Location: Walla Walla
Top Things to do in Walla Walla
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The 10 Best Things to do Good for a Rainy Day in Walla Walla, Washington (WA)
Wineries are beginning to rival the sweet-tasting Walla Walla onion as the hallmark of this lovely town at the foot of the Blue Mountains. In fact, the combination of excellent wineries and appealing scenery has put Walla Walla on the map as one of the country's hottest new wine-touring regions. The town's rich history, starting with the Indian tribes who first settled here followed by the early pioneers, the establishment and subsequent tragic demise of a famous mission and then a gold rush, is also a tourist draw. Fascinating museums and historic attractions bring this past to life. Music and the arts are a vital part of this culturally conscious college town, which boasts one of the oldest symphony orchestras west of the Mississippi, frequent summertime blues and jazz concerts, arts festivals and at least 15 art galleries. A revitalized downtown features restored 19th-century buildings, restaurants, galleries and wine-tasting rooms. If you're itching for outdoor fun, head east for hiking, mountain biking and fishing in the Blue Mountains or take the relatively easy Stateline Loop bike trail to Oregon and back.
Restaurants in Walla Walla
1. Foundry Vineyards
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 29 reviews
The combination of art and wine is the foundation upon which Foundry Vineyards is built. Founders Mark and Patty Anderson focused their vision on formulating a unique experience, which expands the dialog about the creative processes that underlie the making of art and wine. There is a distinct aesthetic to each aspect of the winery from the art-driven Artisan labels and the gallery-like tasting room to the spare, urban feel of the adjacent contemporary sculpture garden. The award winning wines we produce are forged with a combination of our estate grown fruit and small lot production. Each hand crafted wine is overseen from the vine to the bottle and rigorously selected from our best lots. This procedure allows the wines to mature to their full potential and showcases our philosophy of quality over quantity.
Reviewed By AlanaClaro1 - Jersey City, United States
The wine selection is excellent and the staff is so friendly and nice, they offered other varieties based on our palate and were super knowledgeable. Definitely a great experience and I couldn’t recommend more
2. College Cellars of Walla Walla
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 34 reviews
College Cellars is the not-for-profit winery located at the Institute for Enology and Viticulture on the Walla Walla Community College Campus. The wines are produced by the students and staff during the course of their wine studies program. With access to cutting edge technology and training in time-honored techniques, they craft wines that express the vibrancy of the Walla Walla Valley AVA and its winemaking community. Schedule your visit today! Cheers!
Reviewed By 2Cougs - Eagle, United States
Wine makers pay attention. The person you choose to educate your patrons is as important as the wine you’re serving. Nicole was our educator/server and was one of the most knowledgeable and entertaining hosts we encountered in our weekend wine trip to Walla Walla. The college is a different experience and one you should not miss if you are a wine enthusiast.
3. Castillo de Feliciana
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 19 reviews
Reviewed By NewZealander2004 - Seattle, United States
We stopped in here on a road trip. They offer only pick up with reservation which we only realized on arrival. They were able to accommodate us. Masks required (which I was happy with!). We bought wine and sangria to go. No wine tasting offered as their county is back to phase 1. Very gracious and lovely person who served us.
4. Solemn Cellars
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 10 reviews
The definition of 'Solemn' is formal and dignified, characterized by deep sincerity. This is exactly what Justin and Brianne Basel set out to represent when forming Solemn Cellars. They wanted the focus to be on the quality and not the quantity of wine. they wanted their passion and respect of the industry to show in each bottle. they wanted to share not just their wines but the experience that comes with it.
5. Valdemar Estates
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 17 reviews
Enjoy both our Spanish and Washington wines, perfectly paired with traditional tapas dishes in our restaurant, and enjoy beautiful views of the Blue Mountains and the Walla Walla Valley. We offer tours of the winery, as well. Reservations required for tasting, dining, and tours.
Reviewed By SeattleLifejazz - Seattle, United States
Sitting on a balcony with a contemporary space with a dramatic view of the Blue Mountains, eating excellent tapas, and drinking Spanish inspired wines. Thought I had been transported to Catalonia. Add the cool jazz playing in the background just made this exceptional.
6. Seven Hills Winery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 55 reviews
Focusing on varietal red wine made from the grapes of eastern Washington State, this winery and its tasting rooms are housed in the historic Whitehouse-Crawford building.
Reviewed By kellicaughlan - Portland, United States
Lovely wines......always. Our tasting experience was personal, informative, and enjoyable. As with most things these days, we had to make an appointment. This was new for us with wine tasting. I must say that the setting and personal attention was nice. I hope that tastings in the future are like we experienced at Seven Hills.
