Towering mountains, stunning coastlines and well-fed rivers define the geography of Washington. The plentiful outdoor activities and powerful vistas they provide can define the success of an event held in the state.
Washington’s landscape doesn’t fail to inspire—by water, in sea kayaks or river rafts; by land, exploring the country’s loftiest peaks and most temperamental volcano; or by air, paragliding, on helicopter tours or simply taking in the views.
Meanwhile, a new winery opens approximately every 15 days in Washington, now the second-largest producer of premium wine in the U.S., yet grapevines are merely one of many prodigious products of the state’s sublime soil. Apples, cherries and peaches can be enjoyed on the farms where they’re grown, picked by guests’ own hands or celebrated at harvest festivals.
With hundreds of ways to enjoy nature’s bounty, Washington will bring out the outdoor lover in every attendee.
Seattle and Puget Sound
Common sense would suggest that when you enter the city, you leave nature behind. In Seattle, this logic simply doesn’t hold.
Last year, the Seattle CVB unveiled a new branding campaign centered on a newly coined word that, according to one official, says it all: “metronatural.”
“We invented the word ‘metronatural’ and the definition to go along with it,” says Tom Norwalk, senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Seattle CVB. “It’s the characteristics of a world-class city within wild, beautiful, natural surroundings—a blending of clear skies and expansive waters with a fast-paced city life.”
Seattle’s reputation as a top urban destination for groups is well-earned, with sophisticated facilities and amenities and an expanding collection of properties that includes a new 450-room tower debuting at the Sheraton Seattle next year, as well as new Four Seasons, Pan Pacific and Hyatt properties under construction.
But choosing to meet in Seattle doesn’t have to be a choice between a charged-up urban center and a picturesque destination with opportunities for outdoor adventures.
“Seattle is a lively, world-class city, fast-paced, but situated right within the middle of nature,” Norwalk says. “You can be kayaking in the morning and at a world-class restaurant five minutes later. You could be at a meeting in the morning and up in a floatplane in the San Juan Islands within the hour. To a lot of people, that’s exactly what Seattle is.”
Opportunities for adventure are everywhere within the city limits, and Seattle’s location makes it exceptionally easy to put together exciting outdoor excursions to nearby locales, according to Norwalk.
For instance, 30 wineries perfect for group tastings are situated 20 miles away in the town of Woodinville, just north of Bellevue. The 22-acre Woodinville Village, which will be anchored by four local boutique wineries and feature restaurants, a hotel, a spa, and retail space, is slated to open next year.
Slightly farther away, the San Juan Islands are 45 minutes by floatplane, offering sailing, kayaking, whale watching, and hiking for groups of 60 to 80. And an hour by car, Mount Rainier and other, less famous peaks provide outdoor activities such as skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer.
Meanwhile, an increasing number of groups are heading just east of Seattle to gather in the fast-growing community of Bellevue, home to the newly expanded Meydenbauer Center and meetings-ready hotels such as the Hyatt Regency Bellevue, the Westin Bellevue, the Sheraton Bellevue, and the Coast Bellevue Hotel.
While Bellevue boasts plenty of cosmopolitan amenities, the destination is also surrounded by natural beauty, and among the many ways to experience it are boat excursions on Lake Washington with Argosy Cruises, which accommodates private events, and day trips to the wineries of nearby Woodinville.
The area is also home to several scenic golf courses, including the Golf Club at Newcastle, situated seven miles south of Bellevue. The high-end club features two courses at an elevation of 900 feet and spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains and the Seattle skyline.
The communities of Tukwila, Kent and Des Moines, plus Seattle Tacoma International Airport, make up Seattle Southside.
“Seattle Southside is ideally situated for meeting planners to take advantage of its close proximity to everything Pacific Northwest and maintain a realistic budget while doing so,” says Katherine Kertzman, program director for Seattle Southside Visitor Services. “With Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens to the south, Canada and the San Juan Islands to the north, the Olympic Mountains and the ocean to the west, and the Cascade Mountains and wine country to the east, Seattle Southside really is in the center of it all.”
Attendees can get a bird’s-eye view of these wonders and more during a tandem paragliding flight from Tiger Mountain with Seattle Paragliding, just 15 minutes from Seattle Southside. Groups as large as 20 people are welcome on the company’s unforgettable airborne adventures.
