.

The NVV's contribution to the Vine Trail comes from earnings on long-term investments from the trade association's annual community fundraiser, Auction Napa Valley. "Community health is the Auction's number one funding priority," commented Linda Reiff, president and CEO of the Napa Valley Vintners. "As part of our commitment to community wellbeing, we're thrilled to make a significant donation that has the potential to positively impact the lives of so many in Napa County. And, because our donation is designated for the section of the trail from Yountville to American Canyon, it will be especially beneficial for children who ride their bikes or walk to school.” To date, the NVV has given more than $120 million to local nonprofits through Auction fundraising. The Vine Trail donation will not affect the NVV’s regular annual giving to these grantees. (L-R) Clay Gregory of Visit Napa Valley (VNV), Chuck McMinn of the Vine Trail, Linda Reiff of Napa Valley Vintners and April Gargiulo of the Vine Trail celebrate the news that VNV and NVV pledged $5 million toward completion of the 47-mile walking and biking trail

VNV's commitment is being made on behalf of the Napa Valley lodging community, including funds from local tourism improvement districts and area hotels. "Tourism matters to the economic sustainability of Napa County," said Clay Gregory, president and CEO of Visit Napa Valley. "Access to better, safer cycling, hiking and outdoor activity is important to our visitors, and the Vine Trail will give us a strategic advantage in building awareness of the many wellness assets in our region." Vine Trail officials project that half of its use will be by locals and half by visitors who together will generate $165 million in additional spending each year in the county.

The announcement, made at a Vine Trail celebration event on Friday, furthers the collaboration between NVV and VNV that started when vintner members played a key role in reinventing the tourism marketing entity in 2008, and continued during the recent America’s Cup events in San Francisco.

Editor's note: The 47-mile Vine Trail will stretch from the Vallejo Ferry north to Calistoga. You can learn more at vinetrail.org and if you're planning a visit to the Napa Valley, you'll want to check out Taste California Travel's Resource Directory. There you'll find links to the websites of hundreds of Lodging and Dining options, as well as links to the websites of the Wineries.