Walla Walla, laying in the wide-open spaces of eastern Washington State, is known far and wide for its namesake onions. However, as a destination for visitors, Walla Walla falls into the distinctly un-famous category. But, if you investigate a little, I'd bet you could find quite a few reasons to stop by and get a taste for yourself.
What You Can/Should Eat
I love to eat when I visit a place. I want to not only taste the unique local flavors, but to also savor the character of locally owned restaurants and diners. You can eat great and meet some of the best folks, all in one place.
Onions. Although it may be obvious to many...go eat onions in Walla Walla. Thanks to the unique strain of plants and special soils, you can find some of the sweetest, juiciest onions you'll ever eat. Stop by the farmer's market on Saturday and Sunday, or find a local farm stand and just dig in.
But what about restaurants? Walla Walla isn't exactly a metropolis, so don't be expecting to find every cuisine under the sun. However, there is no shortage of good places to satisfy your hunger. I love going to places that are named after the owner (or just named after a person.) If diners & family restaurants sound good, head over to Clarette's Restaurant and get some hashbrowns. Or, if you're interested in something completely different, stop in at Berny's Tacos or Taqueria Yungapeti and get a taste of some authentic, tasty, and cheap Mexican grub.
For a more complete look at your dining options, check out Urbanspoon's extensive & ranked list of restaurants in Walla Walla.
Art & Architecture
Despite being a smaller city, Walla Walla is blessed with an abundance of art and architecturally interesting buildings. So, if you're looking for some sculpture or a cupola or two, you're in luck.
Like many towns and cities around Washington, Walla Walla is filled with old buildings and various architectural styles, just waiting to be found. The National Register of Historical Places is always a great place to check out potential landmarks, but if you're strapped for time or don't feel like doing research, the good folks of Walla Walla have come up with several walking tours for you to follow.
One highlight that you ought to visit is the Liberty Theater (designed by Victor Siebert, built in 1917, and seen above with the fancy cars) to get a taste of some local early 20th century architecure. Plus, you can get some shopping in, as Bon Marche (now Macy's) restored the building back in the early 1990s. Plus, while you're there, head across street and check out some public art in the Guard Pigeon (seen below) sculpture by local sculptor Wayne Chabre.
Another way to take it all in, without a whole lot of work, is to head to the Whitman campus. You can not only absorb the campus itself, but you can also visit the Sheehan Gallery, the Maxey Museum, the Reid Campus Center, or the Penrose Library. In all those places, you can get your fill of artists from all over, but especially local ones. In addition, you can take a self-guided sculpture tour, easily printed from the PDF here.
Are you bringing along your kids and want to get them interested in public art? Check out ArtWalla's handy-dandy printable coloring book, available for free here.
Local Specialties & Oddities
As I said before, be sure to try out some onions while you're in town. They're good stuff. But don't overlook some of the region's other agricultural riches: apples, asparagus, and beef, just to name a few.
When you visit someplace new, do you love to find the strange stuff, the world's largest buffalo, or strange signs and decorations? Walla Walla won't disappoint. Head over to Melody Mufflers and check out their sculptures, created by local artist Mike Hammond.
When I came across your blog, I was hoping for the strange and different. It was as expected. Nice job on the Walla Walla overview. Woudl not have expected to find such unique things in this town.
-- Dan
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