What to Do in Walla Walla

The actual ceremony will last just over two hours, and the reception should be done in fifteen minutes. So what are you going to do with the rest of your weekend? This is the first of three posts with some suggestions, 'Where to Eat', and 'Places we Didn't Necessarily Forget' will follow.

Whitman Mission: One man’s massacre is another’s National Historic Site. In 1847, someone stepped on someone’s shoe, one thing led to another, and missionaries Narcissa and Marcus Whitman and many others were killed. Things are pretty much under control these days, so you’ll be able to enjoy the history, including actual wheel ruts from the Oregon Trail...Sorry, not the computer game.

Whitman College campus: See the campus that produced TVs Batman, Face from the A-Team, and, ugh, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas. Feel free to grab one of the Whitman alumni attending the wedding and they will be more than happy to lead you on a complete seven hour campus tour. 535 Boyer Ave.

Sunsets in the Wheatfields: Drive towards the hills, and then sit and watch as the sun disappears behind rolling fields of wheat. How does everything not catch on fire?

Main Street: Running from a statue of Marcus Whitman to the Mexico border, Main Street features boutiques and wine tasting rooms located next to Christian supply shops, along with the increasingly popular abandoned storefront covered in paper. Main Street is also home to a great independent music store Hot Poop, Baker Boyer the state’s first bank (as of today it has not been turned into a Chase branch), and the Reynolds Building where Washington officially became a state in 1889. Main Street information.

Gerry Matthews Black Door Gallery and Museum of Un-Natural History: Friend of the wedding Gerry has put together a unique collection of art. He has destroyed many toys to build his wonderful creations, and the result can only be described as a kaleidoscope of the world around you. Free and open Saturday from 10 until 4pm. 4 1/2West Main Street.

Waitsburg – For those who grow tired of the hustle and bustle of Walla Walla this town is a beautiful thirty minute drive away, and features a small town Main Street out of central casting that has some pretty amazing restaurants which we will discuss later.

The Ten Million Wineries: The discovery of wine deep in the hills surrounding Walla Walla changed the region forever. Some of the best wine in the country is being produced here, and you can’t throw a picnic bench in downtown without hitting a tasting room. Or you can venture into the valley and walk among the grape vines. Complete map here.

Shady Lawn Antiques aka The Creamery: An antique/vintage store with actual cool stuff. Sarah still talks about the time she found a 1985 mesh back Mariners hat for only five dollars. 711 N. Rose Street.

Washington State Penitentiary: Only one of two places in America where it’s legal to hang someone!