Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Follow the course of the mighty Columbia River from Vancouver eastward and you'll experience a parade of photogenic panoramas. From the sheer
basalt cliffs diving into the river's depths along the Columbia Gorge to the windswept wheat hillocks of Walla Walla to the shady apple orchards of
Yakima, the region is the stuff of postcards.
It's not just a feast for the eyes, either: This is Washington wine country. Resting at the same latitude as the famed French wine chateaus of
Bordeaux and Burgundy, central Washington's distinct landscapes are bound together in the pursuit of perfecting reds and whites. Over the last dec-
ade, the state has seen an explosion in wineries—from slightly over 100 in 1997 to more than 500 now. Most of those new growers and winemakers
have set up shop in central Washington, home of seven of the eight official wine appellations in Washington.
A day's drive can put you in position to walk the rows at scenic vineyards and chat up winemakers in their cozy tasting rooms. Wine country
wanderers will also find artisan cheeses, freshly picked fruits, and other culinary delights dished up in the hidden countryside cafés and bistros that
have sprung up from the region's viticultural boom. And you needn't worry about the scale after your gastronomic excess: The region offers plenty
of outdoor activities that will make a four-course meal and a bottle of wine seem well justified by day's end.
Cyclists can spin on serpentine bands of blacktop winding through the country past historic train depots and scenically dilapidated barns.
Vancouver National Historic Reserve:
History buffs will be in heaven here, exploring a reconstructed Hudson's Bay Company
fort, turn-of-the-20th-century barracks, and a historic airfield (
Beacon Rock State Park:
Lewis and Clark spotted this gigantic volcanic rock on their journey west. Climb to the top of the
rock for the best view of the Gorge (
BEACON ROCK STATE PARK
).
Columbia Hills State Park:
With pretty views, rock climbing, and fishing galore, this park is best known for its amazing col-
lection of petroglyphs and pictographs (
Columbia Hills State Park
).
Maryhill Museum of Art:
Dubbed “Castle Nowhere,” this remote museum is remarkable for its collections of Rodin sculptures
and chess sets (
MARYHILL MUSEUM OF ART
).
Gorge Waterfalls:
Set on the south side of the Gorge, the plunging waterfalls along the Historic Columbia River Highway are
some of the most beautiful in the United States (
GORGE WATERFALLS
).
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TO FIND RECOMMENDED SIGHTS, ACTIVITIES, DINING, AND LODGING.