Attendees can see nearly as much from the ground and avoid vertigo on a daytrip with Seattle Tours, which provides door-to-door service from most Seattle Southside hotels to Mount Rainier. The trips feature a picnic lunch, hiking and visits to the interpretive centers along the way.
Meanwhile, PlayTime Inc. can put on a high-tech group treasure hunt—known as geoteaming—at one of Seattle Southside’s outdoor parks.
Farther south, the city of Tacoma, located along Puget Sound, is equally proud of its close connection to both the arts and the great outdoors.
“In Tacoma/Pierce County our tagline is ‘Where Art and Nature Meet,’” says Ruthie Reinert, executive director of the Tacoma Regional CVB. “Our destination can truly deliver those two components. On the natural side of things, our region boasts the beautiful shores of Puget Sound and the majestic, accessible Mount Rainier, one of the tallest mountains in the lower 48 states.”
For those to whom a manicured green represents nature at its best, there is good news. The new waterfront Chambers Bay Golf Course opened in June with an 18-hole, Scottish links-style golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones II. The course features panoramic views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. The 250-acre course is located 20 minutes from Tacoma and boasts a tented pavilion hosting up to 300 people, with room for another 300 guests on the adjacent outdoor patio, plus a clubhouse restaurant seating 60 patrons. Its award-winning Environmental Education Center also includes meeting space.
Another new attraction as of this summer, the Spirit of Washington Dinner Train departs from Tacoma’s historic Freighthouse Square. The upscale train takes a scenic route to Lake Kapowsin and back, featuring a full-course meal, memorable views and occasionally an interactive theme such as a murder mystery.
Additionally, planners can liven up a tame event with a taste of the wild. An hour away by car, Northwest Trek is a 430-acre wild animal park populated by indigenous animals such as bison, wolves, porcupines, wolverines, elk, moose, and mountain goats wandering freely in their native habitats.
There are some adventures that are better suited for smaller groups. Some might enjoy a guided hike on Mount Rainier with a national park ranger to see wildflowers, alpine meadows and mountain vistas. In the winter, guided snowshoe treks are available in the snow-whitened wilderness. A kayaking tour of Puget Sound is an ideal way to view the abundant marine life.
North of Seattle, Snohomish County, featuring recently unveiled group venues including the Everett Events Center and the Lynnwood Convention Center, and upcoming additions such as a new hotel and spa at Tulalip Resort Casino, is alive with potential for outdoor activities.
“Snohomish County is a recreational mecca, and its temperate climate encourages year-round outdoor fun,” says Amy O. Spain, executive director of the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau. “With bald eagles, river float trips, kayaking, Class V river rafting, urban and rural walking trails, hiking, biking, and snowshoeing, Snohomish County has endless outdoor opportunities all within minutes of first-class conference hotels and conference centers.”
The 1,400-acre Everett Everglades is the largest wetland near an urban center on the West Coast. Hundreds of species of birds, including eagles, falcons and herons, make their home here, and kayaking is a splendid way to view them.
Rafting on the Skykomish River gets groups up close and personal with thundering waterfalls, granite gorges, mountain landscapes, and old-growth forests teeming with interesting wildlife.
Attendees might also like to try the new sport of kiteboarding. Fans of the increasingly popular activity have found the waters near Jetty Island in Everett to be ideal conditions to get their boards moving beneath the colorful kites that harness the wind’s energy. Seattle Kiteboarding Center offers “learn to ride” group lessons for six people and land training for 15 people.
Visiting the area’s agricultural treasures is another unique way to grow memories.
“Agricultural tourism is a great way to visit rural areas to learn more about farm life or to reminisce about the good ol’ days, and Snohomish County has a variety of farms to visit, [producing everything] from apples and pumpkins to lavender and antique roses,” Spain says.
The city of Olympia is located at the south end of Puget Sound.
“The region prides itself on its parks,” says Tamara Garcia, executive director of Olympia/Lacey/ Tumwater Visitor and Convention Bureau. “Open green spaces provide everything from hands-on activities to education. Coupled with a downtown waterfront, the Capitol Forest and the 425-acre Nisqually Wildlife Refuge, the region proudly showcases its natural beauty to visitors.”
Olympic Peninsula
In a state brimming with magnificent scenery and thriving wildlife in protected reserves, the Olympic Peninsula stands out as one of Washington’s natural treasures.
