I find some of the best things to do in Walla Walla every time I visit. Sure, most people know it for the wine, and while there’s plenty of that to go around, there’s also a great food scene, breweries, shops, and outdoor activities for every traveler.
Walla Walla is located in the southeast of Washington near the Oregon border, about 4 ½ hours from Seattle and 4 hours from Portland. The weather is fairly warm, with summer temps ranging from mid-70s to high 90s and the winters hovering around the 30s or 40s. Most people visit during the spring and summer, though I prefer fall because the weather is breezy but not scorching, and the wineries are bustling with the year’s harvest coming in.
If you’re planning a trip and need to know the top things to do in Walla Walla, this article will break down all the must-do activities so you can get the most out of your trip!
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Best Things to Do in Walla Walla
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Visit wineries
Ask anyone what to do in Walla Walla, and they’ll tell you to go wine tasting. With over 120+ wineries, it has the highest concentration of wineries in the state. With high elevations and a Mediterranean-like climate, the Walla Walla AVA is known for making many of the biggest, boldest reds like cabernet sauvignon and syrah.
There are five sections to Walla Walla wine country: Westside, Downtown, the Airport District, Eastside, and Southside, though many southside wineries are located in Oregon. Check out my map of Walla Walla wineries for the full list of my favorites. If you only have time to visit a handful, don’t miss these.
Gramercy Cellars
website | get directions | best for: Bordeaux-style reds
Gramercy is located in an unassuming warehouse building on the outskirts of downtown Walla Walla. One step inside, and you’ll be greeted by friendly staff surrounded by gorgeous farmhouse interiors. They’re known for Bordeaux and Rhone-style blends using minimal intervention with little to no oak, no additives, and extended aging.
Alton Wines
website | get directions | best for: lighter, fruitier wines and ambiance
Alton Wines is owned by a husband and wife who gave up their life in Seattle to start a winery. They built a gorgeous modern tasting room in the Southside where they serve unique varietals. Their winemaking style is all about high acid, low alcohol, and minimal oak. The result is more medium-bodied, zippy wines that are a break from the bold reds Walla Walla is known for.
Pro tip: They’re next door to Amavi Cellars, one of the first and most famous wineries in the area.
Adamant Cellars
website | get directions | best for: cozy tasting experience
Adamant is one of my favorite wineries in Walla Walla. They’re making small-batch wines you won’t find at any grocery store or bottle shop. You have to go straight to the source. When you visit, you’re likely to meet the owner, who can walk you through the winemaking process.
KINHAVEN Winery
website | get directions | best for: breathtaking views
KINHAVEN has arguably one of the most hip tasting rooms in Walla Walla. It’s owned by a wedding planner who’s thoughtfully designed the space. You can enjoy beautiful vineyard and mountain views from their covered patio or soak up the sun in an Adirondack chair around the fire pit. Wherever you decide to sit, you can expect complex and interesting wines using estate grown grapes.
Sip at breweries
Wine gets all the credit, but there is a growing craft beer scene, with 8 breweries in the city limits, most of which offer food trucks and spacious outdoor seating for families. Here are some not to miss.
Dragon’s Gate Brewery
website | get directions | best for: brewery on a farm
Located in Oregon’s Milton-Freewater, a few minutes from Walla Walla proper, Dragon’s Gate is set on a 10-acre farm amongst orchards, vineyards, and wheat fields. They’re making Belgian-style ales using hops grown on the property.
Quirk Brewing
website | get directions | best for: spacious outdoor seating
Quirk is located in the Airport District meaning there’s plenty of space for you and your four-legged friend to stretch out while you sip on local brews. There’s a Mexican food truck and a wide selection of ales, ranging from your everyday hazy IPAs to more adventurous saisons and sours.
Burwood Brewing
website | get directions | best for: rotating food trucks
Burwood is another well-known brewery in the Airport District making more experimental styles like their seasonal raspberry toupée, New Zealand pilsners, and black beers. They have rotating food trucks and a huge outdoor patio area with Adirondack chairs and corn hole.
Peruse the farmers market
website | get directions | best for: local produce
One of the best things to do is to check out the downtown farmer’s market, which runs on Saturdays from 9 AM – 1 PM outdoors around May through October and then inside at The Showroom on Colville November through December. Expect to find food trucks and vendors selling everything the town is known for, be it onions, fruit, local honey, or handmade crafts.
Shop downtown
In between wine tastings, I love to stretch my legs and peruse the local shops. Here are some of my favorite spots for handmade gifts and thrifted finds.
35+Butter
website | get directions | best for: gift shop
Located right off Main Street, 35+Butter is a fashion and kitchenware store selling everything from funny socks to handmade body lotions, leather goods, and cookbooks.
