Now you can actually get VEGAN wine produced right here in Washington State.  The Klickitat Canyon Winery produces vegan wines, no sulfites added, no yeasts, has no residual sugars and all the of the grapes come from the Columbia Gorge and varietals are 100% pure.  For those that have been trying to find the perfect wines to fit with their vegan diet this is the place for you to go!

The grapes are the secret to the wines produced by this winery.  The owners believe that the grapes make the wine from the natural yeasts found on the grapes so they don’t have to add any additional chemicals.  The wine develops on its own merits and must be completely fermented to dryness before it is bottled.  They are a certified organic processor. 

The small Columbia Gorge Winery is a small winery owned and operated as a family business with great care and pride.  The vintner, Robin Dobson, takes great pride in producing wines that are unlike the wines in other vineyards and hopes that you will come and taste their wines.  Once you do they are sure you will come back time and again.

Robin was born in Berkeley, California.  He moved to Geneva, Switzerland at the age of 9.  He graduated from high school in Geneva, went on to college at UC Davis and then got her PhD in Plant Pathology at Washington State University.  He is now a botanist/ecologist with the US Forest Service as well as working at the winery.

Working with him at the winery are his brothers, Richard and Christopher, his mother Julie.  His young sons, Kiva, 14 and Tico, 9 along with his new partner Kathleen all help making the winery the place she loves and loves to share with you.

When you take a break from visiting the winery you may want to go wind surfing in the area around Hood River, Oregon.  The scenery is also beautiful so take the time to enjoy nature while you are in the area.

The grapes grown near Hood River typically ripen with more difficulty due to cooler temperatures compared to those at The Dalles and further east.  Across the Columbia River from Hood River is Underwood Mountain, an old volcano with deep volcanic soils.  Celilo Vineyard, from which they obtain most of the grapes for their Columbia Gorge label, is on Underwood Mountain.  This vineyard is developing a reputation for excellent grapes.

All of their wines are aged in oak and have relatively higher levels of acid and tannin than the wines of Oregon, California, and Eastern Washington.  The wines re made to be cellared and drunk with food, as is the European tradition.  Because of the process, the wines are very stable, and will not lose their flavor and freshness if left open.  How many times have you opened a bottle to have to discard it after the party or dinner is over because it won’t hold?  Most of the wines of this winery are best served at room temperature.

They produce only a very small quantity of wines each year (typically, only 600 cases).  So, if you want Vegan, Organic wine you will want to order early to make sure they are available.

Location:
Klickitat Canyon Winery
6 Lyle Snowden Road
Lyle, WA  98635

Phone & Fax (509) 365-2900

Email: klickitatwines@hotmail.com

Take Note: Visitors are welcome for wine tasting and tours:
Friday through Sunday 12-6 (Memorial Day – Labor Day)
Saturday and Sunday 12-6 (April 1st – Thanksgiving)
and other times by appointment
 

Klickitat Canyon Winery – Lyle, Washington (Columbia Gorge Winery) is a post from: Washington Tourism

Come to one of the newer vineyards in the Columbia River Gorge area, the Gorge Crest Vineyards.  With the first harvested grapes coming out in the fall of 2007 and is already ranked as one of the Top Ten Wineries in the State of Washington!  Rick Ensminger, the manager of Celilo Vineyards, which borders Gorge Crest, designed the vineyard.  With is knowledge of higher altitude, late season, varietals he knows what it takes to produce great grapes in this area.

The vineyard doesn’t try to achieve large yields, it goes for the smaller yields with highest quality.  With agreements with Celilo and the Columbia Gorge Appellation the vineyard will supplement production to get the quantity needed for making great wine for your pleasure.  These grapes are handcrafted to provide the perfect touch to produce great wines.  All the grapes are de-stemmed, crushed and pressed by hand to eliminate stem and skin bitterness which is caused by high pressure hydraulic equipment.

The tanks are hand siphoned for the clean juice off the top during fermentation so that transfer can take place without disturbing sediment.  The tanks at the winery are imported Italian stainless steel fermenting tanks produced by Marchisi.  When the wine is ready it is aged and racked in hand made barrels of French and American Oak.

