DESTINATIONS — THE US
TRIED & TESTED: Washington State hotels
Mayflower Park Hotel, Seattle A central downtown location and elegant interiors make this 160-room hotel a classic. Crystal chandeliers, gleaming brass fittings, opulent fabrics and period flourishes are faithful to the hotel’s heritage, dating back to 1927.
Columbia River Gorge
into wine country. Unsurprisingly, Terra Blanca was recently named ‘best barrel room’ in the state. Winemaker Keith Pilgrim has been here since 1993 and seen the region develop from a dry, unfarmable slope into a hotspot for wine lovers.
Silverlake Winery, Yakima Valley
charming town. Local winemakers say Walla Walla is the next Napa Valley. The region boasts more than 100 wineries and 1,800 acres of grapes. Operators, including Travel 2 and Virgin Holidays, are developing gourmet tour packages in the area. At Waterbrook Winery, which has an expansive, inviting tasting room particularly suited to large groups, Californian winemaker John Freeman (who recently moved here from Napa) lets us sample partially fermented grape juice that’s on its way to becoming top-notch cabernet sauvignon, merlot and chardonnay. In the Tri-Cities region,
Brookwalter Winery, Barnard Griffin Winery and Tagaris greet us with full glasses, but it’s Terra Blanca in Red Mountain that has the showstopper setting. We sip our merlots, cabernets and syrahs in sunlight on the Tuscan-inspired terrace; this is the vineyard setting clients dream of when venturing
Our finale, the next day, begins at Cherry Wood Bed, Breakfast and Barn. It’s a working horse sanctuary in the Yakima Valley wine region, offering accommodation in rustic-chic teepees, but we’re here to jump in the horse-drawn wagon for a winery tour. The Yakima Valley tour is a highlight. We visit small-scale, family-run wineries, lunching in the barrel room at Dineen Winery before trucking through the apple orchards to Two Mountain Winery. Winemaker Matthew Rawn’s family has farmed here for the best part of a century and, in 2000, converted apple orchards into vineyards. “I never trained formally,” he admits. “We learned on the job, asked others doing the same around us and, step by step, made the transition to winemakers.”
It’s a gloriously American
approach that European purists would balk at, but it’s paid off. The wine is excellent and the attitude unpretentious. It’s easy to see why visitors fall for Washington’s wine country. TW
Find out more:
experiencewa.com visitseattle.org
62 •
travelweekly.co.uk — 22 January 2015
Book it: From £60 per night.
mayflowerpark.com
The Max, Seattle With bold artwork, contemporary interiors flecked with retro flourishes and a rock’n’roll soundtrack, this boutique offering is one of the hippest joints in town. The 163 guest rooms are more pared-back than the loud public spaces,
staff are upbeat and the 24-hour gym is another touch, making this particularly suited to a young professional demographic. Book it: From £105 per night.
hotelmaxseattle.com
Skamania Lodge, Skamania Located within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, this expansive yet cosy mountain lodge offers inviting public spaces, including a firelit bar and a restaurant that sources most of its ingredients from within 50 miles. Set in a
175-acre woodland estate, this is a popular base for those wanting to explore the gorge on foot and also offers golf and spa facilities. Book it: From £120 per night.
skamania.com
Marcus Whitman Hotel, Walla Walla This 1920s-built, family-run property offers 127 classically decorated rooms for guests but is equally popular among local foodies and winemakers for its award-winning Marc restaurant and
legendary tasting menu. Interiors are elegant, staff are warm and there are no fewer than six on-site tasting rooms. Book it: From £99 per night.
marcuswhitmanhotel.com
Garden Hilton Hotel, Yakima Valley This 111-room, comfortable three- star option has an indoor pool and conference centre and is minutes from the pretty, historic thoroughfare of North Front Street, with a cafe in a former tram
depot, interiors boutiques and antique stores. Book it: From £86 per night.
hilton.com
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