Washington State, located in the Pacific Northwest corner of the United States, is a land of dramatic contrasts — from the rain-soaked temperate rainforests of the Olympic Peninsula to the volcanic peaks of the Cascades and the arid shrub-steppe of the east. Home to Seattle, one of America's most dynamic cities, the state blends state-of-the-art technology culture with stunning wilderness, world-class food and coffee scenes, and some of the continent's most diverse outdoor adventure.
Top food tours
Guided experiences that show you Washington through its food.
Pike Place Market Food Tour
Explore Seattle's iconic Pike Place Market with a knowledgeable guide, tasting 10+ samples from market vendors including fresh oysters, smoked salmon, piroshky, artisan cheese, and local produce. One of Seattle's most popular food experiences.
Includes: fish toss demonstration · original Starbucks location visit · oyster tasting · smoked salmon samples · artisan cheese
Seattle Gourmet Food Tours - Capitol Hill
An evening food crawl through Capitol Hill's restaurant scene, visiting 5-6 restaurants for coursed tastings paired with local wine and craft beer. Excellent introduction to Seattle's diverse dining landscape.
Includes: farm-to-table cuisine · craft cocktails · James Beard Award-winning chefs' establishments · neighborhood history
Walla Walla Winery Tour
A guided tour of 4-6 Walla Walla Valley wineries with transportation, tastings, and a gourmet lunch paired with local wines. Expert guides share the history of Washington's premier wine region.
Includes: cellar tours · winemaker meetings (seasonal) · harvest activities (September-October) · vineyard walks
Yakima Valley Wine Tasting Tour
Explore Washington's largest wine region on a guided tour visiting 3-4 Yakima Valley wineries, including Rattlesnake Hills and Red Mountain sub-appellations, with a local-food lunch.
Includes: Cabernet Sauvignon tastings · orchard scenery · local cheese pairings · Old Vine Grenache
Seattle Coffee Tour
A morning walking tour through Seattle's coffee culture, visiting 4-5 specialty roasters and cafés in Capitol Hill and the University District, with coffee history and cupping demonstrations.
Includes: barista training session · origin story of Seattle coffee culture · comparison of brew methods · specialty roastery visit
Dungeness Crab & Oyster Tour
An exclusive seafood experience combining a trip to Taylor Shellfish Farms on Puget Sound with hands-on oyster shucking, crab steaming, and a guided seafood lunch celebrating Washington's finest shellfish.
Includes: oyster farm tour · shucking your own oysters · live Dungeness crab cooking demonstration · sustainable seafood education
Tour formats
Different ways to experience Washington's food scene.
Street food tours
Self-guided walks through Seattle's International District (Chinatown), or White Center's diverse food truck scene; Pike Place Market vendor tastings
Market tours
Guided tours of Pike Place Market, Olympia Farmers Market, or Bellingham Farmers Market with tastings and vendor introductions
Restaurant tours
Multi-stop culinary crawls through Capitol Hill, Fremont, or Ballard neighborhoods visiting 4-6 restaurants
Specialty tours
Wine-focused tours in Yakima Valley and Walla Walla; seafood-focused experiences on the coast; coffee culture tours in Seattle
Cooking classes
Take a piece of Washington home with you.
Pacific Northwest Seafood Cooking Class
Learn to prepare 3 Pacific Northwest seafood dishes — typically salmon, Dungeness crab, and a shellfish preparation — with a local chef in a professional kitchen in Seattle
Walla Walla Wine & Cuisine Pairing Class
Learn wine and food pairing principles using local Walla Walla wines and seasonal ingredients; prepare 3 paired courses with a local sommelier and chef
Pike Place Market Cooking Experience
Begin with a guided market shopping tour, select fresh ingredients, then prepare a seasonal Pacific Northwest feast in a professional kitchen with a Seattle chef
DIY self-guided food tour
Create your own Seattle food tour following this route through Pike Place Market and beyond — a 3-4 hour self-guided culinary adventure
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Stop 1: Pike Place Market (9AM) — Buy fresh coffee at Storyville or Zeitgeist; watch the fishmongers at Pike Place Fish
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Stop 2: Piroshky Piroshky (9:30AM) — Pick up a smoked salmon piroshky and a sweet apple cinnamon roll
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Stop 3: Beecher's Handmade Cheese (10AM) — Get the flagship mac and cheese and watch cheese being made
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Stop 4: Ellenos Real Greek Yogurt (10:30AM) — Try the marionberry pie yogurt — a Pacific Northwest specialty
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Stop 5: Pike Place Chowder (11AM) — New England clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl
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Stop 6: Matt's in the Market (12:30PM) — Lunch upstairs overlooking the market with fresh Pacific Northwest seafood
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Stop 7 (optional): Salumi (2PM, Tue-Fri only) — Outstanding artisan cured meat sandwiches in Pioneer Square
Foodie tips
Get more out of every meal.
Washington State's iconic foods to seek: Dungeness crab, Pacific oysters, wild salmon, Walla Walla sweet onions, marionberries, and Rainier cherries
The 'Happy Hour' culture in Seattle is excellent — many upscale restaurants offer $5-10 small plates from 3-6PM
Razor clam digging on the Pacific coast is a free and delicious activity when season is open (check WDFW website)
Yakima Valley and Walla Walla are best explored over 2 days minimum to truly experience the wine country
Seattle's International District has exceptional affordable Asian food — Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean options abound