The wines of this facility are the Gewurztraminer which is a dry Alsatian style white; Riesling with its candied apple and honeysuckle aromas, the Pinot Gris which is a dry white, Pinot Noir which is a Burgundian style, the Merlot with its coffee and ripe cherry flavor and the Syrah with a rich cedar and licorice flavor.  Try each and find the one that best suits your taste buds.  Enjoy the adventure of trying the newer wines and the environment of the area.

Gorge Crest Farms was once part of a large corporate farming operation.  Prior to that it was a dry-land orchard producing apples until "The Big Freeze" in the 1930’s took it out.  Then it was used to grow pears but that market also closed down so the land was then part of the large corporate farming operation.  In 2003 the owners of Gorge Crest purchased the parcel of land.  It is now a thriving farming operation with the goal of providing you with the best wines possible.

If you are looking for the perfect venue for your event then you may want to consider the Gorge Crest Vineyards.  It offers: Expansive views of the Columbia River Gorge and Hood River Valley with Mt. Hood looming in the background.

New traditional winery building with intimate inside settings. We are one of the only sites that offer an incredible indoor area as well as an outdoor area with views from both.

Indoor events room w/stone fireplace (in case of bad weather)

Elegant indoor bathrooms

Extensive manicured lawns

Outdoor dance floor

Covered porches

Indoor/outdoor bars (including a wine serving area)

Beautiful cobblestone patios

Three dedicated band locations w/necessary electrical

On-site parking facility and Valet Parking turn around

Directions: From the Portland Airport head South on I-205 (get in right lane from airport).  Look for signs that say “84 East –The Dalles”. Take 84 East for approximately 45 miles to Hood River.  Take exit 64 “Mt Hood”, turn left, go across the green bridge.  Turn left after bridge.  Go approximately 1.5 miles and take the 3rd right onto Cook Underwood Road.  Go 4.7 miles and turn right on Ausplund Rd.  Go .7 mile and turn left into “Gorge Crest Vineyards.”  There is a large rock sign at the bottom of the driveway.

Location: 461 Kollock Knapp Rd., Underwood, WA 98651

Phone: 509.493.2026
 

Gorge Crest Farms – Underwood, Washington is a post from: Washington Tourism

Come and visit this family owned and operated winery in the Columbia River Gorge and you may never want to leave.  The Columbia River Gorge area has become a wine Mecca of sorts for those who enjoy quality wines produced by small wineries.  The attention to detail, the careful selection of the grapes and the processing of the wines are of utmost importance to these vintners.

With the Jacob Williams Winery producing under 2000 cases of wine per year you can be assured that you are getting quality by perfectionists.  This winery works hard to provide you with the best wines since it is named after Brad Gearhart’s, the owner, sons!  With John Haw is the consultant for the winery.

The tasting room is in downtown Lyle so it’s easy for you to find.  Brad’s father, Len, runs the tasting room Friday through Sunday, Noon – 5 pm.  It is open from April through mid-December for your pleasure.  There will be a permanent production facility and tasting room emerging from the vineyards along the banks fo the Columbia River just off Hwy 14, but it isn’t completed yet so keep your eyes open for the big day!  It should be ready in the spring of 2010.

The wineries club boasts many special events throughout the year.  If you are a member you can enjoy such things as barbeques, barrel tastings and even Italian dinners.  You also receive a year-round discount on all wine purchases so check out becoming a member.  Becoming a member of the Wine Club is free.

Jacob Williams is currently producing Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Reserve Merlot, Syrah, Reserve Syrah, Zinfandel and Sadie Red, a special vintner’s blend named after the family dog. Stop in the tasting room and try these wines, you will be pleased you did.

Location of the production facility is in Hood River at 202 Wasco, right behind Wal-Mart.