“Olympic National Park is the dominant feature of the Olympic Peninsula,” says Diane Schostak, executive director of the North Olympic Peninsula Visitor and Convention Bureau. “Olympic is the third-most-visited park in the country and is unique because it includes alpine meadows, over 60 glaciers, dense rainforest valleys, and 57 miles of wilderness coastline that looks just like it did when the wooden ships were searching for the elusive Northwest Passage.”
Groups can walk, hike or bike in the park on more than 600 miles of trails, take a rafting trip on the Elwha or Hoh rivers, go kayaking along the shore on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, or take a wildlife boat tour from Neah Bay.
Planners can also bring the meeting itself into Olympic National Park. Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, located 12 miles inside the park, offers 32 rooms and conference space as well as warm water mineral pools and relaxing massages. Rain Forest Resort Village on Lake Quinault has accommodations for 30, and conference space is available.
Meanwhile, Fort Worden State Park and Conference Center is an historic 19th century fort located at the northeast point of the Olympic Peninsula. Its pavilion can accommodate 880 people, the USO Hall hosts up to 340 guests, and more than a dozen other spaces can welcome smaller gatherings. There are accommodations for 456 people in dormitories, private houses, a castle, and 100-year-old officers’ homes. The 434-acre park is located on a bluff overlooking Puget Sound and offers two miles of coastline and plentiful wildlife, including bobcats, foxes and otters. There are facilities for boating, baseball, basketball, softball, volleyball, and horseshoes.
Attendees gathering in destinations such as Ocean Shores or popular group-friendly properties such as Quinault Beach Resort and Casino also have the great outdoors at their fingertips as well as the scenic backdrop of the Pacific coastline to complement events.
Bellingham and the San Juan Islands
Nature provides certain advantages to small creatures, such as the ability to fit into spaces others are too large to penetrate. This goes for groups too, and in the case of Bellingham and the San Juan Islands, groups of 500 or fewer definitely have the advantage. This region makes up for its smaller facilities with an inverse proportion of enthusiasm and hospitality for meetings, not to mention picturesque surroundings.
Another selling point of the area is weather. It boasts half the rain of Seattle and an average of 247 days of sunshine a year, making it even easier to take advantage of numerous opportunities to get outside and enjoy delicious farm-grown foods, wildlife tours and jaw-dropping vistas filled with waterfalls and soaring peaks.
“The Bellingham/Mount Baker region is unique for its unmatchable natural beauty and recreational opportunities,” says Caroline Kinsman, marketing and public relations manager for Bellingham/Whatcom County Tourism. “Iconic Mount Baker, a 10,778-foot glacier, and Mount Shuksan, one of the most photographed peaks in North America, lead the region’s wow [appeal]. The amount of water features—from ocean shoreline to cascading river waterfalls that lead to pristine lakes—also make this destination an easy sell. This is all a breathtaking backdrop to our vibrant city life, as well as the rural communities that are growing in popularity due to their agricultural and culinary delights.”
Popular group adventures here include kayaking, seasonal salmon runs, whale watching, sailing, boat excursions, and floatplane trips to the San Juan Islands, where groups can revel in the natural beauty or opt to meet at a variety of small resort properties.
Southwest and Central Washington
With its dry and sunny climate, the southwest and central portions of the state are the exceptions to the rule of Washington’s famous penchant for precipitation.
Events in southwest Washington can be as explosive as Mount St. Helens or as refreshing as sea spray. This area is remarkable for its geological uniqueness and many types of outdoor recreation.
“Our unique geographic location and proximity to the coast and mountain ranges give our visitors a diverse experience, where pre- and post-convention activities and day excursions can include snow skiing, beachcombing, hiking, windsurfing, and guided fishing trips,” says Kim Bennett, president and CEO of the Southwest Washington CVB, which promotes the entire region and its anchor city of Vancouver, located just north of Portland, Ore., directly across the Columbia River. “Our year-round mild climate makes us a meeting destination for any time of the year.”
Planners can arrange a bus tour to Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, where the most devastating eruption in U.S. history occurred in 1980. Helicopter tours give a bird’s-eye view directly into the crater of the active volcano.
Groups can also take a guided riverboat cruise on a triple-deck paddle wheeler along the Columbia River, enjoying constantly changing views of the gorge.
Alternative venues offering delightful outdoor space for groups include the Water Resources Education Center, which overlooks the Columbia River and nearly 50 acres of wildlife-rich wetlands, and the Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center, located on 100 acres of urban green space at the historic Vancouver Trout Hatchery.
