Washington Bites

Don’t just see Washington, taste it, too! The Evergreen State is bountiful with culinary delights. It’s enough to bring tears to a foodie’s eyes. Here are the 10 best culinary experiences across the state.

Vineyard Tours

In the center of the state, Yakima Valley [1] has the most variety of wineries, vineyards, tasting rooms, and cellars in a 50-mile stretch.

Blake Island Salmon Dinner

Hop aboard the Tillicum Village [2] tour boat for a ticket to cedar-plank cooked salmon accompanied by tribal dance.

Orchard Tours

Wenatchee [3] is the self-professed Apple Capital of the world. Stretch your legs under the shade of the area orchards and taste a few unique heirloom varieties.

Countryside Tour

The cloistered San Juan Islands [4] still lives by its own produce, dairy, and meat. Taste farm-fresh food sold at countryside stands, and get the freshest stuff at the bed-and-breakfasts and restaurants that support their neighbors.

Pike Place Market Tour

Stop for an espresso at the very first Starbucks and then hit up Seattle Food Tours (www.seattlefoodtours.com [5]) for a journey of the taste buds through the Emerald City’s hub of all things culinary, Pike Place Market [6].

Dim Sum

Take a chance in the International District [7], and grab a few dishes you don’t recognize from the carts those nice ladies push by your table.

Dinner at Herbfarm

The ultimate multi-course dining experience is tucked away near the Woodinville wineries.

Slurping up Oysters

Washingtonians love their shellfish, especially the kind known for love. The oyster beds along Chuckanut Drive [8] supply two of the finest purveyors of oysters on the half shell in the state, The Oyster Bar and Chuckanut Manor [9].

Campfire-Fried Trout

Nothing beats fresh-caught trout cooked over open coals. The wooded expanse of the Okanogan and Collville National Forests offer some of the best mountain lakes and streams, with plenty of campsites nearby to build the fire.

Munching Fresh-Picked Berries

Western Washington is redolent with the scent of blackberries and blueberries in late summer. You have to work harder for the blueberries — they typically grow alongside mountain trails around July and August. But blackberries are everywhere around the Puget Sound in August. Try Discovery Park in Seattle [10] for a surefire picking spot.