Phone Number: 503-577-3906

Mailing Address: 34 State St, Lyle, WA 98635

E-mail Address: info@jacobwilliamswinery.com

Jacob Williams Winery – Lyle, Washington is a post from: Washington Tourism

There is a winery that truly fits the name it has chosen with Illusion.  Located in the hills above the Columbia River this small winery and tasting room opens for your enjoyment most weekends during the summer and over the holiday periods.  The winery and Dante’s Ranch Vineyard offers sweeping views of Dillacort Canyon, Swale Canyon, Stacker Butte ans well as Mount Adams, Mount Hood and a sliver of the Columbia River.  What a fabulous setting to sit back and enjoy a glass of quality wine.

The winery was founded in 2002.  The small production facility in Western Washington is not open to the public.  But the vineyard is and the tasting room so you will find yourself a wonderful bottle of wine to remember the fabulous views, nice people and the easy setting.

Not only will you enjoy your time at the winery but the activities available in the Columbia River Gorge will keep you busy from the time you arrive until you must leave.  Even though you probably will want to stay forever, sometimes home does call.  The Gorge is less and an hour east of Portland and just four hours from Seattle and offers world-class cuisine, hiking, fishing, windsurfing, museums and the unique opportunity to visit more than 30 wineries.

The wines that are available from Illusions are:
CURRENT RELEASES
2006 Pinot Gris, Yakima Valley
2006 Chardonnay, Yakima Valley
2004 Apparition, red table wine
2005 Syrah, Windy Ridge Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
2006 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, Aldercreek Vineyard

COMING UP IN 2009
2005 Apparition, red table wine, Columbia Valley
2007 Pinot Gris, Yakima Valley
2007 White Riesling, Yakima Valley
2007 Chardonnay, Yakima ValleyIN THE BARREL
2005 Windy Ridge Syrah port
2006 Syrah, Windy Ridge Vineyard
2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Dionysus Vineyard
2006 Apparition, red table wine

2007 Syrah, Windy Ridge Vineyard
2007 Merlot, Bacchus Vineyard
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Dionysus Vineyard
2007 Apparition, red table wine
2007 Windy Ridge Syrah port

Dave and Dina Guest will welcome you to their winery and tell you the story of how it got started.  Enjoy the liesurly time visiting with others in the tasting room or sitting outside admiring the beauty.

Mailing address:
32446 Morgan Drive
Black Diamond, WA 98010

Winery address:
31 Schilling Road
Lyle, WA 98635

Email: illusion@sprintmail.com
 

Illusion Winery – Black Diamond, Washington is a post from: Washington Tourism

Come to visit this family-owned and operated winery and farm in the scenic Columbia River Gorge.  Meet the owners who have great stories to tell about how they got into the business.  Alexsis Pouillon got exposed to the winery business at Fetzer winery in Mendocino, California during the 1994 harvest.  He advanced from there to the world of winemaking in his won vineyard but you will need to hear more directly from him to get the full flavor of his journey.

His wife and partner, Juliet Pouillon, got her beginning on her second date with Alexis.  Prior to that she had lead a life as a farmer, dolphin trainer and theatrical director as well as a chef.  Time listening to her story will also be one that will have you sitting on the edge of your chair waiting for more of her adventures to unfold.

The winery is situated in the beautiful area of the Columbia River Gorge outside of Lyle. You will not only enjoy the wines but the scenery and the solace too.

They practice traditional artisan winemaking techniques.  They allow the wine to age in the cellar before bottling and labeling each bottle by hand.  They firmly believe that by using the time honored system of winemaking they are providing you with truly fines wine that is worth the wait.  The grapes are picked by hand in small lots when they are just right!  Come and enjoy the experience of this delightful winery.

The selection of wines available will have you so pleased you found this beautiful little winery.  Try their 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a wine that will make you sit back and take notice of the quality, flavor and aroma just waiting for you to enjoy.  Whether you choose to drink it now or to keep it for a few years, you will not be disappointed in this full bodied assault on your taste buds.  There are only so many bottles of this so get yours now.

If you prefer a dry rose’ then you will love the 2008 Rose’ available at the winery.  You will never forget what summer is like when you open this wine, the wine will bring summer to your senses!

The variety of selection, the quality of the wines and the delightful tasting room (tasting room is open to the public:
Thursday – Sunday from 11am-6pm
or by appointment)experience will have you coming back to the winery frequently and ordering from them when you can’t make a trip to the winery.