Peddlers on Main
website | get directions | best for: affordable antiques
One of my favorite parts about visiting small towns in Washington is finding the neighborhood antique shop. I like Peddlers because it’s well organized and everything looks in good condition. The owner is there more often than not to walk you through the aisles and answer any questions.
Walla Walla Clothing Store
website | get directions | best for: expansive clothing store
Walla Walla Clothing Store is a fairly expansive store with men’s and women’s clothes. If you have time to kill, odds are good that you’ll walk away with some iconic staples for your wardrobe.
Main Street Furniture Co.
website | get directions | best for: cute home decor items
Main Street Furniture Co. is a treasure trove of home decor items and gifts. Last time I went I bought a vase and little art prints from a local artist that were just $4 each. You never know what you’ll find, but it’ll always be adorable.
Explore Walla Walla’s restaurant scene
Where there is amazing wine, food usually follows. The food scene is growing by the day, with restaurants ranging from fine dining to greasy spoons and everything in between. Here are some not to miss.
The Maple Counter Cafe
website | get directions | best for: country breakfast
Maple Counter is a family-run, homey spot that reminds me of what Cracker Barrel is going for, but Maple Counter actually is. If you go for brunch, get the corned beef hash and split their signature apple pancake. It’s made souffle-style and stands 3 inches tall, stuffed with tender apples and a Saigon-cinnamon sugar glaze.
Passatempo Taverna
website | get directions | best for: Italian
Passatempo Taverna is a vibe-y spot that makes excellent pasta, pizza, and small plates. Don’t miss the Roman pastas like alla gricia, and their pepperoni pizza. They also make some mean meatballs that are the perfect appetizer.
Hattaway’s on Alder
website | get directions | best for: southern food & craft cocktails
Named one of the must-visit restaurants in Walla Walla by Forbes Magazine, Hattaway’s combines southern flavors with Pacific Northwest ingredients. Get the fried chicken and grits or Sunday sauce with spaetzle alongside any of their curated cocktails. Or try a glass of wine from a winery you didn’t get the chance to visit.
The Kitchen at Abeja
website | get directions | best for: seasonal tasting menu
After closing his pasta shop in Waitsburg, James Beard-nominated chef Mike Easton of Il Corvo fame recently took on the executive chef position at The Kitchen at Abeja. Expect an ever-changing tasting menu highlighting what’s fresh off the farm, paired with library wines from Abeja Winery.
Check out the parks
Walla Walla has 15 parks within city limits and there’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a playground, water features, or a dog friendly area.
Pioneer Park
get directions | best for: aviary
Pioneer Park is worth a visit if for no other reason than you can walk to it from downtown. There’s a playground, a duck pond, and pickleball courts surrounded by picturesque walking paths. But the best part is definitely the unexpected bird aviary. You’ll see a bunch of exotic species perfect for a photo opp.
Memorial Park
get directions | best for: swimming pool
If you’re up for a swim, Memorial Park has excellent public swimming pools with a kid’s play area, slides, and water features. Note that lockers are on a first come, first served basis, and you’ll need to bring your own locks!
Rooks Park
get directions | best for: quiet park
If you only have a few minutes to spare and want an uncrowded, peaceful walk or bike ride, check out Rooks Park. There’s a one-mile walk/bike trail you can take past the community college to nearby Bennginton Park.
Gawk at Palouse Falls
website | get directions | best for: waterfall
Roughly 54 miles north of WW is one of my favorite road trip destinations from Seattle, Palouse Falls. Carved over 13,000 years ago, the Palouse River runs through a narrow cataract before dropping 200 feet at Palouse Falls. You can get a distinct view of the falls from Palouse Falls State Park, though you’ll need a Discover Pass to get there.
Pro tip: The road to the park is gravel for about 2 miles and there’s no cell service, so drive slow!
Explore the local museums
Walla Walla is steeped in cultural history, first as the home to the native Cayuse tribes, then later as a focal point for westward expansion. Because of this, several museums around the town aim to educate and celebrate the town’s origin.
Fort Walla Walla Museum
website | get directions | best for: local history
Located on 19th-century military fort grounds, Ft. Walla Walla Museum features a 17-building historic pioneer settlement, beautiful gardens, and five sprawling exhibit halls housing thousands of artifacts. You’ll be able to walk through old WW and discover stories from the Oregon Trail.
Note on accessibility: They offer a complimentary wheelchair and have a golf cart that can take your group plus the wheelchair to the lower level of the park. However, the lower level is not wheelchair accessible because there are no paths, just grass. There are also narrow doors with lips and no automatic openers throughout the museum, so this spot may be challenging for those with who use a wheelchair.
