Seattle/Woodinville, Washington Wine Country

Chateau St. Michelle Outdoor Adventures Fishing & Boating Sea Kayaking Arts & Culture

Woodinville Wine Country.

 Savor passionately crafted wines at the boutique wineries and friendly tasting rooms in the Woodinville Wine Country. Nestled in the Sammamish River Valley, Woodinville is a charming haven for wine makers and is blessed with 40 wonderful wineries with a variety of celebrated wines that dazzle wine lovers. Experience a wine tasting adventure - from the magnificent, historical grounds of Chateau St. Michelle to small boutique wineries like Monolith, DeLille, Des Voigne Cellars, Edmonds Winery and Hollywood Hill Vineyards. Washington State’s first premium winery and one of the largest in the state, Columbia Winery uses European vinifera vines to produce new varietals of distinctive wines such as Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Semillon, Pinot Gris, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Visit.www.woodinvillewinecountry.com or www.winesnw.com/woodinville.html.

Chateau St. Michelle.

 The oldest winery located in Washington, Chateau Ste. Michelle is a French-style chateau in Woodinville with the most mature vineyards in the Columbia Valley. Pioneering vinifera grape growing in the Valley, Chateau Ste. Michelle combines modern viticultural research with classic winemaking traditions to create remarkable merlot, cabernet, chardonnay, and riesling wines - a pure expression of the Valley. Chateau Ste. Michelle has received accolades, including “American Winery of the Year 2004” from Wine Enthusiast Magazine and “2005 Winery of the Year” by Restaurant Wine Magazine. The historic winery offers tasting tours of its wine cellars and barrel aging rooms. Explore the 1912 estate of Seattle lumber baron Frederick Stimson, which still stands on the beautiful winery grounds and is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Visit www.ste-michelle.com

Red Hook Brewery.

 Tour the charming Red Hook Brewery in Woodinville, WA, and savor some delicious Red Hook Ale. The wonderful microbrewery features beautiful grounds and the Forescasters Pub where you can throw down tasty Redhook ales, pub-style fare and entertainment. See how Redhook ale is crafted using passionate brewing methods and state-oft-the-art machines. Www.Redhook.com [Top]

Seattle, Washington Outdoor Adventures.

 Whether you climb the massive flanks of the Cascade volcanoes or kayak the myriad of snow-melt waterways, the Puget Sound region offers endless outdoor activities and boundless adventures. Enjoy hiking Mt. Rainier, fishing off the Pacific Coast, kayaking on Elliot Bay, Lake Union or Lake Washington and let your spirit roam free!

Hiking & Climbing.

 Just beyond Seattle, the Mount Rainier foothills and countryside is a beautiful and challenging hiking and climbing destination in spring and summer. Bolt for the hills and mountains to explore awesome hiking trails and mountain climbs. If you crave rugged adventure, trek to Rainier's 14,411-foot summit. Www.mount.rainier.national-park.com [Top]

Fishing & Boating.

 Cast your sport fishing lines in the deep waters of Washington's Pacific Coast. Angle the crystal-clear trout streams of the Cascades Mountain and Olympics. Enjoy a relaxing day of fishing, boating, and sailing on Lake Washington. The Seattle Area is one of the nation’s top fishing destinations for tuna, salmon, steelhead, trout, and halibut.

Whitewater Rafting.

 With a myriad of mountain and snow-fed waterways, lakes, and rivers, the Seattle Area offers action-packed whitewater rafting and kayaking. Rafters flock to the forest-lined Skykomish River and wide, sun-kissed Wenatchee River for fast white adventures and rollicking rapids. [Top]

Sea Kayaking.

 Enjoy a Seattle sea kayaking adventure on the area’s beautiful lakes, rivers and wetland trails. Escape from civilization on Seattle's Lake Union and Elliott Bay, or paddle north to the serenity of the San Juan Islands. Stunning scenery and amazing paddling is a water lover’s nirvana.

Scuba Diving.

 Encounter sixgill sharks and 8-foot octopi as you dive the very deep waters of Puget Sound - one of the most diverse aquatic ecosystems in North America. Puget Sound is an excellent scuba diving destination - from West Seattle's Alki Beach to the San Juan Islands - with magical underwater landscapes and a diversity of marine life. [Top]

Kirkland / Seattle Arts & Culture

Kirkland Performance Center - www.kpcenter.org

• Kirkland Art Galleries - www.explorekirkland.com/kirkland_arts.cfm
• Village Theater -www.villagetheatre.org
• Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra - www.Bellevuephil.org
• Bellevue Arts Museum - www.Bellevuearts.org
• The 5th Avenue Theater - www.5thavenue.org
• Paramount Theatre - www.theparamount.com
• Seattle Symphony - www.seattlesymphony.org
• Seattle Opera - www.seattleopera.org Museum of Glass - www.museumofglass.org
• Pacific Northwest Ballet - www.pnb.org

Seattle & Kirkland Shopping

• Kirkland Farmer’s Market - www.kirklandwednesdaymarket.org
• Kirkland Park Place - www.kirklandparkplace.com
• Redmond Town Center -www.redmondtowncenter.com
• Alderwood Mall - www.alderwoodmall.com
• Bellevue Collection - Lincoln Square/ Bellevue Place/ Bellevue Square - www.Bellevuesquare.com

Seattle & Kirkland Area Day Trips

• Argosy Cruises - www.argosycruises.com
• Kenmore Air - www.Kenmoreair.com
• Pacific Parasail - www.pacificparasail.net/
• Washington State Ferries - www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries
• San Juan Islands - www.sanjuanisland.org
• Skagit Valley Tulip Festival - www.tulipfestival.org
• Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (Tacoma) - www.Pdza.org [Top]