Discover Walla Walla: Culture, Trails, and Tasting Rooms

Walla Walla combines regional history with art, outdoor experiences, and a strong tasting-room culture. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose between museums and historic buildings, self-guided tours, paved trails, and excursions around Bennington Lake. A vacation rental or holiday home in Walla Walla can be selected according to your preferred focus: Are you looking for cultural experiences, outdoor activities, or the distinctive atmosphere of the tasting rooms?

Cultural History in Museums and Historic Buildings

The Fort Walla Walla Museum is located on the grounds of a 19th-century military fort. Its exhibitions cover early contact between American settlers and Indigenous communities in the Walla Walla Valley, as well as the development of agriculture. The museum also includes Pioneer Village, with 17 buildings: 15 original buildings from within a 30-mile radius of Walla Walla and two reconstructions. This allows you to explore historical topics not only through exhibitions but also through a variety of building types.

Another cultural highlight is the Kirkman House Museum. The large residence was completed in 1880 by William and Isabelle Kirkman. Today, the museum presents permanent and changing exhibitions, as well as events on the early history of Walla Walla and Victorian daily life. Those traveling with different interests can complement their museum visit with the self-guided Whitman College Outdoor Sculpture Walk. The tour leads across the Whitman College campus and includes 21 sculptures.

The Gesa Power House Theatre also combines history and the performing arts. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and on the list of state-protected historic buildings maintained by the Washington State Building Preservation Commission. It is housed in a 120-year-old former gasworks building that was converted into a theater for live performances in 2011. As a performing arts venue, it has 300 seats and is located in downtown Walla Walla.

Lake, Trails, and Landscape

For a trip that includes nature, Bennington Lake offers a different perspective on the surroundings. The lake is located in southeastern Washington State, a few minutes from historic downtown Walla Walla, and offers views of the northern Blue Mountains. Activities at Bennington Lake include hiking, fishing, and paddling. This selection is therefore suitable for days when you want to experience exercise and the landscape differently than during a museum or city visit.

The paved Mill Creek Trail runs through Walla Walla and leads toward Rooks Park and the area around Bennington Lake. The Walla Walla Valley also has paved cycling paths through historic neighborhoods and agriculturally oriented areas. Depending on your travel plans, you can therefore make a cultural tour, a bicycle route, or time by the water the focus of your stay. The Pioneer Park Aviary complements this area with an entertaining and educational exhibition of waterfowl and land birds; its corresponding mission was established in 1986.

Tasting Rooms and Regional Orientation

In downtown Walla Walla, tasting rooms are located in historic buildings along Main Street and in the surrounding blocks. There are more than 30 tasting rooms within walking distance. If you prefer this type of city stay, you can pay particular attention to Walla Walla as a base when searching for accommodation. For an understanding of the wider wine region, it is important to note that wineries and tasting rooms in the Walla Walla Valley are spread across six major districts.

Getting around the city can also be arranged conveniently: The Walla Walla Valley Transit Center is located directly next to the Downtown Farmers Market, so visitors can arrive by bus. For another local page, you can also visit Touchet.

For the higher-level travel overview: Walla Walla.