Day 1 – Seattle – Yakima
Salish Lodge & Snoqualmie Falls: Spectacular views at Snoqualmie Falls, with a 2-acre park, hiking trail, observation deck, gift shop, and a famous, 270-foot waterfall. Have an organic, fresh and local lunch at the Salish Lodge. Thorp Fruit Stand (outside Cle Elum): Shop or simply sample fresh, organic fruit and vegetables in this historic barn-turned-market. Check out their large selection of wine, desserts, and preserves. Be sure to savor and array of wines at Gilbert Cellars, Kana Winery and AntoLin Cellars in downtown Yakima. For an experience with an amazing view of the Yakima Valley, visit Treveri Cellars (sparkling wine) and Freehand Cellars on Rattlesnake Hills, just outside of Yakima.
Zillah: Perched on a hillside and surrounded by more than a dozen wineries, showcases some of the best wines in the valley, including J. Bell Cellars.
Lunch: Los Hernandez Tamales – don’t let this humble looking tamale restaurant fool you. These simple-looking meat, cheese or veggie filled tamales have won a James Beard award.
Dinner: Cowiche Canyon – Kitchen and Icehouse or Crafted provide fantastic dining options in the downtown area.
Optional Activities in Yakima: Group wine tasting by horseback or cowboy limo tour with Cherry Wood’s Winery Rides
Day 2 – Yakima – Tri-Cities
Walter Clore Center: Serves as a central gathering place to discover Washington wine and agriculture through engaging events and innovative programs. Red Mountain: Washington’s smallest, and most premium wine-growing region. Red Mountain is receiving worldwide acclaim for its special territory. Grapes from here command more dollars per ton than any other wine-region in the state! Spectacular views at Kiona Vineyards, Terra Blanca, Tapteil Winery, and Hedges Family Estate.
Lunch: Richland offers a variety of restaurant options from brewpubs, park side bistros and wine bars, to Greek, Italian, Mexican, Asian, and more! After lunch, you won’t want to miss the award-winning winery trio on Tulip Lane: Barnard Griffin, J. Bookwalter and Tagaris.
Dinner options: Elegant dining at Taverna Tagaris in Richland or Cedars Restaurant
Optional Activities in Tri-Cities: Pasco Farmer’s Market: the largest open-air, fresh-produce farmers’ market in Washington State; and Country Mercantile, an agricultural entertainment destination in Pasco offering local gourmet food. Hanford Reach Museum: featuring history of the area’s rich agricultural lands, hydroelectric power, and unique geology. Journey from prehistoric times to the nuclear age.
Day 3 – Tri-Cities – Walla Walla
The 45-mile trip from Tri-Cities to Walla Walla provides stunning views, as the landscape transitions from arid to lush. Walla Walla boasts more than 120 family-owned wineries, each of which has helped Walla Walla evolve into one of the most exciting, talked-about wine destinations in the world.
From the established prestige brands of Leonetti, Cayuse, L’Ecole No 41, Gramercy Cellars, and Pepper Bridge, to the edgy vintages by rock-and-roller turned winemaker Charles Smith, to the new winemakers perhaps making only 500 cases each year, the region is alive with possibility.
Lunch: There are many great lunch spots in downtown Walla Walla like Graze, Maple Counter Café, and La Cocina De La Abuela
Dinner options: Whitehouse-Crawford and Eritage Restaurant and Bar provide world-class dining.
Optional Activities in Walla Walla: Explore living history exhibits at historic Fort Walla Walla. Tour a pioneer settlement of original buildings. Sample world-class wine at one of Walla Walla’s many downtown tasting rooms.
Day 4 – Walla Walla – Seattle
Chinook Pass: In the summertime, take the scenic State Route 410 across Chinook Pass on the way back to Seattle. Stop for a gondola ride up Crystal Mountain for spectacular views of Mt. Rainier.
