My wife and I will be taking a 16 day vacation this Summer. We'll be flying to Seattle and may head up to Victoria and Vancouver for a couple of days, but that is not our highest priority. We want to visit the better wineries and sights of Washington and Oregon, before continuing on to Lake Tahoe and Napa and Sonoma. We've gotten some information from winery associations in WA and OR, but the material received to date is notable deficient. The wineries of De Lille and Quilceda Creek aren't even mentioned.

Here's my request. Could those of you in WA and OR send me a brief list of the sites we should see and which wineries we should vists and their locations? We'll need places to stay in those areas and restaurants. We're thinking of visiting Mt. Ranier and Mt. St. helens in WA and Mt. Hood in OR. Are these the best place s for us to visit and do you have any other suggestions? I'm sorry for this lengthy request. You might post your reply here to also help others, b8ut if you'd prefer to email me, my email is chemocurtis@hotmail.com. Thank-you.

here is some info

Thanks, lcc, but I'm sort of looking for guidance on a route that will take us to some great scenery, like National Parks, and the better wineries along the way. I have more info coming, but I don't feel confident enough yet to make definite plans. We've received promotional materials from the Columbia and Yakima Valley wine organizations, but most of the better wineries in those areas aren't mentioned in it. I can't quite understand that.

Oh, you went to Yakima & Columbia sources. Better off with head-honcho Wine Commission info. Or the Walla Walla association. A good one to visit down near Mt. RAINIER, is McCrea.

Try these websites:
wallawallawine.com
wallawalla.org
VisitTri-Cities.com
prosser.org
visityakima.com

Thank-you. I will.

Board-O, The most picturesque place I've visited in Washington, and a place that is often ignored, is Snoqualmie Falls, specifically the Salish Lodge. It's about an hour out of Seattle and is worth an overnight. It's a spa as well - which might please Mrs. Board-O.

The restaurant almost hovers out over the falls - gorgeous views. They have private little dining rooms that are VERY romantic, in addition to the dining room.

I understand there's also a vineyard in Snoqualmie (go figure, the Snoqualmie Vineyard). I don't know if they produce wines, however. Maybe one of the locals can tell us.

Board-O,
Vancouver!!??
Where are you going to have lunch?

budman-- Oh no you didn't!

Board-o-- If you get a chance to see Mt. St. Helens, do so. I have yet to go to WA state, but my father and brothers have been several times. They even got a helicopter ride from some nursery owners out there and touched down on the rim of the peak and got out. But the lowlands are amazing even now -- to see what life is coming back after all these years.

TJ,
Are you questioning my innocence and naivete???
You can't prove anything, dammit!
I'll take a polygraph if need be!!
I was just trying to be helpful (hee hee hee)!!

Well, comedians, on second thought, I don't believe we'll head up to Canada. We have 16 days for this trip and we want to visit wineries and scenic areas in WA, OR, and CA, in addition to a side trip to Lake Tahoe/Reno. We're spending three days in Napa and Sonoma with latour67 and his wife. I was surprised to learn that many of WA's best wineries are near Seattle. I thought we'd have to travel to the Yakima Valley. We're just starting to make our plans now. All that's definite so far is that we've booked the flights.

Lilac, a friend recommended The Inn at Snohomish. Have you any knowledge of it?

Board-O,

No personal knowledge of the Inn at Snohomish (a.k.a. Snohomish Inn). I did a Google search on the name and the results weren't promising. But I guess it depends on what you're looking for. I go for comfort when I'm traveling for personal reasons.

I emailed you with lodging ideas. You need to stay in downtown Seattle. It's July, the city is glowing. There is NOTHING like a sunset over the Olympic Mountains.
You might get a birdseye view into the crater of Mt. St. Helens on your descent into Sea-Tac. The flight in, and out, is spectacular in nice weather. In this case, this is one time you want a chatty pilot.

Now - my perfect little daytrip in Washington would be to fly to Walla Walla mid-morning. Alaska Air has cheap flights. Cheaper if you do it last minute. Like $69 round trip. It's an hour flight.
Before you head to the airport have a picnic lunch packed up. Buy all your stuff at DeLaurenti's at the south end of the Pike Place Market, you won't need wine. Land about 11am.
Have a limo meet you at the airport. Spend the next three or four hours wine tasting - right at the airport! It's an old military base, spread out over many acres. At least 10 wineries are located right on these premises. You can't walk to them all, thus the limo or cab. If someone was thinking out there, they'd rent bicycles right at the airport. Or golf-carts.
These 10 wineries are all worth visiting. There are plenty more throughout Walla Walla, but you'd need two days.
You'll need the picnic, and there are lots of spots to picnic, looking over at the Blue Mountains. No eateries.
Fly back (west) at dusk. Watch the sunset from your seat.
Carry a mixed case back with you from these wineries.
It's a unique spot, that Walla Walla.

Thanks so much. I've been floored by all the help I've received. The emails are loaded with information, so much that I haven't even checked the WS site for quite a while. Here's what we're thinking. QoH suggested three days in Seattle, so we're likely going to stay at the new Marriott Waterfront which isn't due to be completed til May. We want to visit the wineries in Woodinville and Snohomish areas, but we may need some help to get in to De Lille and Quilceda Creek. From the Seattle area, we're not sure where to go next. Is it worthwhile to go to The Columbia and Yakima Valleys and drive to Portland along the Columbia River, or should we travel south from Seattle to Mt. Ranier and Mt. St. Helens? On the other end of the trip, we're going to spend two or three days in Lake Tahoe/Reno then three in Nape/Sonoma with latour67 and his wife. We need to figure our time after we leave Seattle. If anyone is available for a dinner or to join us at some wineries, please let me know. Thanks again.

Here's our latest thinking. We're going to probably stay at the Waterfront Marriott the first night, then possibly spend two nights at the Inn at Snohomish. It's a three diamond inn, but before making reservations, I'll get some info from them and also email Blobby. Are there enough good wineries in the Woodinvile-Snohomish area to keep us busy for a day or two?

From there, we're unsure where to go. We will be going to Portland and the Oregon wineries, but we have time. We want to see some of the WA sights and have been considering Mt. Ranier and Mt. St. Helens. Is this a good idea? Also, is it worthwhile to drive through the Columbia and Yakima Valleys, and if so, are there good wineries there to visit? If we do that, I believe we'd then drive to Portland along the Columbia River. If we do that, which side of the river is more scenic, the WA side or the OR side?

Thanks so much for the advice. I have 15 emails to go through also.