Location: 170 Lyle-Snowden Rd.  Lyle, WA 98635  

Phone: 509.365.2795 or Email: info@domainepouillon.com

Domaine Pouillon – Lyle, Washington is a post from: Washington Tourism

You really need to visit this winery when you are traveling through Washington.  Instead of the large size facility that you are accustomed to you will see a petite winery packed with oak barrels, locally manufactured stainless steel tanks and cursing/pressing equipment and pumps from right here in the good old USA!!  Because of the petite size of the winery everything is custom fit to work here.

The winery is located in the Columbia River Gorge area where the soil is just right to produce the quality wines this vineyard provides. Cascade Cliffs began planting Merlot in 1986 on land that is on a bench onehundred feet above the Columbia River and backed by the beauty of tall basalt cliffs giving the site a fabulous location for growing great grapes and producing great wines.  In time the vineyard became home to other classic varietals such as Petit Syrah, Nebbiolo, Zinfandel, Barbera, Syrah, and Caberet Sauvignon.

The Winemaker is Bob Lorkowski who grew up making wine.  His parents would fill the backseat of their car with fruit from the local farmer’s market and from that they would make wine.  He purchased the winery in 1997 and increased production from 2 to nearly 4 thousand cases focusing on Piedmont varietals.

The Vineyard offers primarily red wines.  If offers Bordeaux ans well as Piedmont.  The Bordeaux wines originally grew in the south of France and the Piedmont in northwest Italy. 

Cascade Cliffs’ signature style is to use multiple strains of oak in the aging process. The winery uses three strains of oak: French, Hungarian and American.

The winery has special events for Father’s Day Weekend, Independence Day Weekend, New Moon Party (in July), Anniversary party (August), Party at the Pumphouse, Harvest Party, Thanksgiving Weekend and the holiday Party in December.  Contact them for specific dates for these events and then go and join the fun!

Location: Cascade Cliffs
8866 Hwy 14, PO Box 14
Wishram, WA 98673

Phone:(509) 767-1100

Email: cascadecliffs@gorge.net

Cascade Cliffs Vineyard and Winery – Wishram, Washington is a post from: Washington Tourism

This winery isn’t one of the largest in the country, in fact, it does approximately 3,000 cases a year, but the wines are fabulous, just the way a small, family owned winery has the ability of providing.  The winery was started in 1999 by James and Poppie Mantone.  The innovative and careful crafting of the wines is due to the true concern to produce quality wines for the enjoyment of those that buy it.

There are a few wineries on the West Coast that use the Vino-Seal glass closures instead of the standard corks and the Syncline Winery is one of them.  It is a treat to find this quality available in wines from the small winery.

The Mantones produce well-structured, detailed and highly aromatic wines which are priced affordably.  They produce wines that are delightful to drink immediately or to be cellared. 

The Syncline Winery focuses on southern French varietals and explore the opportunities available with such grapes as cinsault, mourvedre, counoise and grenache as well as the syrah and viognier.  This offers the opportunity for you to taste some great wines of differing varieties.

They also make some of the most delightful pinot noir.  This is a unique opportunity to taste some quality wines made right here in Washington state!

The owners of the winery have events to offer the visitors to enjoy not only the wine but live music, food and special wines for sale.  Members of the Wine Club meet annually to enjoy a party for two nights of great friends and great wines.  If you are interested contact the winery and join their Wine Club.

The staff of the winery consists of James Mantone as the Winemaker, Vineyard Manager and founder of Syncline Wine Cellars.  He came from the Midwest, and worked at a number of wineries honing his craft before opening his own winery.  Along with James is his wife Poppie who is the Assistant Winemaker and Saleswoman.  She moved to Oregon from MA and became involved in the production of wine.  Now she is James’ right hand.

