When you live in a sizable city like Seattle, you might expect the announcement of a spring break or summer trip to Walla Walla to be met with some belly-aching and blanching.
Not at my house.
My kids are always eager for the trek to the OTHER “city so nice they named it twice” as Walla Walla is often referred to (the original being New York, New York, but our family doesn’t think that counts since the second NY refers to a state).
Aidan and Maddy are now 15 and 18 and the list of restaurants and roadside attractions that have become traditional stops along the way has grown exponentially over those years. Altogether, we’ve made this trip about 40 times together. And that means my list of tricks for making road-tripping through the Cascades and eastern Washington fun, educational and comfortable for us all has evolved. Before we head out the door we re-new to our pact to:
- Bring plenty of crunchy, salty snacks for the road – kid choice, no frowning or lectures on health from me
- Stop frequently to eat, stretch, release backseat sibling angst which means …
- Stop at all historical markers and attractions, even piddling little single plaques on a pole
- Make our own meal choices when we stop. They pick. I just say yes. Period. Again by definition, road-tripping is not about health
- Bring blankets and pillows in the car and nap liberally. Now that my daughter is 18 and a driver I am looking forward to my nap this next trip
- Promote family togetherness by banning iPods but allowing the kids to pick the radio stations, alternating stations every 10 songs between them
- Pay $10 to each kid if he or she makes it all the way without fighting, whining or releasing any gas. They lose $1 for every barb, argument and you know what
Traveling west to east from Seattle to the Onion Capital of the World is a trip of extremes, moving from the glistening cityscapes of Seattle and Bellevue through the majestic mountains and on into the lush apple orchards of Yakima. From there, it’s a wide open ride beside wheat fields and short-story towns, eventually rolling by the Whitman Mission that marks the entrance to historic Walla Walla.
I’ve always loved the way this trip highlights all of our state’s natural environments, giving my kids a chance to see a world beyond the asphalt streets and strip mall conveniences of our neighborhood. Most of the trip to Walla Walla is like a Washington state history book, taking what the kids are forced to learn in school and making it real – the agriculture, economics, changes.
We make our first stop on I-90 before we are even out of King County: Boehm’s Chocolate Factory in Issaquah (255 N.E. Gilman Blvd.). If you want a sure way to get your kids in the car for a long road trip, a chocolate stop 25 minutes from home is a good bet.
As we climb through the Cascades, the kids are on the hunt for snow. If they see a patch – any patch, big or miniscule – we stop. We fire a few snowballs. It’s tradition.
The chocolate is just wearing off and hunger setting in when we hit the truck stop where I-90 intersects with Highway 97, west of Ellensburg. A greasy meal at the Perkins Restaurant is a must: My kids are motivated by food, so it’s my carrot for no arguing or bickering in the car. I use what I can.
Leaving Ellensburg, we take the Interstate 82 exit toward Yakima to drive over the Saddle Mountains. This is the first big mandatory view stop with an awe-inspiring panorama of Yakima Valley and the jagged North Cascades in the distance, with the North and South Umptanum Ridges in spectacular view. When we clear the mountain pass we’re in Yakima, the “Palm Springs of Washington.”
The golfer in me screams, “Don’t I wish!.” We don’t usually stop here in Palm Springs, but if we do, we make sure and visitor Miner’s Drive-In Restaurant (2415 S. 1st St., Yakima). Home of the Big Miner Burger, this drive-in is kitschy, cool and serves excellent road food. Make sure and go inside to check out the memorabilia.
Heading east, we detour to see the colorful murals that cover the buildings in tiny Toppenish. Most are scenes of historic significance to the valley and region and provide an easy entrée into a Washington state history lesson. My kids love history, and I think part of that is because these trips have made it real for them.
Driving through Yakima Valley, you’ll find yourself surrounded by lush farmland and orchards with produce in every hue; we stop at a couple of roadside produce stands on every trip. Again, tradition. According to my daughter, bad thing will happen in the universe if we don’t.
Heading out again on southeast I-82, we have to make a stop at the Darigold Visitors Center at the Sunnyside cheese plant. One of the nation’s largest cheese factories, the short self-guided tour is informative but the real treat is the store where you can buy an assortment of fresh ice cream and other diary products.
From there, we take exit 102 towards Richland and barrel past the Boise Cascade paper mill.
I think we’ve heard just about every flatulence joke known to mankind over the 18 years we’ve been making this trip. The mill smells like a rotten egg, and my son especially never tires of waiting for its smell to hit us so he can start cracking his jokes.
Entering Walla Walla, a new smell emerges: onions, the raw, rich onion fields first tilled by Italian immigrants. The Walla Walla Sweet onion remains the city’s (and the Walla Walla Onion Festival’s) mascot.
Great Eats
Colville Street Patisserie: My daughter is a baked goods addict, and since I am a coffee addict, this works out well for everyone. Great grub, baked things and coffee. 40 South Colville St.
Olive Marketplace and Café: This is our new favorite deli café since the demise of the beloved Merchants Deli. Eat here or gather up goods for a picnic at Whitman Mission. 21 East Main St.
Tiki Teriaki Grill: Who doesn’t love a Hawaiian-themed teriaki place? My son is a teriaki fiend. 205 Wildwood.
The Ice-Burg: Great burgers and all the wrap-arounds, outdoor seating. A must. 616 W. Birch St.
Outings
Monteillet Fromagerie: Thirty minutes northeast of Walla Walla, this beautiful artisanal cheese farmstead is a great place to introduce kids to the art of cheesemaking and the world of farming. Enjoy a glass of local wine with that cheese! 109 Ward Rd., Dayton; www.monteilletcheese.com.
Walla Walla Farmers Market: It’s open Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from May through October at the Walla Walla County Fairgrounds. 363 Orchard St; www.gowallawallafarmersmarket.com.
Blue Mountain Lavender Farm: Surrounded by miles of rolling hills of wheat and alfalfa, two acre Blue Mountain farm is an island of purple in the summer season. 345 Short Road, Lowden; www.bluemountainlavender.com.
Whitman Mission: The 1847 massacre of missionaries at the Whitman Mission horrified Americans and impacted the lives of everyone on the Columbia Plateau for decades afterwards. Now a state park, families can look at both sides of this historic tragedy, as well as some of the region’s most amazing natural habitat, with more than 200 different species of birds. Seven miles west of Walla Walla off Highway 12; www.nps.gov/index.htm.
Winery Tours: Onions may be the smell that welcomes you to Walla Walla, but over the past two decades, wine has become the town’s biggest draw and export. Taste local juices and wines, picnic on winery lawns, learn the art of winemaking. www.wallawallawineguide.com.
Hot Poop: If you have music-lovers in your minivan, Hot Poop is a must stop. This cluttered music store offers a variety of interesting items, from instruments to rare recordings, memorabilia and great T-shirts. 210 E. Main St. www.hotpoop.com
Book & Game: Browse through thousands of books, hundreds of games, a full wall of puzzles and more at this colorful, locally-owned, independent bookstore. 38 E. Main St.; www.bookandgame.com.
Island Octopus: You can’t miss the whimsical giant pink octopus mural that adorns the front façade here; this packed toy store’s a little gem. 7 E. Main St.
The Sweet Putt: Find indoor and outdoor putt-putt golf for kids of all ages, even adult ones, cheap at $5 a round in winter. 417 Wellington Ave; www.thesweetputt.com.
The Ice Chalet: Enjoy year-round ice skating at this family favorite. 211 E. Birch. www.ywcaww.org/icechalet.php.
