As residents of the Napa Valley, we quite often hear from far off friends and family hinting they'd love to come visit our bucolic wine country with its great wine, great food, spa pampering, sweeping vineyard views with great weather.

Sometimes however, we forget what a great place this is to live. To help jog Napans' memories, longtime Napa Valley tour guide and artist J. Michael Orr, 67, has written a 160-page guide book, "A Day or Two in the Napa Valley."

After all, the killer cabernets of the Napa Valley are what help make us known around the world.

The $19.95 self-published book by Orr is expected to be available for purchase on Thursday. The book has been a work in progress for two years, according to Orr.

This is Orr's first book.

What makes "A Day or Two in the Napa Valley" different from the other travel books on the Napa Valley is that it's the definitive guide to the Napa Valley.

"There are maybe three or four pretty good books about the Napa Valley -- but the problem is there is no travel guide on the market specifically about the Napa Valley. There is nothing on the market like it," Orr said.

Most books encompass several of California's wine country regions or combine Napa and Sonoma together in one guide book, he added.

"This book I've written is the only one I am aware of that targets specifically just the Napa Valley," Orr said.

"And none of them targets the short-term visitor," he said, adding the most visitors to the Napa Valley come for a couple of days to drink in the views and sip fine wine.

Tips offered in Orr's book include: best time of day to arrive to avoid traffic, best way to get here from the various airports or via the Bay Link ferry and the temperature differences between San Francisco and the Napa Valley. It's all stuff locals already know.

Orr's guide book also includes things to do if you come here with children -- and includes trips to the coast from Napa, Infineon Raceway at Sears Point, the Petrified Forest, a ferry ride to Fisherman's Wharf and the Geysers Upvalley in Calistoga.

One chapter includes 10 complete wine tours "that anybody could follow," Orr said. "All someone has to do is make a phone call (to the winery) then show up and go."

In his book, Orr suggests visitors start wine tasting Upvalley, working their way to the southern end. "Especially on the weekends ... they're going against the traffic and it's a much less complicated visit."

Orr cautions visitors before heading to a winery to call ahead -- or go online to their calendar of events -- and make sure it is not closed for a private event.

"I want to help people get the most out of their trip, and at the same time, save money," said Orr.

During his career as a tour guide, Orr has given private, small groups and large tours for corporations from around the world.

While Orr's background is in criminal justice and the medical field, painting and wine are his passions.

Orr said about 15 years ago he produced a Napa Valley winery tour map that is still used by thousands of visitors today. "It is the most popular wine tour map and has been endorsed by the Yountville and Napa chambers of commerce."

"Early in my art career I began approaching wineries to do paintings of (their facilities) that were reproduced into fine art prints for marketing and selling by the wineries," Orr said. "In time, doing art I developed relationships with wineries ... then people started calling me and asking if I did wine tours."

Orr's business is called Napa Valley Art Studio, which is the umbrella for his All Value Wine Tours -- and now his book publishing business.

Orr and his wife, Joan, lived in the Napa Valley for 30 years, but today live in Verdi, Nev., along the Truckee River, east of Truckee.

"I still operate the business, but I don't do private wine tours anymore. But I do still set up itineraries for people," Orr added.

Orr previously owned a small art gallery and frame shop in St. Helena.

Orr's artwork is at www.napavalleytourmap.com.