The winery is located along the Columbia River in southern Washington State.  Their  estate vineyard, Steep Creek Ranch, is located on a southern slope on the very eastern edge of the new Columbia Gorge AVA. Directly west of the vineyard and winery is a series of 300-foot cliffs rising up into the surrounding mountains straight out of the Columbia River. Locally known as the “Coyote Wall Syncline” and to geologists as the “Bingen Syncline,” this dramatic feature gives the winery its name. It is at this point that the rainy western Columbia Gorge transitions to the semi-arid eastern Gorge.

Syncline Wine Cellars
111 Balch Rd.
Lyle, WA 98635

Phone: 509.365.4361
Fax: 509-365-8012
 

Directions:
From Portland:
Follow interstate 84 east from the metro area to exit 64 "White Salmon/ Government Camp." Turn North and cross the Hood River Bridge to a "T" intersection at State Route 14. Turn east (right) and head to the tiny hamlet of Bingen (1 mile). From the eastern edge of Bingen, continue for 4 miles on Highway 14 east. Turn north (left) onto Old Highway 8. Drive for 3.5 miles. Turn north (left) onto Balch Rd. Turn left in 1/10th mile at second driveway #111.

From the Tri-Cities or the East:
Follow State Route14 along the north shore of the Columbia River to the hamlet of Lyle. At the western edge of Lyle, turn North (right) onto Old Highway 8. Drive for 3 miles, then right on Balch Rd. (NOTE: make sure it is the second Balch Rd on the right!).

Syncline Wine Cellars – Lyle, Washington is a post from: Washington Tourism

Unfortunately, that was not the experience I faced on Monday June 1st when I was stranded in Seattle by the Fox Car Rental company near the Seattle Washington Airport.

When you face a problem, it is best to politely and calmly explain what you can and can not do, and most travel service providers will do everything that they can to find a way to accomodate the problem and get you taken care of.  So the best solution is to openly and honestly explain the situation and work with the offending travel service provider for the best solution.

I arrived at the Seattle Washington Airport after a delightful flight on Alaska Air, caught the shuttle bus to the Fox Car Rental location (aka Fox Rent A Car).  I’ve travelled here often enough that the Fox shuttle driver was sure he recognized me and even knew a little bit about my travel frequency – off to an EXCELLENT start!!  It is nice when employees remember you; but of course, I always tip very well!!!!

At the Fox Car Rental counter, the experience was quite the opposite.

Traveling on business, our travel writers travel on corporate debit cards that are prefunded with the amount of employees car rentals, hotel costs, a daily per diem, and a 20% emergency premium.  The Fox Car Rental amount was pre-reserved with a total price of approximately $97 (inclusive of taxes and fees) for a two day rental.   In my case, meals and hotel rooms were provided complimentary by local tourism and educational organizations so there were no anticipated expenses for this trip other than car rental fees and gas costs.

However, the Fox Car Rental counter wanted to tack on an additional $250 charge on top of the $97 rental for the privillege of using a “debit card”.

As a travel professional, I often encourage people to use a credit card because of the security protections that your credit card company provide.  Most credit cards provides you protection against unauthorized charges as well a variety of travel insurance protections.

I politely told the reservation service agent that this card could not handle an additional undisclosed $250 charge, and that I had never been charged a $250 premium before.  The agent looked up my reservation history and was able to tell me every city that I had reserved a car with them for the past 3+ years including the credit card type and number for each reservation.  However, his goal was not to be helpful, but rather to “prove” to me that I had never used this particular debit card.

In the absence of a customer service agent “doing the right thing” to take care of a customer with a lengthy rental history, the only solution I could offer was to offer to have the front and back of one of my credit cards faxed so that he could process my reservation with a credit card rather than a debit card which he refused to do.

Thus I was stranded in Seattle by Fox Car Rental.

Stranded by Fox Car Rental (aka Fox Rent a Car)

Now for me, it was an easy problem to solve.  When faced with a travel service provider that does not care about taking care of their long-time customers, I travel enough and simply called another car rental company which had the integrity and professionalism to provide the type of customer service and do the right thing to take care of the situation.

Dollar Car Rental to the Rescue!!!

Dollar Car Rentals rescued me from the ravages of Fox Car Rental Shame.  Dollar Car Rentals has the exact same debit card policy that Fox Car Rentals has.  However, Dollar simply looked at my car rental history and very quickly waived the $250 charge.

