When out-of-staters think of Washington, they often think of Seattle. But there’s so much more to our state than the city - in fact, the majority of Washington is rural, and farming and agriculture play a big role in our revenue. Our farms are just as beautiful as any urban skyline. These photos will have you planning your next country getaway.
I am a fall fiend. It can sometimes be a problem. I worry that I may have double-booked my social calendar with my pumpkin patch itinerary. Having confessed this, it follows that I keep a keen eye on the fall festival scene. Around this time of year, numerous harvest celebrations crop up across Washington State. One that I have saved in my schedule is Middleton Farms’ Fall Festival.
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Tucked in the quaint town of Pasco — a hotspot of picturesque farms, for those on the lookout— Middleton is located under an hour from Walla Walla, making it a no-brainer getaway for city dwellers seeking rural respite. Like many other ventures in the area, Middleton Farms is family-run. Raised in an agricultural family himself, patriarch Bill Middleton decided to continue the longstanding tradition after marrying his wife, Cinda, in 1976. With $100 and a pickup to their name, they dove headfirst into their dream. By 1979, they’d purchased a scruffy patch of brush and nurtured it into a thriving produce farm selling asparagus, hay, corn, wheat, and more. The rest, as they say, is history.
Since 2013, this charming family farm has hosted an annual Fall Festival. If you’re looking for a quintessential fall experience in Eastern Washington, it's a delightful gathering that's hard to beat. Though the farm itself opens for the season on September 21, its autumn festivities begin on the second of October. For a ticket starting at $10, visitors will have access to an array of seasonal activities, including hay rides, a corn maze, and more! Best of all, you and your family will get to bring home pumpkins plucked straight from the fields, easily one of my favorite fall-time traditions. Fuel up for more fun with autumnal goodies like cider and donuts.
The Middleton Farms Fall Festival offers more than just the pumpkin spice that gives autumn its special flavor. In its 11 years of operation, it’s become an important local celebration, ushering in the changing seasons and honoring the hard work of Washington’s agricultural community. Whether you’re visiting from out of town or a born-and-raised local, it just takes one visit to see why this festival has become a favorite tradition for so many individuals and families.
So gather your friends, pack a car snack for the kiddos, and head to Middleton Farms this fall. There, you’ll experience the magic of autumn in a breathtaking setting alongside countless others, each making memories they’ll treasure for a lifetime.
This Washington Dining Experience Has Been Called One of the Best Restaurants in the U.S.
Want to visit one of the best restaurants in Washington? Check out Woodinville's Herbfarm, an acclaimed farm-to-table spot and an Evergreen State institution.
To complement its famous beauty, Washington produces some of the nation's highest-quality ingredients. With active fisheries and sprawling farmland, it's no wonder our state draws chefs from far and wide, each excited to experiment with our regional flavors. All this talent has cultivated an acclaimed culinary scene, one I'm only too lucky to write about. Still, of all these diverse eateries, The Herbfarm in Woodinville is considered by many nationwide to be one of Washington's best restaurants.
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The Herbfarm/Facebook
Like many established farm-to-table restaurants in Washington, The Herbfarm emerged from a deep-rooted family tradition. After purchasing property in the 1970s, Bill and Lola Zimmerman began a small-scale operation selling their produce locally. The next generation brought new ideas to the family business, with their son, Ron, and his wife, Carrie, debuting the first iteration of the now-famous eatery in 1986. The couple's budding restaurant (which operated for a time from the family garage) saw considerable success until it closed in the late nineties following a fire. It reopened in 2001 and quickly became one of the Pacific Northwest's most hallowed restaurants. Today, the kitchen is run by chefs Chris Weber and Jack Gingrich. Together, they honor the legacy of the Zimmerman family, who remain deeply involved in The Herbfarm's vision.
The Herbfarm/Facebook
An AAA 5 Diamond destination with accolades from various publications, including Food & Wine and The Seattle Times, dinner at The Herbfarm is a bucket-list reservation that's well worth the price tag. Despite the cost, expect a dress code of "zhuzhed casual." While you're welcome to show up and out in your formal best, any outfit that makes a gesture toward polish will be well-regarded, in keeping with the laidback PNW custom. Though every restaurant sees regulars, most diners arrive to celebrate milestones or as part of a culinary pilgrimage. The result is a dining room that's as warmly colored by laughter as it is by candlelight and wood. It's the perfect spot to savor the multi-course menu and a selection of wines you'll dream of later.
If you fancy yourself a foodie and aspire to experience Washington's best restaurants, Woodinville's The Herbfarm is an essential stop. With its deeply felt connection to the outdoors, this renowned eatery turns the Evergreen State's outdoorsy spirit into bold flavor. Their ever-changing menu pays tribute to the land and seasons that have sustained The Herbfarm dream since the 1970s, and— for one night— you'll be part of that decades-old love song.
