Food Worth a Drive in Washington State: Farms and Coast

Food worth a drive in Washington State is organized by region, and the state's food trails make the routes easy to follow. West of the mountains, the Skagit Valley and the Olympic Peninsula offer tidal flats, farms and a long coast. East of the Cascades, the Yakima Valley is farm country with a taco and tamale trail.

What counts as food worth a drive in Washington State?

A meal tied to a farm, a tide or a tradition. Washington's food trails cover wine, beer, seafood and farms. The best drives pair a landscape with a meal.

Weather matters. West of the Cascades it rains often, and east of them it is dry, so pack layers. Passes can close in winter, and ferries run to a schedule, so plan around them.

The state is also surprisingly big. Seattle to Yakima is a few hours by road, and Seattle to Leavenworth is similar, so a day trip is realistic only if you leave early. A weekend allows two regions, and a week allows the whole loop. Choose based on the season and your appetite for driving.

What is the Skagit Valley known for?

Skagit Valley food centers on farms and tidal flats. The Skagit Food Trail offers three itineraries: Grains for Change, Tidal Tastings and Flowers and Farms. The valley is flat and fertile, with fields that bloom in spring and farm stands that open in summer.

A drive here suits a slow day. Stop at stands, taste what is in season and bring a cooler. Some farms keep seasonal schedules, so ask at the first stand what is open. In spring the tulip fields draw large crowds, so expect traffic on weekends. Farm stands in summer sell berries, peas and sweet corn, and fall brings pumpkins and apples. Winter is quieter, but the shellfish are at their best in the cold.

Is the Olympic Peninsula food loop worth it?

Olympic Peninsula food is the reason to drive Highway 101. The Olympic Culinary Loop circles the peninsula and offers farm-fresh produce, just-caught seafood and craft beverages. The loop is hundreds of miles, so plan several days.

You do not need the whole loop. Pick a stretch, such as the north coast around Port Angeles, and spend a day. Farm stands sell fresh vegetables, grass-fed beef and maple syrup, and seafood shops sell shellfish.

What is Yakima Valley food like?

Yakima Valley food is shaped by agriculture and by the Mexican American community that works in it. The valley is one of the state's main farming regions. The valley's Taco and Tamale Trail is a passport trail of restaurants and taco trucks between Yakima and Grandview, and the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail is centered on Zillah.

Visit in late summer for fruit stands, or in fall for harvest. Taste tacos from a truck, buy tamales to take home and stop at a stand for cherries, peaches or apples. The valley is hot in summer, so drink water.

Hops are another local crop, and the valley produces a large share of the country's supply. Brewers in the region use it fresh, and a fall visit can include a taste of a wet-hopped beer, made within hours of picking. Ask at the taproom what is new.

Where can you find Leavenworth restaurants?

Leavenworth restaurants fit the town's Bavarian theme. Breweries are the popular beer stops. Expect sausages, pretzels, schnitzel and beer in the dining rooms.

The town is touristy, and weekends are crowded. Come on a weekday if you can, since festivals change the character of the town. It is a good base for hiking and river trips.

The Bavarian look dates to the 1960s, when the town reinvented itself after the railroad moved away, and it has been popular ever since. Whether you find it charming or kitschy, the beer is cold and the pretzels are warm, and a walk along the river after lunch is pleasant.

How do you plan a Washington food drive?

Choose a region and a season. Skagit is best in spring and summer, the Olympic Peninsula in summer, Yakima in late summer and fall, Leavenworth in autumn and winter. Check ferry schedules for island crossings and pass conditions for mountain drives.

Leave early, eat well and allow time for detours. Carry a cooler for shellfish, cheese and fruit. Keep the tank full on the peninsula and in the east.

What seafood should you look for?

Oysters, clams, Dungeness crab and salmon are the signature seafood of the state. Oyster farms on the Long Beach Peninsula take visitors to see their beds. Shellfish are regulated by the state, so buy from licensed sellers and follow the closures for wild harvest.

For seafood in the city, read the best seafood in Seattle guide.

Where can you read more?

For the city, read the best ramen in Seattle guide. For another northern state, see Alaska food worth a drive, and for the season, the Pacific Northwest fall food guide. The US guides page lists more.

How do you keep track of a Washington food drive?

A drive can pack a lot of food into a day. With the Mosey app you rate each oyster, taco and sausage as you go, note the valley or the coast and build a Washington list that is ready for the next season.

Add the Fresh Seafood tag to the oyster stops, share the list's invite link with your travel companions and follow friends to see what they rate. Rate your next stop in the Mosey app.