7. Three Rivers Winery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 55 reviews
Tour the barrel rooms and cellar of this lovely winery with stunning views of surrounding vineyards, Mill Creek and the distant Blue Mountains, and try your hand at three short holes of golf.
Reviewed By 134karena - Roseville, United States
A friend recommended that we include this in our tasting selections during our weekend in Walla Walla Washington. I called ahead and was greeted by an incredibly pleasant gentleman (I believe Stacey). Upon arrival, Trevor took great care of us- educating us (as novice wine tasters) about the wines and sampling a great variety of reds and whites. I am generally not a fan of whites but their selection was quite good and I walked away with a purchase of the best Riesling I have had- not too sweet and not to dry. Of the wineries we visited, we felt the overall taste and value of their wines was one of the best, better than Northstar that we visited earlier in the day. It’s set in a lovely country setting. Thank you, Trevor, for taking great care of us. You rock!
8. Waterbrook Winery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 116 reviews
With panoramic views of the sprawling grounds, large ponds and picturesque Blue Mountains, visitors can relax on the patio with a glass of award-winning wine and enjoy the tranquil surroundings. Inside, guests are greeted by Waterbrook's expert staff at the full retail tasting bar. Waterbrook Executive Chef Skyeler Milgate utilizes local and seasonal ingredients to create incredible farm-to-table fare from our full-service kitchen. Stop by to taste our daily specials and seasonal menu paired with Waterbrook's outstanding portfolio of wines.
Reviewed By _tomnguyen001 - Austin, United States
The setting is just perfect. During Covid-19, they space out tables and are very careful about their protocol. The back lawn was just perfect and framed beautifully against the back drop of the pond. Wines are at excellent price point - both the Columbia, Icon and Reserve. Staff was very thoughtful with our three Westies. The lunch sandwich is very good but at a high price point. You can take your own there, though.
9. Fort Walla Walla Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 303 reviews
Fort Walla Walla Museum is a walking museum located on 17 acres, and is a must-see for visitors. As the primary caretaker of the cultural and historical heritage of the Walla Walla Valley, the Museum features four large exhibit halls housing thousands of artifacts, a pioneer village, a 33-mule team hitched to a wooden combine, and more. The Entrance Building features several galleries, including one for rotating special exhibits, and an admission-free Museum Store filled with books and heritage gifts. On the lower level of the grounds is a Pioneer Village with 17 buildings, many of them furnished, for guests to explore. There are more than 40 living history performances every year that take place in the village. The Museum also hosts additional activities, classes, and events—like the free Museum After Hours presentation series, which features thought-provoking topics on everything from history to conservation. The Fort Walla Walla Museum provides a memorable experience for the whole family, and you’re sure to learn something new during every visit. Come see what’s new at the old fort today!
Reviewed By Bear_over_mountain - Oregon City, United States
This Museum should not be missed! We brought our friends along for our second visit to this indoor/ outdoor collection of historical artifacts and buildings related to the development of the region, including the military base, the agriculture, the early settlers and even the local prison. A great place to bring children ( there is even a play structure to climb) and make sure you leave time to browse through the gift shop.
10. Pepper Bridge Winery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 74 reviews
World-class red wines from two estate vineyards, Pepper Bridge Vineyard and Seven Hills Vineyard.
Reviewed By JeffB4706 - Seattle, United States
The only tasting room we have visited during every one of our visits to Walla Walla, and always our first stop. Our most recent visit (our fifth?) was during COVID-19 Phase 2 restrictions, which required a reservation. We enjoyed the reservation-required system as it assured us we would not encounter a crowd, thus this time we arrived at 11am rather than 10am. VIEW: 5.0. The top view among Walla Walla vineyards. Looking out over vineyards to the Blue Mountains. Gorgeous and peaceful. AMBIANCE: 5.0. Cute yellow-stone appearance on the outside, with comfortable covered balcony. Low-volume comfortably-paced music which is consistently among the best background sound we encounter in Walla Walla tasting rooms, even though we don't know (for the most part) the artists. WINE: 4.5. The profound reds of Pepper Bridge are among our few top favorite WA wines. This time we tried the Reserve Tasting Flight, and found we actually prefer the regular flight. SERVICE: 5.0. The service is consistently high-quality. A nice touch was that the name of our reservation-holder (me) was printed on the wine lists we received. Shandon poured our drinks during our most recent visit, and was pleasant to learn from. We found he speaks Japanese when he understood us talking the language. Shandonさんは日本語で話せて、頑張っています！
