Washington State Offline, Aug 5-7, 2005

[Thomas]

Just got an email from Kathy. She is busy but has made some arrangements for the group in August. She promised to tell me more later.

[Thomas]

Spoke with CCK. She has reservations for the group, and other things to tell us. She promised that one day soon she'll post an update on the board.

[Thomas]

From what I gathered from CCK, she has arranged accommodations for a certain group number--in or near Prosser.

Wait for her post before making arrangements.

[californiagirl]

Glad to hear you spoke with CCK! So where is Prosser in respect to the places Bucko spoke of?

I'd have to agree with wow on the $$ for accomidations. Hubby and I just bought this house, b/w that, my salary, 2 growing boys and a cop's salary... I can't really go to the extravagent side of things. Besides, I still won't know for sure if I can go until Hubby gets his shift change next July.

[wondersofwine]

Price at Willows Lodge sounds scary to me. However, I did a search of availability in August and their lowest price was $185 (plus taxes). I would prefer $100-$150 per night but maybe I could stay elsewhere and hobnob with you guys as much as they would allow. There's a Best Western in Kirkland with rooms for $87 or $92. How far away is that from Woodinville? I will give it some thought and start saving for the trip.

[wondersofwine]

I didn't realize that this was posting to a second page in the thread. Kept reposting variations because I thought it didn't transmit. Now that I see CCK has been doing some work on arrangements around Prosser I will wait to see what the story is.

[Glass_A_Day]

I still want to stay at the Willows Lodge. You only go this way once and an extra $50 a night sure seems worth it after seeing that site.

[Bucko]

Prosser is at the eastern end of Yakima Valley about 3-3.5 hours from Seatac airport (or 45 minutes if you are riding with me). Population is 5,000.

The following wineries are very close by:

Alexandria Nicole Cellars. 717 6th Street, Prosser, WA 99350. Phone: 509-786-3497; Fax: 509-786-3469.

Chinook Wines. Wine Country Road at Wittkopf Loop, Prosser, WA 99350. Phone: 509-786-2725; Fax: 509-786-2777.

Hinzerling Winery. 1520 Sheridan Avenue, Prosser, WA 99350. Phone: 509-786-2163; Toll-free: 1-800-722-6702.

Hogue Cellars. Wine Country Road/2800 Lee Road, P. O. Box 31, Prosser, WA 99350. Phone: 509-786-4557; Toll-free: 1-800-565-9779; Fax: 509-786-4580.

Kestrel Vintners. 2890 Lee Road, Prosser, WA 99350. Phone: 509-786-2675; Toll-free: 1-888-343-2675; Fax: 509-786-2679.

Pontin Del Roza Winery. 35502 North Hinzerling Road, Prosser, WA 99350. Phone: 509-786-4449.

Snoqualmie Vineyards. 660 Frontier Road, Prosser, WA 99350. Phone: 509-786-5558Toll-free: 1-800-852-0885; Fax: 509-786-5560.

Thurston-Wolfe Winery. 2880 Lee Road, Suite C, Prosser, WA 99350. Phone: 509-786-3313.

VineHeart Winery. 44209 North McDonald Road, Prosser, WA 99350. Phone: 509-973-2993; Fax: 509-973-2323.

Willow Crest Winery. 135701 W. Snipes Road, Prosser, WA 99350. Phone: 509-786-7999; Fax: 509-786-4675.

Yakima River Winery. 143302 North River Road, Prosser, WA 99350. Phone: 509-786-2805; Fax: 509-786-3203.

There is a brewery as well:

Whitstran Brewing Company. 786-3883. 2880 Lee Rd., Suite B, open Fri. 1 pm-5pm Sat & Sun 11-5.

The Blue Goose Restaurant is the highlight of dining and Best Western is the place for accommodations.

Pluses -- Great for saving bucks. Red Mountain is nearby, with some terrific wineries and vineyards. This is down home country.

Minuses -- The drive from Seatac is longer, there are essentially no side trips, accommodations are more spartan, and food is less stellar.

[Thomas]

WOW, I had the same two-page problem. I kept posting and wondering where it was going...why it doesn't take you to the second page after you post is a mystery to me.

I reiterate: let's wait to hear from CCK to see what she has already arranged and then we can each decide.

Bucko, I think CCK said that Prosser is 35 miles from Seattle or was it Portland? Did I get it right one way or the other?

I suppose I could go to Mapquest...

[This message has been edited by foodie (edited 12-02-2004).]

[wondersofwine]

Foodie,
I think she said it was about the same time by car from either the Seattle or Portland airport--about 3 hours possibly. I was thinking of flying into Portland a couple days early and visiting some wineries to sample mainly Pinot Noir wines.

[Kcwhippet]

According to mapquest.com, it's about 190 miles and 3 hours from either airport to Prosser.

[Thomas]

She did say to me on the phone that Prosser is 35 miles from somewhere--maybe Egypt???

How far is the airport from Seattle? I've only flown in once and that was before the birth of agriculture...

[This message has been edited by foodie (edited 12-02-2004).]

[dananne]

Anne and I are tentatively planning to do what Wonders is doing RE Oregon Pinots. We just weren't sure whether we'd do that before or after the offline. Perhaps we could hook up in Oregon, Wonders?

[This message has been edited by dananne (edited 12-02-2004).]

[Bucko]

Seatac is mile marker 152 (I-5), downtown Seattle starts around exit 164 I believe.

Prosser is exit 80 (I-82), Yakima is exit 33. Not sure where you are getting 35 miles, unless it is hell -- summer in Prosser is hot as hell ...

[Thomas]

...must be my hearing. I am, after all, about as old as ww was 50 years ago...

[wondersofwine]

Dananne,
Sounds like a possibility if I do fly into Portland. If the offline is shifted to closer to Seattle, I might not get to the Oregon wineries. Will stay open on plans for now.

[Bucko]

Anyone wanting to go sightseeing to Seattle, Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, even OR wineries, is welcome to use our home as a base of operations.

We are an hour south of Seattle, about two hours or so west of Mt. Rainier, about two hours northwest of Mt. St. Helens, 2.5 hours north of the Willamette Valley in OR, and 1.5 hours southwest of the Woodinville area wineries in WA.

We have two dedicated guest bedrooms and four blow-up queen air beds for overflow crowds -- we've slept 18 people in the house before!

[Thomas]

..and the overnight rate at Bucko's is...

Seriously, a great offer, and you just might have one taker.

[newsguy]

that is a very kind offer, bucko. my wife and i have never been to seattle and plan on getting over that way either before or after the offline. same for oregon. and since she will only be finishing veterinary medical school in may '05, cash is pretty tight. i'm definitely hoping we do the best western thing that CCK has set up, and that some folks will want to eat at less than 5-star restaurants. my wife spends more time at that type of place worrying about the cost of the meal than she does enjoying the food. but more importantly, less $$ on food and lodging means more money to spend on wine purchases [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]

[This message has been edited by newsguy (edited 12-03-2004).]

[Glass_A_Day]

and GAD makes five... It better be as nice as The Willows. [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]