Tri-Cities Washington - Food-Wine-Travel

Walking the Vineyard

Bring up the topic of “organic” and you’re going to find a plethora of opinions. Whether it is good for your health, the planet, or simply the moral thing to do is a question often bantered around at the local farmer’s market.

For several years I have chosen organic because I believe it is good for my health and for the environment. And right about now you’re thinking “so what does this have to do with walking a vineyard?” As it turns out, there is a Biodynamic vineyard right here in the Red Mountain AVA – Hedges Winery. Last weekend I attended an event there to learn more about the value of Biodynamic and to taste test my way through the vineyard with grapes and wines.

So what is Biodynamic? Basically it is similar to organic but extending to treat the entire unit (soil, plants, animals) as an enclosed ecosystem where everything is interconnected. And why does that matter? Because using this approach creates some fantastic wines that are not only free from unnatural additives (goodbye headaches!) but allow the full beauty of the grapes to be showcased as they were meant to be.

Crafting these wines begins in the vineyard. Since the winemaker will not be relying on additives to enhance the flavors of the wine, the care and feeding of the vines makes a huge impact.

While there are plenty of wineries in Washington, there are not a lot where the wine is grown and bottled right on the estate. Being able to walk the vineyard, taste the grapes that will become this year’s vintage, and compare to previous year’s for contrast on the impact of weather and age – that is a fantastic way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

The event closed out with a lunch prepared with ingredients from the estate’s on-premise garden and complimented by an array of wines to compare.

Hedges Winery often hosts events such as this one. If you live in Tri-Cities or are planning to visit soon, check out their events page and reserve out some time to visit them. While you are there, take some time to wander the premise as they have a beautiful property as well as an amazing garden.

SUP and Sunsets

The desert of Tri-Cities, WA offers up some of the most spectacular sunsets, and that twilight time of day is absolutely perfect in summer time. The temperature drops from the daytime blistering heat to a comfortable cool breeze, the crickets step up to their stage and begin their chorus, and everything seems to just take a long slow exhale into a restful state.

Often I will take in this perfect moment of the day on my porch with a glass of wine from one of our local Red Mountain AVA wineries. But recently I tried a new way to enjoy these sunsets – a new experience, and one that I enjoyed so much I plan to add to my inventory of “go to” summer activities. A moonlight SUP tour with Northwest Paddleboarding.

The tour begins right before sunset at the east end of Columbia Park .

Everything is provided, including these absolutely awesome LED lit paddles! And at this time of day most everyone has left the water for the evening leaving it smooth as glass and a perfect medium to reflect the sunset and the rising moon.

You will follow the shoreline down to Clover Island where the Cable Bridge lights offer another dramatic view which can only be experienced and appreciated from the water.

As you round the island into the marina, be prepared for the night life of the boat house parties – I had no idea how alive and festive the marina was at night!

When you finish the tour, walk over to Ice Harbor Brewer to enjoy some local brewed beer and great food. Or if you would like something simpler and lighter – try the blue food truck – Rollin, which serves fresh ice cream.

What…SUP?

I love the water. It may be partly because I spent many hours of my childhood years on a boat in Puget Sound – being on water brings back fond memories. It calms me. And this effect is backed by science. For this reason, I am drawn to just about every kind of water sport there is. Swimming, Kayaking, scuba diving. But I had never tried Stand Up Paddle boarding (SUP) until recently. Something about trying to balance on a board, on the water, just seemed intimidating. But I finally got my courage up to rent a board and give it a try, and I am so glad I did. Surprisingly it is not as hard as it looks. And I must say, I was relieved to find out I could start by kneeling first and work my way up from there!

The Columbia River runs through the heart of Tri-Cities, Washington and provides the perfect course for paddle boarding. If you live here, or are visiting, then Northwest Paddle Boarding, located in Howard Amon Park, is your go-to spot whether this is your first time trying SUP or you are a seasoned expert. They offer rentals, classes, tours, even SUP Yoga – which I have decided I must try soon!

The rentals are reasonably priced and located right at the park for a quick and convenient way to enjoy an hour or two of that calming happiness that water brings. Even little ones can quickly get the hang of this. And when you are done – wander over to the outdoor eatery and pick up an ice cream or snow cone!

If you have already tried SUP a few times then I recommend you sign up for one of their tours. I recently did the tour from Leslie Groves to Columbia Point.

