Visiting Washington Wineries?
Intro and Quick Facts
First Washington wineries' grapes were planted at Fort Vancouver by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1825. By 1910, wine grapes were growing in most areas of the state, following the path of early settlers. Initially, it was French, German and Italian immigrants who pioneered the earliest plantings. Hybrid varieties arrived in nurseries in the Puget Sound region as early as 1854 and by 1860, wine grapes were planted in the Walla Walla Valley.
With over 400 Washington wineries, the state ranks second in wine production - the other top wine states are California, New York, Oregon and Texas respectively.
Some of the most notable wine areas of the state include Columbia Valley, Columbia River Gorge, Puget Sound, Walla Walla Valley and Yakima Valley wine regions.
Wine Tours
One of the most famous self-guided exploration routs is the North Olympic Peninsula Loop leading to many popular
Washington Wineries.
Take your time to plan ahead, and enjoy the scenery on your way!
Plan to stop over in a nearby hotel or inn to take the stress off your exploration. Give your opinion on the
Poll of the Month page,
and it might just win you that stay.
Check out Washington wineries' deatails, events and wines, and decide what appeals to you most. Browse the listing of
Washington wineries here.
If you'd rather go when there's something going on, you can plan to attend during many of the wine events in the area. The schedule is at http://www.washingtonwine.org/events/.
Attractions
WA state is a place where the great outdoors is a way of life. With such icons as Mount Rainier, Pike Place Market, the Cascade Mountains, Lewis & Clark trail, plus breweries, wineries, a thriving arts scene, major ski areas, java that jolts you to life, and an agricultural base to satisfy any palate, it's no wonder Washington state draws visitors again and again.
For the lazy ones, many tour companies designed an itinerary for you already. For details on WA tours, click
here.
Featured attractions off the beaten path include:
Carnation: Champion Milk Cow Statue
Centralia: RichArt's Art Yard
Chehalis: Yardbird statues
Colfax: Codger Pole
Electric City: Gehrke's Windmills
Ellensburg: Dick and Jane's Art Spot
George: George, Washington
Kid Valley: Bigfoot and the Buried A-Frame
La Conner: Memorial to "Dirty Biter" the Dog
Littlerock: Mysterious Mima Mounds
Long Beach: Marsh's Free Museum
Long Beach: World's Largest Frying Pan
Long Beach: World's Longest Drivable Beach
Longview: Nutty Narrows Squirrel Bridge
Menlo - Raymond: The Pickled Pioneer
Olympia: Metal Cows
Richland: Assorted Atomic Sights
Roslyn: Northern Exposure Teevee Town
Seattle: Archie McPhee Store
Seattle: Edgewater Inn
Seattle: Flower Shop Elephant
Seattle: Fremont Troll
Seattle: Giant Shoe Museum
Seattle: Hat 'n' Boots
Seattle: Lenin Statue
Seattle: Waiting for the Interurban
Seattle: Ye Olde Curiosity Shop
Silverlake: Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
Snoqualmie, North Bend: Twin Peaks TeeVee Town
Spokane: Garbage-Eating Goat Device
Tacoma: Bob's Java Jive
Tacoma: Never Never Land
Vashon Island: Bicycle Eaten by Tree
Walla Walla: Auto Parts Sculptures
Walla Walla: Whitman Massacre
Winlock: World's Largest Egg
Zillah: Teapot Dome gas station
Ever thought of yourself as a Wine Personality? Check out what your wine personality is by taking a quiz here.
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