First time in Napa. Not really a wine connoisseur. Wine Train or Platypus tour?? Has anyone tried either and what do you think?? As always, thank you, thank you.

Hello Hpyft, I am not familar with the Platypus tour but the Wine Train does not have a shall we say good reputation with those of us in the area, or at least the people I know that is. It has been in business for something like 20 years or so and consequently tourist evidently like it but it is basically a train run that you cannot leave (no hop on and off) during the trip and known for rather uninspiring food. You will not be able to visit any wineries while on the Wine Train.

But perhaps travellers from outside the area that have taken the Wine Train will give you a different perspective. Personally I wouldn't waste the time or money.

I do wish you a beautiful time while in Northern California.

The Platypus Tour will actually take you to several wineries and provide a picnic lunch. You will also learn something about the Valley from your guide.

The Wine Train is a restaurant on wheels that travels from Napa to St. Helena right alongside the highway. It can be an enjoyable experience especially if you do it with friends. But, it is not a wine tour.

You could do both. Platypus in the day and The Wine Train in the evening.

I recently heard the wine train referred to as a mediocre restaurant on wheels. And overpriced at that. Any tour will go to some wineries and you will probably have a more scenic trip.

Thank you. I'm looking forward to a great time in No. Cal. and now I think we'll do the Platypus wine tour and get a little taste of what wine country is all about.

I did the the Napa Valley Wine Train the year before last and thought it was one of the highlights of my trip to San Francisco. If you are planning the tour while staying in Napa, I might just plan a wine tour, but if in San Francisco and wanting to take a day to go to the wine country, I think that the train is a great option. The tour out of SF stops on the way at a place with winetasting. I found the food on the train very good, and there is also a winetasting traincar, with a wine expert who will explain the different type of wines. LoveItaly was right in the fact that you don't get off, but it does ride right through the vineyard areas. The tour bus then takes you back to SF, stopping at a winery along the way, and crossing the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset. All-in-all, I found it to be a great day. I have been to SF frequently, and the wine country a few times and found this a great way to get a proseective of the wine country, but I am including the bus tour part of it also. As far as just for the train, I would probably do the wine tour if my interest was just in seeing wineries.