Located in the heart of Washington Wine Country, the Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Pasco and Richland) are nestled in the southeastern corner of the state and offer a sun-drenched retreat for exploration and rejuvenation. You can find waterfront hotels, relaxing spas, delicious local eateries and farmers markets, and award-winning wineries. This underrated Washington destination is beautiful any time of year, and is just a short three hour drive from Seattle and Portland. You can also fly into the Tri-Cities Airport, with direct flights to and from 10 major hubs.

Where to Stay

The Lodge at Columbia Point is a beautiful 82-room boutique hotel situated on the Columbia Point Marina. This riverfront hotel is one of Richland’s best hotels, and the area’s only 4-star property. The Lodge is warm and welcoming, with timeless architecture and stunning water views. It’s centrally located, making for the perfect central hub in the Tri-Cities region, whether you’re traveling for leisure or business. Amenities include an onsite restaurant, a full bar with an extensive wine list, spa services, a gym, an outdoor covered pool and hot tub, and the adjacent River Walk (the Lodge offers complimentary cruiser bikes for guests if interested!). One of our favorite things about The Lodge at Columbia Point is that it’s dog friendly! We were so happy we could bring our pup on the weekend adventure with us. Another fun touch is that in honor of being in the heart of wine country, every room at The Lodge at Columbia Point is dedicated to a different winery or vineyard within Washington state. With all of these special touches and amenities, you’ll feel right at home at this cozy hotel.

Where to Eat + Drink

Located inside The Lodge at Columbia Point hotel is their signature restaurant Drumheller’s Food & Drink, which celebrates southeast Washington’s abundant agriculture, diverse tastes, and acclaimed viticulture. Drumheller’s offers seasonal brunch and dinner menus that feature the freshest local ingredients. Brunch favorites include the Banana Bread French Toast, the Palouse Eggs Benedict, and the Columbia Valley Omelet with Walla Walla sweet onions, bell peppers, bacon lardons, and white cheddar. If you’re visiting Drumheller’s for dinner, come with an appetite because they have plenty of delicious appetizers like the Harissa Prawns, Arancini, and Smoked Gouda Fondue. Their salads feature seasonal ingredients like brussel sprouts and roasted squash, as well as beets and whipped chevre. Favorite entrees are the Mushroom Risotto, the Pan Seared Steelhead, and the Porcini Rubbed Ribeye. For those with a sweet tooth, there are lots of great dessert options, including the Raspberry Limoncello Creme Brulee and the Honey Lavender Cheesecake. Drumheller’s has an excellent selection of craft cocktails in addition to their impressive Washington wine list.

Another great spot to have lunch or dinner in the Tri Cities is Dovetail Joint Restaurant in Richland. Dovetail Joint offers fresh, locally sourced made-from-scratch food, and it is absolutely worth a visit. The menu features global fare with a twist, with dishes like the Khachapuri, a brick oven baked Georgian cheese bread, Korean chicken wings with kimchi, wood fired pizzas, and Baja fish tacos. Our personal favorite is the mezze platter with lamb (or falafel!), which comes with your choice of two spreads, local veg, zhug, and brick oven pita. We opted for the baba ganoush and muhamarra spreads and they were incredibly flavorful. The menu at Dovetail Joint rotates seasonally, but a staple menu item is the Sicilian donuts and they are a must try! They are perfectly soft and doughy. Dovetail Joint also has an impressive arrangement of cocktails and mocktails, like the hibiscus gin sour and the Mexican chocolate espresso martini (so good!).

Perfect for a quick lunch and beer, Ice Harbor Brewery is serving up tasty pub food, award-winning brews, and people from all walks of life sharing a love of fine, handcrafted ales and lagers. Located in Kennewick, Ice Harbor has two locations: one in the marina, and one in the market. You can’t go wrong with either. We visited the one in the market and it was fantastic. The beer list has everything a beer lover could want: IPAs, red ales, brown ales, stouts, and more. Ice Harbor has an array of burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and salads, so there really is something for everyone. The guacamole bacon burger, classic Reuben, and shrimp po boy are a few of our favorites. Ice Harbor has a great selection of appetizers to share as well, like the pulled pork nachos, fried pickles, and cheesy creole fries. We also love the hand dipped, Kolsch beer-battered cod that’s deep fried to perfection and served with a tangy slaw. Enjoy your meal on their patio on a sunny day!

Must-Visit Wineries

Barnard Griffin Winery began in 1983 with borrowed grapes and a rented cellar, and was the dream of founders Deborah Barnard and Rob Griffin. It has since become one of Washington’s most enduring and award-winning wineries, and is definitely worth a visit. Barnard Griffin prides themselves on quality, consistency, and character, and remains a family-owned and operated winery today. They have a lovely selection of red, white, and rosé wines. Their Richland tasting room is gorgeous and they offer cheese and charcuterie platters along with small plates and desserts.

Situated just a few minutes walking from Barnard Griffin is another fantastic winery called J. Bookwalter. J. Bookwalter’s main tasting room and winemaking facility are located in the heart of Tri-Cities wine country in Richland, where there are stunning views and exemplary service complemented by a cellar boasting the finest collection of wines. You’re in for a treat here, with the sleek tasting room that resembles a library and reading room, and the wines following a similar theme with clever names like the Notebook Red and Readers Syrah. J. Bookwalter has a rich history, with ten generations of the Bookwalter family having been involved in American agriculture, but it was Jerry Bookwalter, generation nine and father of current company president John Bookwalter, who led the family into viticulture. J. Bookwalter specializes in producing some of Washington’s finest wines through meticulous winemaking and exceptional vineyard sources. The winery’s tasting room in Richland includes a full-service restaurant, Fiction, and was named one of the best tasting rooms in the United States by Sunset magazine.

Activities

Explore a local dog park. The Tri-Cities are super dog friendly, and we loved that we were able to bring our pup on this trip with us. Having him with us made the weekend all the more special. One of the best spots to go with your dog is Paws-abilities Place, located at Badger Mountain Community Park.

Walk along the Columbia River on the Richland Riverfront Trail. The trail begins right outside The Lodge, along Columbia Point Marina Park to USS Triton Submarine Memorial Park in the north. The Richland Riverfront Trail offers seven miles of scenic paved trail immediately adjacent to the roaring Columbia River. This trail is dog friendly and is great for biking as well.

Get a massage at The Columbia Point Spa. We enjoyed a 60 minute relaxation massage and it was incredible. I’ve gotten a lot of massages over the years, and this was one of the best I’ve ever had! We left the Tri-Cities feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, and ready to take on the following work week. The spa also offers hot stone massages and facials.

Shop at The Public Market at Columbia River Warehouse (CRW), one of the Tri Cities’ best kept secrets! The Public Market at CRW is an indoor, year-round marketplace that features over 60 local artisans and food producers under one roof. Come and experience the freshest and finest locally sourced foods, crafts, and specialty items.

Happy traveling!