This is a great way to spend an afternoon with your friends, make some new friends, and enjoy time out in the sun and water. You may even get a chance to see some wildlife close up.

Everything you need is provided, and the tour guides do a great job at pacing the tour to match everyone’s comfort level. The tour ends at Lulu’s followed by a complimentary drink. I can’t think of a better way to spend a summer afternoon!

Kayaking Nelson Island

If you love nature, water, and sunshine, then I highly recommend that you try Kayaking in Tri-Cities, WA. With an average 300 days of sunshine combined by three large rivers converging in the heart of the cities, this place provides numerous opportunities to enjoy this sport.

For those that want something appropriate for beginner level and a chance for some up close wildlife viewing, I recommend Nelson Island in the Columbia River. This island is directly across from Leslie Groves park in Richland, WA. A trip around the island will take approximately one hour at a leisurely pace.

There are several places along the park where you can easily launch a kayak. Once you do, head north to the tip of the island – the current here can be strong so you will need to put some muscle in your paddle – but it is shallow around the tip and only takes a few minutes to pass across it to the downstream East side. You will definitely want to follow this navigational path so that you can slow down and drift the East side of the island where you are most likely to see wildlife. The river is shallow here which keeps boats at bay providing a great route for kayaks, as well as providing an environment that local wildlife find attractive.

About half way down the East side of the island you will find a small cove – watch closely as you are likely to see deer!

When you are finished with your Kayaking trip, head South down George Washington Way to Lulu’s Craft Bar & Kitchen to enjoy food sourced from local farms. They have a great deck overlooking the Columbia River from which you can enjoy some of their unique craft cocktails – I recommend the Lulu Lady, it is one of my favorites!

Travel Abroad – in your home town

Some of my best memories revolve around food. Family around the dinner table sharing stories of the day over fragrant dishes. Parties where I reconnected with friends over delicious wine and hand-held hors d’oeuvres. These served as the foundation for my love of cooking, which over the years has turned into my passion. If you ask me what my best day would be, it’s gathering fresh food from my garden to prepare for an outdoor dinner with my family and closest friends. Spending the evening drinking wine, laughing, and reconnecting under the stars on a warm summer night. That is my perfect day.

I would love to travel to Italy to take a cooking class, tour the wineries, and enjoy the delicious cheese and pastas. This, my friends, is one of my bucket list items! So when I heard about an Italian cooking class at a local winery I had to give it a try, and I am so glad that I did.

Hedges Winery in Benton City Washington not only has wine that is well worth the trip to the tasting room, but they also offer cooking class events for their wine club members. I signed up for an Italian cooking lesson provided by Dave Adlard, chef and owner of Candle In the Woods http://candleinthewoods.com/. There is an old Irish proverb that says “Laughter is the brightest in the place where the food is.” There is wisdom in that statement . I believe there is something very powerful, almost magical, in preparing and sharing a good dish and a bottle of wine. A room of complete strangers will quickly becomes friends when they may have never connected in any other type of setting. And having a great chef to lead the way with instruction and a few great jokes added even more to the experience.

I left with some great recipes, a terrific bottle of wine, and excitement about this opportunity to travel abroad in my home town. After all, that is what this whole blog started out as – an idea that I could enjoy the same adventure as a travel and food blogger by starting small.

A travel mindset

Writing about travel is, at its core, writing about new experiences. I have been discovered that I can investigate new places and write about these new experiences without traveling far. In fact, this week I visited a place right in my own home town that I had never been to before, a beautiful spot that I had been missing out on.

Located along the Yakima river is the Chamna Natural Preserve – a park of over 276 acres with miles of trails zig zagging their way through native plants and tunnels of trees. Walking through the River Path trail is like standing in the middle of a choir of birds. It’s a perfect way to ease into the weekend.

In the late afternoon, with the sun setting low in the sky, the beams shining through the leaves and onto the river provide the perfect backdrop – a place to rest and release all the stress of the day.

If you are ever in Richland, Washington and are looking for a short hike into nature check out this park. But there is a secret to this experience – you must follow the River Path trail – any other path will bring you through the middle of sagebrush and you’ll wonder why I ever suggested this hike! Follow the entrance closest to the river, then take a right at every fork on the trail. You won’t be disappointed!

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