Many thanks to all the writers, destination marketers, presenters, and editors who traveled to Yakima to attend Travel & Words 2018! You helped make this year our best yet. We hope to see you at the Heathman Lodge in Vancouver, WA for the 2019 conference.
photo: Carrie Uffindell
Tri-Cities Pre-Conference FAM Trip
Friday, April 20 – Sunday, April 22, 2018
Experience Tri-Cities, a growing metropolitan area in southeastern Washington where visitors enjoy everything from outdoor recreation to award-winning Washington wine. With more than 300 sun-filled days a year, the Tri-Cities is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway. Join Visit Tri-Cities for two days of inspired cuisine, unique experiences and interesting story angles that will appeal to a variety of editors and publications.
Day One is all about Washington wine in the Tri-Cities! We’ll explore the highlights of the Heart of Washington Wine Country: vineyard tour of Washington’s largest contiguous vineyard, a visit to the newly opened Columbia Gardens Urban Wine & Artisan Village along the Columbia River’s historic waterfront, an authentic wine tasting experience on Red Mountain and dinner at Zagat-rated winery restaurants. Just after one day in the Tri-Cities you will understand why we’re known as the Heart of Washington Wine Country!
Day Two begins with outdoor exploration. Enjoy the scenic river shores from a kayak or a guided hike during wildflower season. After lunch on the waterfront, solve a series of clues to escape a puzzle room. Watch a spectacular Tri-Cities sunset aboard a luxury yacht while enjoying a four-course dinner.
Start Day Three with sunrise yoga in the Columbia Point Marina. After reaching inner bliss, check out of the hotel and head to the Country Mercantile, featuring local products and specialty food items, for farm fresh shopping and lunch. The Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center will be the last stop before heading to Yakima for the Travel & Words Conference.
Attendees will enjoy hosted waterfront accommodations, meals and activities. Attendees must provide their own transportation to the Tri-Cities, approximately a one hour drive from Yakima.
To return to the main Media Trips page, click here.
Walla Walla Valley Post-Conference FAM Trip
Tuesday, April 24 – Thursday, April 26, 2018
Walla Walla has been called many things, from the town so nice they named it twice, to the capital of Washington wine country. Join us as we explore the wine, culinary, and cultural assets that helped land Walla Walla on Travel + Leisure magazine’s list of the 50 Best Places to travel in 2018. As one of only nine U.S. destinations to make the list, Walla Walla earned praise from the magazine as “the next must-visit destination for oenophiles, golfers, and cyclists.”
Whether it’s wine, food, culture, recreation or all of the above that piques your interest, you’ll sample the very best that Walla Walla has to offer through private winery tours and tastings, chef-driven culinary experiences, historic and cultural immersion, and naturalist-led outdoor excursions. Along the way you’ll get to see Walla Walla as you’ve never seen it before, and you’ll get to know the growers, purveyors, producers, makers, and other personalities who call Walla Walla home. It’s a behind-the-scenes look into what makes Walla Walla special, and one that will give not only you, but ultimately your readers, viewers, listeners, followers, and fans, a rare opportunity to experience Walla Walla through a unique lens that will leave a lasting impression.
Participants must provide their own transportation to and from Walla Walla, which is slightly more than two hours from Yakima.
To return to the main Media Trips page, click here.
Ellensburg Post-Conference FAM Trip
Tuesday, April 24 – Thursday, April 26, 2018
On day one, experience the best of the Ellensburg art scene as your hosts guide you through a tour of local galleries, street art, and museums full of Ellensburg’s rich history. Then, top off the night wandering through charming downtown as you head to dinner at one of the local restaurants.
Day two will start with brunch and then it will be all about the brews. Ellensburg has a bustling community of must-try breweries that call this small town home. Ironhorse Brewery and Whipsaw Brewery are just some of the stops on this adventure. Ellensburg is located less than an hour from Yakima.
Ellensburg was just named one of the 10 Best Affordable Places to Live, 2018 by Livability.com!
After the conference, FAM trip participants must provide their own transportation from Yakima to Ellensburg.
To return to the main Media Trips page, click here.
Yakima Valley Post-Conference FAM Trip
Tuesday, April 24 – Thursday, April 26, 2018
Come to the source of 75% of the nation’s hops! The fields will be in prep mode for the summer growing season, getting ready for their fall debut in some of the best fresh hopped beers you can find. We’ll tour where craft brewers and home brewers source their ingredients, taste the sweeter side of hops, enjoy lunch at a downtown local favorite and tour the only brewery in Washington located in an active hop field.
After a full day, we will head up to the mountains and enjoy a night among the stars. Relax in a cabin along the Naches River and savor a home cooked dinner with local brews and a cozy campfire. Start the day off with breakfast, an optional morning hike, and then we will head out of the hills to Naches for some local brew and pizza. Before our trip is over, we will venture to a couple of Yakima’s newest breweries to see how they use our valleys’ hops to create unique and flavorful brews.
Lodging is provided Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Wednesday lunch and dinner are provided. Thursday breakfast and lunch are provided.
To return to the main Media Trips page, click here.