Other Things To Do in WA
Hiking Near Suncadia!
Lots of hikes to choose from - click below to learn more about hikes around Suncadia and on your way there along I-90. Remember that when hiking in the desert, there is little shade. Bring lots of water, a hat, and sunscreen, and consider choosing morning or evening hours, rather than mid-day!
Leavenworth
An adorable Bavarian town just 1 hour away from the winery, set in the Cascade Mountains instead of the Alps. Enjoy some beers and some brats, take float down the Icicle River, visit the Nutcracker Museum, or pop into the adorable shops and a few tasting rooms. All that, plus incredible outdoor activities. It's busy in the summer, but you won't regret a visit to this epically charming town!
The Heart of WA Wine Country
Head east from Cle Elum along I-90, and you'll find yourself in Ellensburg in about 30 minutes. You can stop there, visit the Gard Vintners tasting room in town or the Ellensburg Canyon Winery while enjoying the quaint downtown area and beautiful surroundings. Or hop on I-82 south for another half hour to visit Yakima for Washington's true wine country. There are over 90 wineries in the Yakima Valley, between Naches and the Tri Cities (and over a hundred more if you go on to Walla Walla), so you could keep exploring for days!
Kitsap Peninsula
Get a sense of how we spend our time! Take the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island for a visit to the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, a glass of wine at Eleven Winery, and some yummy Mexican food at San Carlos. Or drive off the island, and check out Poulsbo (Little Norway) for the best donuts at Sluys Bakery, a meal with a view at the Loft, or a wander on the waterfront. This small town has five breweries to visit as well. We often meet for a beer after work at Echoes, a bit out of downtown, but it can be on your way to visit the best museum on the Peninsula - the U.S. Naval Undersea Museum (where Beth works)! When the museum closes, take advantage of our long summer days with a hike in Port Gamble Heritage Park, right near our house. Finish off the day with a beer in Kingston at Downpour Brewing and see if you can find a picture of baby Haggis on the dog board! From there, see how long the wait is for the Kingston-Edmonds ferry, or head to Bainbridge to return to the city.
Seattle (Downtown)
So many places to visit, from Pike Place Market to the Chihuly Gardens, or take a seaplane adventure. For museums to not miss, the Seattle Art Museum is right downtown, the Museum of History and Industry teaches a lot about Seattle's past, or the Wing Luke Museum in the International District. Don't miss some of our favorite eats at Surrell (upscale tasting menu), M-Bar for a beautiful rooftop meal, Von's 1000 Spirits for some house-made sourdough pizzas and pastas, or stop in for a quintessentially Seattle Dick’s Drive-In burger. For a drink, we recommend trying a kiltlifter at Pike's Place Brewery, a whisky and gin tasting at Copperworks Distillery, some fantastic beers at Cloudburst Brewery, cocktails at Zig Zag Cafe, or a speakeasy with awesome cocktails and delicious Filipino food in Knee High Stocking Co (reservation required).
Fremont
This Seattle neighborhood is a little quirky with a lot of excellent: The Fremont Troll and Gas Works Park are quirky and fun, the Theo Chocolate Factory experiences, food, beers, and coffee shops are excellent.
Ballard
If you were intrigued by the Scandinavian roots of Poulsbo, don't miss the National Nordic Museum in Ballard! If you're looking for more, visit the Ballard Fish Locks, where the salmon will be beginning their run, enjoy a bite at the Walrus and the Carpenter, Sabine, or Skål. Ballard is right next to Fremont, so these two neighborhoods can be explored together!
Woodinville
When it's time to sip on Washington wine in the Seattle area, we head to Woodinville! With several wine districts featuring tasting rooms from many of the state's top wineries, and the good restaurants to go with them, it's easy to enjoy a day (or a few) in Woodinville and forget that you're just 30 minutes from the city.