Lindsay Taub

Tractor fun at Knapps

One of the reasons I love to travel is that we get to live in the present and explore a new place. It’s like being a kid again – curious about every aroma, every person, every taste, and anticipating what’s around every corner.

This fall, I visited Spokane, Washington. A fan of the Pacific Northwest in general, I assumed I would enjoy experiencing the Fall Harvest there. And I sure did! What I didn’t expect was just how much I would enjoy it.

Now two months later, I’m still thinking about the trip, savoring the last bit of Caramel Spiced Pear Butter I purchased at Harvest House, dreaming of Honey Crisp Apples picked fresh off the tree at Walter’s Farm, and wishing I lived in a place where I had enough land to build my very own Punkin’ Chunkin’ canon! Or, at the very least, build a slide where I could shoot down into a “sand box” of dried peas!

Here is my top five list of things to do while in Spokane:

1) Visit the farms on Greenbluffs. From apples and cherries to peaches and squash, these farms have it all. Try the pies, the ciders, and take some fresh goodies home! My favorites: Walter’s Fruit Farm, Knapps, and Harvest House.

2) Dine at one of the farm-to-table restaurants around town to experience the local flair and flavorings. Some suggestions: Masselow’s, Vintages at 611, and The Downriver Grill.

3) Go big or go home at Northern Quest Resort & Casino! From the casino’s wide range of table games and upscale cigar bar to the Q, their sports bar complete with a 30-foot HD television and a 22-inch hot dog, they’ve got it all, with luxury and style too. My recommendation: after a day of play, head to their Current Spa for a Pend Orielle River Stone Massage.

4) Visit the Kalispel Tribe‘s ancestral land in Usk, Washington, where you can see the buffalo herd, walk the land, check out a pow-wow (if your timing is right!), and venture through the land’s vast caves and grottos. Of all the native tribes in the U.S., this one is one of the most impressive, keeping its ancient heritage alive, reviving its spirit, and most importantly, giving back to the community in spades.

5) Go wine tasting! A multitude of award-winning wines have been coming out of the Spokane Valley. Some of the best to try: family owned & operated Townshend Cellars, Arbor Crest (which has one of the best 360 degree views of the valley around), and Barrister, which boasts “train-aged” wine from their downtown barrel room located under the train tracks.

Kalispel Reservation

*Bonus: If you’re there in October, don’t miss:

• Punkin’ Chunkin’ at Knapps Farm
• The Corn Ear shooting gallery at Walter’s, where your target is, what else, a pumpkin!
• Pumpkin Donuts at Harvest House.

For the full Spokane report, read my story on JohnnyJet.com by clicking here!

Tags: Fall, Farm-to-Table, featured, Organic Farming, Spokane, Washington, Wine, Wine tasting

Posted in Food & Wine, Travel |