A getaway, whether planned in advance or impromptu, is top of mind for all of us these days. But weekend stays are harder to book without more advance planning. Hotel rooms and accommodations book up further in advance for weekend stays, the best reservation times are snatched up earlier, and more people tend to be out and about on the weekends, potentially creating less access to the activities you want to do most when you visit. Here are five reasons Walla Walla is the best place for a mid-week getaway!
1. Stay where you like (and save)
In general, hotel and vacation rental rates are typically lower for Sunday-Thursday stays than they are Friday and Saturday night. Some properties, like The FINCH in downtown Walla Walla, offer seasonal incentives for travel (think “Spring Break-away”), and even with these incentives, you’ll find that Sunday – Thursday stays are discounted even greater than Friday and Saturday.
Room selection is better mid-week, too. At Eritage Resort, the bungalows with private decks overlooking Lake Sienna are easier to book when you choose to stay Sunday-Thursday. The Barn B&B is another great option with globally inspired 3-course breakfasts every day of the week plus a welcome drink of wine as soon as you arrive reminding you that you are in the heart of Washington wine country.
If where you stay is important to you, and you’d rather not pay more for the same amazing room or vacation rental, then a mid-week getaway to Walla Walla is your best bet.
2. Everything you love doing on a weekend, with fewer people
From winery tasting rooms to breweries, tee times at your favorite golf course, fine dining, even art galleries and culture, just about everything you love doing on a weekend is open during your mid-week getaway in Walla Walla.
You can make a reservation for fine dining on a Monday at standout restaurants like Hattaway’s on Alder or Passatempo, Tuesday and Wednesday at Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen and TMACS.
Wine Valley Golf Course, ranked #3 of the best golf courses in Washington State by GOLF Magazine’s expert course raters, offers a Burgers & Brew special Tuesdays and Wednesdays during peak season. Play 18 holes with cart, and enjoy a classic burger & a domestic beer, all for just $100.
The Gesa Power House Theatre is currently doing weekly Friday night film showings with an encore showing on Wednesday nights. These are thought-provoking films you wouldn’t see anywhere else, shown in a historic venue, and sure to be a memorable part of your mid-week getaway in Walla Walla.
The Walla Walla Symphony holds monthly concerts on Tuesday nights. If a night of beautiful music from the longest-running symphony west of the Mississippi is a must on your itinerary, well, then you need to plan your visit mid-week.
Beginning in May, Revelry Vintners will be hosting weekly Woodfired Wednesdays on their beautiful and spacious lawn. Their award-winning wines paired with Fiasco Pizza truck’s mouthwatering pizza are a great mid-week respite from a busy day of hiking, biking, golf, art galleries, shopping… you get the idea.
Starting May 6th, your Walla Walla Thursday nights are spoken for until September! Thursday Night Lights begin at The INK! Eternal Wines and Drink Washington State will present live music and a food truck, a new band and truck every week. This inside/outside event with social distancing is perfect for all ages, just bring chairs or a blanket to sit on.
3. Reservations make planning your mid-week getaway so much easier
If there is one silver lining from the pandemic’s impact on restaurants and wineries, it’s the necessity of a solid reservation system. Now, you can book your tastings well in advance, both at winery tasting rooms AND at your favorite fine dining establishments. No more rolling the dice on whether your must-visit winery is open when you drop in, and no surprise mid-week rushes making it more difficult to enjoy a seated tasting.
If a mid-week day of wine tasting is on your agenda, plan for about an hour and a half between appointments to provide plenty of time for your tour or tasting and traveling to the next destination. Better yet, work with one of our incredible tour companies like The Touring Co, Walla Walla Brews Cruise or Tesla Winery Tours to whisk you from destination to destination and even plan your itinerary in advance.
4. Work-cation
More and more of us are working remotely, which makes a mid-week work-cation all the more realistic. Walla Walla’s lodging destinations offer great “remote work” set ups with incredible views to increase your creativity. Fun activities like indoor virtual golf at Divots are within walking distance of downtown lodging partners like the Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center. Paddleboarding on Lake Sienna is just outside your door when you stay at Eritage Resort. “Taking a break” just got a whole lot more exciting when you plan your mid-week work-cation in Walla Walla.
5. Edu-cation
Parents with children tuning in remotely for some (if not all) of their schooling can also more realistically break away from the normal grind and take an edu-cation in Walla Walla. Walla Walla has a rich history on full display at the Fort Walla Walla Museum and at Whitman Mission, both great day trips for a full-immersion learning experience with kids of all ages.
Plan your mid-week getaway to Walla Walla
Walla Walla is a wonderful getaway destination in any season. Plan your spring break in Walla Walla when bud break in the vineyards is just beginning. Or book a summer vacation in Walla Walla to take advantage of the many outdoor recreation activities, from hiking and biking to horseback riding and golf. Visiting in the fall offers beautiful colors, mild temperatures, and the excitement of wine country harvest. And Walla Walla is a winter wonderland, with Ski Bluewood only 45 minutes away, a festive and charming downtown shopping scene, and vibrant arts and culture. Plan your mid-week visit to Walla Walla in any (or all) of the seasons and take advantage of great room rates and availability, fantastic activities and fine dining, and convenient scheduling and reservations at nearly all the must-see spots. Work-cation, edu-cation, or regular old vacation, make Walla Walla your destination.