Just 20 miles east of Vancouver, Skamania Lodge, which overlooks the Columbia River Gorge and features 22,000 square feet of IACC-certified conference space, is an ideal choice for groups that want to be enveloped in the natural beauty of the region.
Situated in the south-central part of the state, the Yakima Valley prides itself on its wineries and orchards.
It’s increasingly popular to pair wine with adventure in the Yakima Valley. Groups can go wine tasting by horseback, bicycle or wagon, try a “Whitewater and Wine” package tour, or become winemakers for a day.
Long known as the “Apple Capital of the World,” the Wenatchee Valley, situated just north of Yakima, is also home to one of Washington State’s fastest-growing wine areas in the Columbia Cascade region. The region is also conveniently located smack-dab in the center of the state.
“While driving through Washington’s Wenatchee Valley, visitors enjoy the area’s signature landscape marked by breathtaking canyons, cliffs and valleys,” says Roger Clute, executive director of the Wenatchee CVB. “With 300 days of sunshine a year and the Columbia River running through it, the Wenatchee Valley boasts unbeatable outdoor adventures throughout the year for enthusiasts of all levels and interests.”
A few of Wenatchee’s best-known and most picturesque wineries are Chateau Faire le Pont, St. Laurent and Ryan Patrick Winery. New wineries are sprouting up all the time, with new restaurants to go along with them.
The region is also ahead of the pack in experimenting with the new enthusiasm for geoteaming, also known as geocaching. The Wenatchee CVB has hidden several caches throughout the valley and invites groups to explore the area in a digital scavenger hunt.
Southeast of Wenatchee is the Tri-Cities area, encompassing Kennewick, Pasco and Richland. With its location at the confluence of the Snake, Yakima and Columbia rivers, the area boasts plenty of waterborne activities for visiting groups, including sailing, waterskiing, fishing, and windsurfing. Several wineries and golf courses are also found throughout the region.
Spokane
A city at one with its place in nature, Spokane sits along the Spokane River and is home to the second-highest urban waterfalls in the country.
In the heart of the city, the 100-acre Riverfront Park offers trails for walking or jogging, and for the best view of the falls, attendees can enjoy the Spokane Falls Skyride, a 15-minute gondola trip past the pounding water.
Spokane is also something of a public golf mecca, with 30 courses located within an hour’s drive of the city.
“Our brand says it all: ‘Spokane. Near nature. Near perfect,’” says Jeanna Hofmeister, vice president/director of destination marketing for the Spokane Regional CVB. “You can actually hook up with an outfitter and just five minutes from your downtown hotel room you can be in Class III white water on a river populated by bald eagles, ospreys, deer, minks, muskrats, beavers, and hundreds of species of birds. Even better, at the end they’ll serve you some great local wine and you can toast to your grand adventure.”
Three outfitters are now offering “water and wine” tours, which feature a white-water rafting trip to a private beach to enjoy a gourmet lunch and sample some local wine. Trips can be customized to anyone’s level of rafting ability.
Additionally, “wine floats” are a new way to enjoy the river when the water level is low. The trips focus on bird watching, fine food and wine pairings.
For More Info
Bellevue Convention Sales Group 425.637.1020
www.bellevueconventions.com
Bellingham/Whatcom County Tourism 360.671.3990
www.bellingham.org
North Olympic Peninsula VCB 360.452.8552
www.northwestsecretplaces.com
Ocean Shores COC 360.289.2451
www.oceanshores.org
Olympia/Lacey/Tumwater VCB 360.704.7544
www.visitolympia.com
San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau 360.378.6822
www.visitsanjuans.com
Seattle’s CVB 206.461.5800
www.visitseattle.org
Seattle Southside Visitor Services 206.575.2489
www.seattlesouthside.com
Snohomish County Tourism Bureau 808.961.5797
www.snohomish.org
Southwest Washington CVB 360.750.1553
www.southwestwashington.com
Spokane Regional CVB 509.624.1341
www.visitspokane.com
Tacoma Regional CVB 253.627.2836
www.traveltacoma.com
Tri-Cities VCB 509.735.8486
www.visittri-cities.com
Wenatchee Valley CVB 509.663.3723
www.wenatcheevalley.org
Yakima Valley VCB 509.575.3010
www.visityakima.com