That is the difference between a car rental company with integrity and professionalism and a car rental company without.  One looks at the value of a long term customer relationship and quickly takes action to solve the problem, the other strands their customer by the side of the road.

Now in fairness, I contacted Fox Car Rental’s corporate office on Thursday June 4th and again on Friday June 12th and received no reply.  I also contacted Joshua the local Seattle Washington Fox Car Rental manager on Friday June 5th (after not receiving a call on Thursday which I requested when leaving my business card).  He said that he would research the issue and call me back on Friday, Monday, or Tuesday.  To date, I have not heard back from him.  If Fox Car Rental has the integrity and professionalism to follow up on my repeated efforts to contact them, I will report back here.

Dollar Car Rental’s local manager did call me after I left my business card with his team when I returned my Dollar Car Rental.

In summary,

1. Stranded in Seattle Washington by Fox Rent a Car
2. Rescued in Seattle Washington by Dollar Rent a Car
3. No Contact from Fox Car Rental
4. Timely follow up contact by Dollar Car Rental

Dollar looked up my customer rental history and used it to solve a problem and take care of a customer.  To me, ethics and integrity are everything and the Dollar team have proven by their actions and words that they are an excellent team.

For the traveller, Washington is a beautiful state with warm and friendly people.  I look forward to my next trip to Washington in August where I will be spending quite a bit of time traveling extensively to visit and write about attractions for your next family vacation.  And I am quite confident that I will not risk being stranded by Fox Car Rental while on my next trip to Washington!

Stranded by Fox Car Rental at the Seattle Washington Airport is a post from: Washington Tourism

The sea traffic into Seattle that travel on the Pacific must pass along the Strait of San Juan de Fuca, which separates the Olympic Peninsula and Canada’s Vancouver Island, and then it requires a turn south to navigate through Admiralty Inlet before reaching Puget Sound.  There are two points that define the entrance to Admiralty Inlet from the Strait, Point Wilson on the west and Admiralty Head on the east.  There were Lighthouses placed on both of these points to guide shipping safely to their destination.  Today there is the Keystone-Port Townsed ferry that connects landings located near these two points which provide a quick link between the northwestern part of the state and the Olympic Peninsula.

Sitting on 80 foot bluffs that drop into the inlet is Admiralty Head.  The first Admiralty Lighthouse (Red Bluff Lighthouse) was built during the second half of 1860 and became operational on January 21, 1861.  It was a two story wooden structure painted white with the light tower rising like a church steeple from one end of the pitched roof building.  This was light with a fourth-order Fresnel lens.  19 years later there would be a companion light established at Point Wilson across the bay.

During the Spanish-American War era the land near the lighthouse was acquired by the government to establish Fort Casey.  This was a good location allow friendly ships in but to also keep enemy ships out of the area. 

The wooden lighthouse stood at a great location for one of the fort’s gun emplacements.  A new lighthouse was constructed just north of the fort and the original lighthouse was moved away from the bluff so that its rooms could be used to house noncommissioned officers and, for a short time, a temporary medical clinic.  In 1928 the old lighthouse was torn down and the lumber used to build a house on Whidby Island.

The second lighthouse was built in a Spanish style and included a two-story dwelling linked to the base of the circular tower for the lighthouse manager to live in.  It is a three bedrooms, kitchen, dining room and living room area.  The lighthouse was activated in 1903.

In 1922 the light was extinguished in the lighthouse due to the lack of need for it any longer.  The bulk of the marine traffic was powered by steam at this time, rather than wind, so the modern vessels hugged the western side of the inlet.  The lantern room was removed and placed atop the newly reconstructed tower of the New Dungeness Lighthouse.

During WWII the lighthouse was reactivated as living quarters.  Following the war the lighthouse was empty again until the Island County Historical Society initiated a restoration effort.  A replacement lantern room was built for the tower using vertical astragals.

Today the lighthouse is a gift shop and museum for you to visit.
 

