NVBT Tour Guide Since: 2008

When not guiding bike tours, you'll find Carolyn practicing yoga, studying French or planning her next European bicycling vacation. And during the winter, you'll find Carolyn tearing up the slopes of Lake Tahoe, where she is a ski instructor.

Carolyn is proud to call herself a "professional" athlete. "Well, I hold a degree in Physical Education, and I get paid to ride my bike!"

Carolyn's favorite winery is "Hopper Creek. It's a great place to linger over a cool Chardonnay at the end of the day."

NVBT Tour Guide Since: 2009

When not guiding bike tours, you'll find Craig framing artwork and treasured objects at his shop, The Framery in downtown Napa. With a Master's Degree in Fine Art, it's no surprise that you'll find Craig's handiwork hanging in the finest restaurants, wineries and hotels across the valley.

When it's time to play Craig is at home is the water. He's completed the one-way swim from Alcatraz to San Francisco multiple times. And in 2008, starting from the San Francsico shoreline, he swam out and around Alcatraz Island and back - a total journey of 3.25 miles! Craig also enjoys abalone diving along the Northern California Coast.

Craig's favorite winery is "Saddleback, for the casual outdoor atmosphere."

Greatest accomplishment so far: "My daughter"

NVBT Tour Guide Since: 2008

Joan became a professional Tour Guide after taking an early retirement from her 18-year career as a Librarian at Stanford University to pursue her passion. As a board member of the San Francisco Tour Guide Guild, she designed a host of original tours highlighting landmarks and historical sights in San Francisco and the greater Bay Area. It was a natural progression for Joan to find a way to pair her love of sports with her talent for tour guiding.

When not guiding bike tours, you'll find Joan as a bike tour guest! She's taken bike trips throughout the world over the past 20 years.

Joan's favorite wineries are "Hopper Creek, Ceja and O'Brien Estate."

NVBT Tour Guide Since: 2009

When not guiding bike tours, you'll find Mary Ellen calling the shots at weddings and special events in Napa, Sonoma and the greater Bay Area. Mary Ellen owns an event planning business, Off the Beaten Path Weddings & Events.

Mary Ellen's favorite winery is "Baldacci, Hopper Creek and Saddleback... Oops, was I supposed to choose just one?"

Greatest accomplishment so far: "I qualified for the Olympic Trials in the marathon....a REALLY long time ago!  Did terribly at the trials, but I accomplished my goal by qualifying and participating at the trials."

Someday, Mary Ellen hopes to "Follow the Tour de France with a cycling tour group."

NVBT Tour Guide Since: 2008

When not guiding bike tours you'll find North winding along Napa's country roads on his motorcycle. And from September through June, you'll find North in the classroom. He teaches high school English.

North's favorite winery is "McKenzie-Mueller."

Favorite Napa Valley fact: "That we have more than 450 wineries packed into an area that's only 30 miles long and 5 miles wide."

Someday North hopes to "Take a motorcycle trip from Texas to New Orleans along the Gulf Coast."

NVBT Tour Guide Since: 2006

When not guiding bike tours you'll find Paul either flying or jumping out of an airplane. We just hope he doesn't try to do both simultaneously! Paul pilots single & multi-engine airplanes and is a senior parachute rigger.

Paul's favorite winery is "Hopper Creek is one of my favorites—gorgeous setting, funky ambience, great music, chocolate... Oh, and wine!"

Someday Paul hopes to "Show my grandkids (none yet) this beautiful valley!"

What makes Paul a great NVBT Tour Guide: "I pretty much know the valley and its history forward and backward." Paul also holds a BA in history from the University of San Francisco.