Centrally located just over two hours from Seattle and three hours from Portland, the Yakima Valley is home to a wide range of growers, producers and experiences. With 300 days of sunshine a year, quick access to the Yakima River and a short drive from White Pass and over Chinook Pass, it’s the ideal hub to kick off summer. Whether you’re hoping to find the best local eats on spacious outdoor patios, take in an evening of live music with incredible views, learn all about the region’s hop growing, or pick your own cherries, berries and more to take home with you, you’ll find it at the source in the Yakima Valley. Here’s how to plan the ultimate summer visit.
Take a Tour
While there are many craft beverage producers located within minutes of each other across the Yakima Valley for a self-guided trip, taking a tour will offer expert knowledge along the way. The Little Hopper runs hop-on/hop-off tours on its Yakima Beer Bus, taking you to three local breweries. (They also provide wine tours.) The Hop Farm and Beer Sensory Experience will introduce you to the hop capital of the world. With 75% of the country’s hops grown in the Yakima Valley, this is the place to get familiar with this crucial ingredient for brewing great beer. The tour will take you to a family hop farm, allowing you to walk amongst the hop fields and get an inside look at a hop-processing facility. You’ll rub hops to take in the aromas and learn about how they’re used in brewing and then round out the day with a tour at a local brewery. Of course, you’ll try Yakima beers as well.
Prefer to learn a bit more about the winemaking process? At Whitman Hill Winery, you can dive into the Between the Vines Estate Tour. Learn about the lifecycle of grapes as they make their way from vineyard to glass. You’ll tour the winery’s estate vineyard on a UTV and then enjoy a sit-down tasting.
Take in a Concert
There’s no better way to enjoy live music than with a glass of wine in hand and a picturesque view as the backdrop. Freehand Cellars is perched atop a hill with expansive valley views and live music and events throughout the summer. VanArnam Vineyards hosts a concert series on Saturday evenings throughout the summer, with wine and beer for sale, a food truck and a stage with vineyards in the background. Grab a brew and tap your foot at Outskirts Brewing Company with the brewery’s Way Out Wednesdays concert series running from mid-June to mid-September.
Check out even more live music and events around the valley all summer long.
Pick Fruit and Veggies
Want to grab fresh produce from the source? The Yakima Valley is the place. At Ahtanum Berry Patch, you can pick your own berries including blackberries, raspberries and blueberries in mid-July and strawberries in late August to September. West Valley U-Pick opens with cherries at the beginning of July, with everything from blueberries and peaches to pears and apples throughout the season. The Washington Fruit Place at Barrett Orchards kicks off cherry u-pick season on June 21, with several dates open for picking from the end of June to early July.
No time to pick your own? Johnson Orchards sells produce and exceptional freshly baked pies utilizing the fruit from its charming rustic 1916 fruit-packing warehouse. The Downtown Yakima Farmers Market runs on Sundays through late October, providing a variety of farm-fresh produce, honey, locally made cheese and freshly baked bread, along with vibrant flowers.
Head Outside to Eat
Café 11th Avenue is a relatively new addition to the dining scene but it’s become one of the Yakima Valley’s go-to brunch stops. You’ve never seen anything quite like the Monstrous Mimosa or the Monstrous Mary, not to mention the piled high brunch plates featuring all the classic favorites with creative twists. In addition to cozy inside spaces, their patio is a perfect place to spend a weekend morning under bright umbrellas.
You’ll find everything from brick oven pizzas and chicken parmesan to a white cheddar cheeseburger with brown sugar bacon and a steak salad on the Northwest-inspired menu at Provisions Restaurant + Market. The area favorite also has multiple vegan options, along with house cocktails and mocktails. Grab a seat at the bar or opt for al fresco dining on the patio or “The Coop,” which is enclosed by fruit bins with plenty of umbrella tables for an inspired, local feel.
Find yourself in the lower Yakima Valley, or interested in taking a drive to see the scenery along the way? HopTown in Wapato is the place to go for wood-fired pizza. Embracing an industrial theme, there is plenty of outdoor seating with games in the yard. While all of the creative pizzas are excellent, it’s the Hey Elote corn dip that can’t be missed.
For an extensive selection of beers on tap, Public House of Yakima has an East and a West location, each with expansive outdoor seating areas. You’ll find dozens of taps to choose from featuring a wide range of local beer and cider. Giant Bavarian pretzels, flatbreads and nachos are also on the menu at this neighborhood spot.
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In Partnership with Visit Yakima
