Peter Greenberg: Washington State Attractions

By: Peter Greenberg | Source: AARP.org | 2009-01-28

I've rather recently relocated in Washington—having lived most of my life in the Midwest—South Dakota and Minnesota. I'm aware of the major attractions in the Northwest: beaches, mountains, and cities. However, there are undoubtedly many less well-known points of interest. I enjoy exploring areas I haven't yet discovered in my own backyard.
–Roger, Olympia, Wash.

There are a number of great options in your neck of the woods (no pun intended). If you haven't visited Olympic National Park, it's a great option for getting outdoors and isn't too far from Olympia.

Want to see Seattle in a whole new way? If you want a really quirky city tour, try Bill Speidel's "Underground Tour." You're literally walking underground, through subterranean passages below Pioneer Square. The 90-minute tour starts inside Doc Maynard's Public House, a saloon in the Old West style, and then heads underground. You'll pass through the basements of bars, old brothels, and even a Starbucks, while guides offer historical details and tongue-in-cheek anecdotes of old-time Seattle. 206-682-4646.

You might not be aware that Washington is one of the biggest wine-producing states in the union (second-biggest, actually, after California). A day trip to nearby Woodinville, Wash. (about 20 miles east of Seattle), is a great way to get out of the city and into wine country. Château Ste. Michelle is the oldest winery in Washington and has been voted Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast and Restaurant Wine magazines. Take a tour of the facilities, and then sample the local cabernets, chardonnays, and Rieslings that put Washington on the wine map. A summer concert series on the lawn features performances by acts such as Harry Connick Jr., Bruce Hornsby, Chicago, and the Doobie Brothers ($39.50–$99.50). And yes, you can drink wine during the show. 800-267-6793.

Or you can try picking your own produce on a real working farm at South 47. Even the kids will get excited to pick their own strawberries, raspberries, flowers, and herbs on this sprawling, organic-cooperative farm (with themes like "Life Cycle of a Squash"). Every Wednesday through Friday, there is a "Farm Tots" program in which kids get to take a wagon ride and pick their own produce to bring home to Mom. 425-869-9777.