Admiralty Head Lighthouse – Coupeville, Washington is a post from: Washington Tourism

The Capitol of Washington was completed in 1928 and is both the Capitol and the Legislative Building. The main Legislative building has a dome that is 278 feet high with equally broad-shouldered edifices that surround the central structure.  

The state had been in existence as a state for 39 years and a territory for 26 years before that when the Capitol was actually built.  It took that long to finally decide that Olympia should actually be the capital city of the state.

The Legislative Building has withstood three major earthquakes since it was constructed.  The structural design and superior craftsmanship of the original building are credited with saving this building from major damage.

The Capitol was renovated in 2004 for a cost of $120 million and as part of the renovation there were 144 solar panels placed atop the fifth-floor roof.  It is the largest array of solar panels on a capitol in the United States.

The original cost of construction and furnishings for the building was $7,385,768.21.  To reconstruct it today using the same grade materials and workmanship would cost OVER $1 billion.

TYPE AND ORIGIN OF STONE 
Exterior Sandstone: Wilkeson Quarries, Pierce County, Washington
Interior Marble: Type Origin
 Senate Chamber Formosa Germany
 House Chamber Escalette France
 State Reception Room Bresche Violet Italy
 Main Corridors Gray Alaska

There are 42 steps leading up to the capitol building, specifically designed to recognize Washington as the 42nd state.

The Washington capitol building has one of five 42-star flags. These were never official flags, because Idaho became a state shortly after their release.

The lamp above the rotunda can fit a full-size Volkswagen Beetle if put in sideways, and the faces and human figures are life-size.

All lamps, and Roman firepots in the rotunda, were made by Tiffany’s.

The state seal, which is featured throughout the building, was designed by Talcots, by making two circles and putting a two-cent stamp of George Washington in the middle.

General public tours
Guided public tours of the Washington State Legislative Building are offered seven days a week hourly between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tours are free and begin every hour on the hour and last 60 minutes. Public tours begin at the Tour Information Desk which is located on the 2nd floor of the Capitol Building, just inside the main entrance doors.

The Legislative Building is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

The tour of the Capitol can range from 30 minutes to 3 hours and thirty minutes, depending on your time allotment and logistical needs.  Call them to set up your tour if you want one of the longer ones.  Phone: (360) 902-8880.

The Legislative Building is the crowning piece of the Washington State Capitol Campus and is home to the Washington State Legislature and the offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, and State Treasurer.

The Governor Mansion is the oldest standing building on the Capitol Campus, the red-brick Georgian style Executive Mansion has been home to Washington’s Governors since 1910. Fully restored and furnished with many antiques from the American Federal period, the mansion is open for public tours on most Wednesdays by reservation. Morning and afternoon tours are available, but group size is limited to 25. This tour is available for 4th grade and up.

The Washington State Capitol Campus is home to many Veterans Memorials including the Winged Victory, POW-MIA, Medal of Honor, Vietnam Veterans, WW II, and Korean War Memorials. Self-Guided memorial brochures are available at the Visitor Information Desk and at the Legislative Building Tour Information Desk.

Heritage Park is a 24-acre state-owned park adjacent to the State Capitol Campus, Capitol Lake and downtown Olympia. It is the northern extension of the historic West Capitol Campus.

Park hours:
Dawn to dusk. Security provided by the Washington State Patrol.

Parking:
Metered city parking can be found on Water Street, and free parking is available in the lot within the park, at 5th Avenue and Yashiro Street.

Location: 416 Sid Snyder Avenue SW
Olympia, WA 98504

Directions:
From I-5 Southbound: Bear right on ramp at sign reading "Exit 105A to State Capitol" and go west for 0.8 miles. Continue on 14th Avenue SE and go west for 0.4 miles to the Visitor Information Center at Capitol Way S at 14th Avenue SW
From I-5 Northbound: Bear right on ramp at sign reading "Exit 105A to State Capitol" and go northeast for 0.3 miles. Bear right on 14th Avenue SE and go west for 0.6 miles to Capitol Way S at 14th Avenue SW.

Visitor Information Center – 360-586-3460
  
 

State Capitol – Olympia, Washington is a post from: Washington Tourism