Foodie Tour | Washington State

Days 1-2

Seattle

After checking into your hotel, head out and have a leisurely walk exploring the city.

Have dinner in one of the myriad restaurants in this city – any cuisine and all budgets.  To get an overview of the city with an option to dine at Sky City, head to the top of the Space Needle.  Its restaurant and bar Sky City revolves, so you get the full 360-degree picture of Seattle – a good way to start the holiday.

Have breakfast in Lowell’s (in Pike Place Market), very much a local tradition. Wander through the Market, the famous three-level market offers regional produce and seafood, seasonal flowers and worldwide crafts.  Stop at Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, the original Starbucks store and of course watch the fishmongers toss the fish at Pike Place Fish Market.

There are several tours of the market that are well worth taking lasting between 2-3 hours.

Spend the rest of the day sightseeing exploring by foot, trolley, bus, boat or bike.  Or join one of the excellent food tours. After a busy day, you might enjoy a sunset cruise around the harbour.

2 nights Seattle

Day 3

Seattle to Woodinville

Spend the morning seeing more of Seattle or enjoying retail therapy at some of the great stores in the downtown area.  Walk along the waterfront and visit the Seattle Aquarium and the Seattle Art Museum.  Head to the historic centre called Pioneer Square and take the fun Underground tour.

Collect your car to start the fly-drive part of your holiday.  For aviation enthusiasts, you can visit the Museum of Flight or take the Boeing Tour located north of Seattle in Everett.

30 minutes north of Seattle is Woodinville where there are 45 wineries including Chateau St. Michelle Winery.  This is Washington State’s oldest and highly acclaimed winery offering a wonderful selection of award-winning wines at its fabulous chateau and historic grounds.  Also offering a variety of wine tasting classes, special events and outdoor summer concert series.  Several tour and tasting options are available.

Enjoy a leisurely walk along the main streets of Woodinville and Redmond where you can browse in quaint stores.

Dinner options: Have a 9-course meal at the Herb Farm, an internationally acclaimed restaurant in Woodinville.  Reservations made well in advance are an absolute must.

1 night in Woodinville

Day 4

Woodinville to Yakima

Today head east to Salish Lodge and Snoqualmie Falls.  Enjoy spectacular views at Snoqualmie Falls with a 2-acre park, hiking trail, observation desk and famous 270-foot waterfall.

On the road, outside Cle Elum stop at Thorp Fruit Stand. Shop or simply sample fresh, organic fruit and vegetables in this historic barn turned market. Check out the large selection of wine, desserts and preserves. Just outside Cle Elum, your day could include a float trip on the Yakima River. Enjoy the scenery as the river flows through beautiful Ponderosa Pine forests, towering Basalt spires and past salmon spawning grounds on nearby gravel bars. Bighorn Sheep and lots of birds including Osprey, Hawks, Eagles, and 21 different species of raptors are often seen on this trip as you float through the monolithic volcanic cliffs. Continue on to Yakima, founded in 1886 by a group of pioneers attracted to the area’s mild climate and fertile soil.  It is now known not only for the vineyards up and down the valley but also for its apple orchards which produce over half of all the apples grown in the United States, over 100 varieties.  Do ride the Yakima Valley Trolleys. Operated continuously without any major change since 1907, the YVT is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because it is the last authentic, all-original turn-of-the-century interurban railroad in the United States

1 night Yakima

Days 5-6

Yakima to Richland

Enroute to the Tri-Cities visit one of the many wineries in the area such as Bonair, Hyatt or Silver Lake Winery. We would suggest a lunch stop at Prosser too visit its wine and food park.  This is the hub of Prosser’s numerous wineries and tasting rooms, including Hogue Cellars.

Red Mountain: Washington’s smallest and most premium wine-growing region.  Red Mountain is receiving worldwide acclaim for its special terroir and grapes from here command more dollars per ton that any other wine region in the state.  Spectacular views at Kiona Vineyards, Terra Blanca, Tapteil Winery and Hedges Family Estate.

If you are wanting more activity and enjoy a round of golf, you can play one of the seven beautiful courses in the Tri Cities and for those into hiking explore the unique landscape of lava lands and ridgeline formed by the great ice age, Badger Mountain and Wallula Gap. You can also take a jet boat river tour.

Dinner options: Elegant dining at Taverna Tagaris in Richland or Cedars Restaurant on the Columbia River in Kennewick

2 nights in Richland

Days 7-8

Richland to Walla Walla

Today you are heading to the historic town of Walla Walla.  On the way visit Lowden.  Here you can taste what the wine world is talking about at the Big 3 of Walla Walla:  L’Ecole No. 41, Woodward Canyon and Three Rivers Winery.

Have lunch in quaint Walla Walla and stop in the downtown wineries of Foreron Cellars, Seven Hills and Spring Valley Vineyard.  Just south of the city, don’t miss tours of the estate wineries of Northstar, Pepper Bridge and Basel Cellars or the Fromagerie (goat cheese farm).

2 nights in Walla Walla 

Day 9

Walla Walla to Skamania

Leave Walla Walla and drive west to Stevenson and Skamania, taking the scenic route along the Columbia River passing through small towns and communities.

Along the way you might want to visit Maryhill Winery, Maryhill Museum and the Columbia Gorge Interpretative Centre at Stevenson. This a fascinating insight to the culture and history of the region.

1 night in Skamania

Days 10-11

Skamania to Long Beach

Drive to Long Beach, a 28 mile long spit of land that anchors the southwestern most corner of Washington and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Columbia River and pristine Willapa Bay.

See fisherman arrive early in the morning with their catch at this picturesque fishing village.  Visit the fish and farmers market (held Saturdays May – Sept).

Visit Long Beach Coffee Roasters for a cup of fresh roasted coffee.  Go to the Cranberry Museum for a history of the native fruit and then pop into Anna Lena’s for world-class cranberry fudge.

Tour the Jumpin’ Good Goat Dairy, with artisan cheese-maker, Dawn Jump, in Ocean Park.  Then visit the Oyster House Interpretive Centre and the Oysterville Sea Farms and Oyster Beds.  Nearby is a wildlife preserve that is ideal for bird watching. You can also visit the lighthouse at Ilwaco and the quaint towns of Ilwaco and Seaview offers good restaurants and shopping.  Also here you can walk or horse back ride on the beach

2 nights in Long Beach

Days 12-13

Long Beach to Lake Quinault

Drive north up the coast to Lake Quinault Lodge on the southern edge of the Olympic National Park. Opposite the lodge is a trail in part of the rainforest and then 30 minutes north is Kalaloch where it is definitely recommended for a walk

2 nights at Lake Quinault Lodge or Kalaloch Lodge

Day 14

Lake Quinault to Port Angeles

Continuing north head to the Hoh Rain Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site.  Walk in the Hoh Rainforest where there are three different trails.  Also visit Ruby Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches on the west coast.

Drive north and head into Twilight country (visit the town of Forks and then onto La Push) before continuing into the pretty town of Port Angeles. You could choose to stay at the Lake Crescent Lodge or in the village of Port Angeles.

1 night in Port Angeles

Day 15

Port Angeles to Seattle

Time to drive back to Seattle and drop your car at the airport before your overnight flight home.