Visit Walla Walla, Eastern Washington’s Rural Oasis

Walla Walla is Eastern Washington's Rural Oasis

Summer is just around the corner in Walla Walla and there’s no better time to visit. Among the rolling wheat fields of Eastern Washington, Walla Walla is a rural oasis and the perfect melding of small-town atmosphere and big-city amenities, where you can find world-class wines, a historic and walkable downtown, and a near-endless array of activities for enthusiasts of all sorts.

There’s no question Walla Walla is enjoying some much-deserved time in the spotlight, as some far-reaching and highly respected travel media outlets have recently bestowed great praise on Walla Walla, including being named one of The 50 best Places to Travel in 2018 by Travel + Leisure and Best Wine Town – 2018 Sunset Travel Awards by Sunset Magazine.

Once you set foot in Walla Walla, you’ll find what makes Walla Walla so exceptional. You can taste wine in a renovated auto shop, which was also the first home of an internationally recognized fine art foundry. Explore Walla Walla’s Downtown Farmers Market, where local winemakers and the chef-owners of acclaimed Walla Walla restaurants also shop. Walla Walla has attracted creative artisans who have flourished in Walla Walla’s tight-knit community and who help produce an experience hard to find anywhere else.

With more than 120 wineries, Walla Walla has come a long way since it was first designated as an American Viticultural Area in 1984. Today, Walla Walla is a place where scenic beauty, incredible wineries, enticing restaurants, cultural inspiration, outdoor adventures, and small-town friendliness come together to create a unique and memorable experience.

Downtown Walla Walla is where you’ll begin to discover what makes Walla Walla unique. A walk down tree-lined streets reveals a vibrant blend of the past and present with a mix of tasting rooms, restaurants, vintage shops, boutiques, cafes, bookstores, and more, doing business in buildings that date back to the mid-1800s. Add to the streetscape numerous pieces of public art by world-renowned artists, who cast their works at the Walla Walla Foundry. Special events, the seasonal Farmers Market, and free outdoor concerts are regular occurrences. All of it is why downtown Walla Walla has been recognized time and again as one of the best small-town Main Streets in America.

Tourists enjoy a vineyard tour and tasting at Walla Walla Vintners

Walla Walla wine country offers the rare opportunity to experience not only world-class wines, but meet the winemakers, vintners, and family members carrying on the wine tradition. No one is in a rush, conversation is relaxed, and tasting rooms are charming and uncrowded. Here, tasting wine becomes a truly personal experience.

Recognized in 2015 and 2016 by Sunset Magazine as a runner-up for “Best Food Town” in the West, Walla Walla is also known for its casual, yet sophisticated, year-round dining experiences. Walla Walla’s fresh, locally sourced ingredients are complimented by exquisite local wines.

A beautiful natural landscape rests at Walla Walla’s doorstep, with outdoor adventures just a few minutes from town: whether it’s cycling through vineyards and rolling farmland, golfing at a top-rated public golf course, or hiking in Walla Walla’s Blue Mountains.

Walla Walla is an easy and scenic four-hour drive from Seattle, Portland, or Boise, and can also be accessed via Alaska Airlines’ daily non-stop flights from Seattle.

To learn more about Walla Walla, visit wallawalla.org.

By: Walla Walla Sweets

Date: December 31, 2017