Whitman Mission National Historic Site
website | get directions | best for: museum
The Whitman Mission was established in 1836 by two missionaries to convert the native Cayuse tribes to Christianity. Unfortunately, tensions from colonization led to a historic massacre, and today, this site acts as a museum to reflect the broader impacts of westward expansion and the complex interactions between settlers and the Indigenous people. There is an excellent free audio tour, so make sure to download it!
Note on accessibility: The Whitman Mission also offers a complimentary wheelchair, but it’s a rather large park with a hill that would be challenging to ascend without a motorized chair.
Visit farms and farm stands
Much of Walla Walla’s charm comes from its small town farmers and growers, so you’d be remiss not to check out the local farms.
Blue Mountain Lavender Farm
website | get directions | best for: u-pick lavender
I can never say no to a good lavender farm, so Blue Mountain is a must-visit if you’re in the city from June to mid-July. There are u-pick lavender fields and a boutique farm store brimming with items inspired by lavender.
Frog Hollow Farm
website | get directions | best for: u-pick everything
Frog Hollow is an organic farm and the only one I’ve found that allows you to u-pick everything on site. This means you can harvest your own heirloom tomatoes, herbs, summer greens, peppers, and melons all in one go.
Stroll the Whitman College Sculpture Park
website | get directions | best for: outdoor sculpture walk
Whitman College is a private university located in downtown, which means you basically have prime access to the things that make a four-year college cool. Namely, it’s art. For a self-guided tour of the campus sculptures, read here.
Attend the Onion Festival
website | best for: foodies
Even if you’ve never heard of Walla Walla before, odds are you’ve at least heard of Walla Walla onions. In honor of their namesake crop, the town holds an annual festival every summer with vendors, chef demonstrations, and an onion eating competition.
Watch the Balloon Stampede
website | get directions | best for: hot air balloons
If you’re visiting in May, check out the Balloon Stampede. It runs through the weekend, with balloons taking off from Howard Tietan Park each morning. Thursday is the kid’s only day to take a tethered ride, and Friday evening is Nite Glow Spectacular.
Take a hot air balloon ride
website | best for: hot air balloon rides
If you’re feeling mighty adventurous, you and your significant other can book a private sunrise hot air balloon ride overlooking the vineyards. The tour is about an hour long and ends with a champagne toast.
Go hiking
Eastern Washington is the polar opposite of western Washington, as evidenced by the rolling hills, valleys, and vast farmland, so make sure to set some time aside to explore it by foot. Here are some of the best hikes in the area.
Bennington Lake Trail
website | get directions | best for: easy hike to a lake
This 2.7-mile loop trail starts at Bennington Park, taking you south to the secluded Bennington Lake. Expect a quiet, easy hike with hard-packed dirt, though plan on needing mosquito spray if you visit in summer.
West Tiger Creek Trail
website | get directions | best for: hiking along a stream
Part of the Umatilla National Forest, this is a relatively easy 2.2-mile out-and-back hike that’ll take you along a stream past wildflower blooms. The incline is non-existent, and the path is well-paved, albeit rocky.
Lick Creek from Zig Zag Springs trailhead
website | get directions | best for: hike-hike
An hour south of Walla Walla on the Oregon side is the Zig Zag Springs trailhead, which will take you to the heart of the North Fork Umatilla National Forest. This is considered a moderately difficult hike with the potential for downed trees, so come prepared with proper gear.
Golf
Admittedly I’m no golfer, but from what I’ve heard, the golf scene in eastern Washington is pretty epic. Check out these nearby golf courses so you can work on your swing.
Wine Valley Golf Club
website | get directions | best for: picturesque
This course was designed by professional golfer Dan Hixson and is set over the rolling hills in the shadow of the Blue Mountains. Expect 18 holes across painstakingly maintained fairways and greens.
Veterans Memorial Golf Course
website | get directions | best for: all skill levels
This public 18-hole course is prized for having affordable rates and being equally accessible to locals and visitors. You’ll find it caters to all skill levels, so don’t be afraid to go, even if you’re a newbie.
Other Walla Walla must-do activities
Here’s my map with more of the best things to do in Walla Walla. Use it to plan your own trip!
More to do around Walla Walla
After you experience all the best things to do in Walla Walla, check out my other guides for nearby areas that you’ll pass on your way.
- Explore the Columbia River Gorge
- Take a Road Trip to Spokane, WA
- Stop at Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum
- Hike Around Mt. Rainier National Park
- Take a Detour to Try Lake Chelan Wineries
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Let me make you a custom itinerary visiting all the best spots in Walla Walla.
