Central & Eastern Washington - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 389

want something a little plusher, hit the locally owned Clover Island Inn, which is situated
on its own island in the Columbia River. This unique establishment boasts 152 rooms, its
own boat dock and panoramic views from the top-floor Crow's Nest Restaurant. You can
borrow bikes to use on the abundant paths for free.
Atomic Ale Brewpub & Eatery PUB$$$
( www.atomicalebrewpub.com ; 1015 Lee Blvd, Richland; sandwiches $8, pizzas $9-14; closed Sun)
A perceptible Hanford-inspired 'gallows humor' pervades this cheery microbrewery and
eatery, well known for its wood-fired specialty pizzas and top-notch soups (try the red
potato). But first blast off with a locally crafted Half-Life Hefeweizen, Plutonium Porter
or Atomic Amber. Real intellectuals grab an Oppenheimer Oatmeal Stout.
Getting There & Away
Greyhound ( www.greyhound.com ) and Amtrak ( www.amtrak.com ) share a terminal at 535 N
1st Ave in Pasco. Greyhound buses go to Spokane ($44, 2½ hours), Portland ($57, four
hours) and Seattle ($57, 4½ hours) via Yakima and Ellensburg. Amtrak's Empire Builder
stops here en route to Portland at 5:35am ($41, 4½ hours); eastbound, it passes through at
8:57pm on the way to Spokane ($23, 3½ hours) and Chicago.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Walla Walla
POP 32,148
'Walla Walla, so good they named it twice' - or so the understandably biased locals
would have you believe. The quip probably seemed like a bad joke a couple of decades
ago, when Walla Walla's most well-known landmark was the state's largest penitentiary.
These days the naysayers are laughing on the other side of their faces. The reason: wine.
Walla Walla and its surrounding vineyards now concoct some of the best vintages in the
US, challenging California in the same way the 'Sunshine State' once took on the
French. Furthermore, Walla Walla, more than any Washington town, has fermented the
ingredients to support a burgeoning wine culture, including a historic Main St, a hand-
some college, a warm summer climate and a growing clutch of fine restaurants where
pairing wine and food is as common as pairing couples on a blind date.
Located in a rich agricultural area, Walla Walla supplements its much-sought-after
vineyards with pea and asparagus production, apple orchards and its famous sweet
onions. Equally distinctive in the undulating countryside are 454 wind turbines belonging