Beautiful vineyard with rows of vines of Merlot grapes on rolling hills near Walla Walla, Washington.

©Margaretha Maryk/Shutterstock

Southeastern Washington

Until the 1990s, this parched and remote corner of Washington had little to offer tourists beyond proximity to Idaho. Its arid landscape is characterized by the volcanic plateaus and denuded lava flows of the inhospitable 'Scablands' region, exposed by the Missoula floods at the end of the last ice age. It's not traditionally what you'd call scenic – although the gently rounded, wheat-covered hills of the Palouse region have masses of pastoral charm. Still, tourism wasn't really a thing here until a handful of pioneering winegrowers in and around Walla Walla began to recognize the area's potential, and before long the valley was producing wines that demanded to be taken seriously. Walla Walla wine tourism is now a major industry, and it's only a slight exaggeration to call the region a miniature, off-brand Napa.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Palouse Falls State Park
Southeastern Washington
Fifty-four miles north of Walla Walla and 83 miles west of Pullman, off Hwy 261, this jaw-droppingly magnificent waterfall tumbles 198ft down a craggy,…
Columbia Park
Southeastern Washington
At first glance, the Tri-Cities can seem like nothing but one big traffic snarl. The best solution: go to the park. This 400-acre green space along the…
REACH Museum
Southeastern Washington
In a cool modern building overlooking Columbia Park, this hands-on museum focuses on local and regional history and the ecological impacts of human…
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
Southeastern Washington
Washington State University's art museum has a large permanent collection of mostly Northwestern art and stages several temporary exhibits each year of…
Washington State University
Southeastern Washington
Most of Pullman's sights are related directly to expansive WSU, which accommodates more than 22,000 students and one of Washington's leading agricultural…
Fort Walla Walla Museum
Southeastern Washington
This museum occupies the fort's old cavalry stables, with a recreated pioneer village outside. The main exhibit hall contains displays on the Lewis and…
Jacklin Collection Museum
Southeastern Washington
If you're a fan of geodes and thunder eggs, stop in at this museum in the School of the Environment, showcasing the more than 2000 specimens of petrified…
Sacajawea State Park Interpretive Center
Southeastern Washington
Set in a 284-acre park at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers, the Sacajawea Interpretive Center describes the journey of Lewis and Clark…