Rain or Shine on the Road: Moab, Utah

It's pretty obvious that we love the Pacific Northwest seeing as how we have dedicated our entire website to it. Like most people, though, we also love vacation! We are curious explorers, and we both spend a great deal of time traveling outside of the Northwest. We thought it would be fun to occasionally share our thoughts about place we have been. Up first, Moab, Utah!

Moab is a beautiful area of the U.S. known for its unique red rock formations, incredible hiking, and outdoor recreation. If you only have a few days in the area, here is what we recommend:

Delicate Arch Rock

• Hike to Delicate Arch Rock in Arches National Park. The park has a plethora of places to explore, but if you only have a small amount of time, the Delicate Arch is a (somewhat) easy hike that will take you to a very famous Moab landmark.

The Canyonlands view from Dead Horse State Park

• Drive to Dead Horse State Park to see the incredible view of the Canyonlands that rivals the Grand Canyon. If you don't have time to explore all of the Canyonlands National Park, then you can catch all the beauty from this one spot. Bonus points if you get up early and go for sunrise. Just don't forget coffee.

Hwy 128

• Drive the scenic Hwy 128 and pull over to check out the unique formations of Fisher Towers. This highway is one of the most scenic in the world and will allow you to see Moab in all its red rock glory. Many movies have been filmed in this location due to the beautiful backdrop (Thelma and Louise for starters!)

Castle Creek Winery

• Visit Castle Creek Winery. Who knew grapes could grow in the desert?!?! They do and they are delicious. The winery is located along Hwy 128, so it's an easy stop along your scenic drive. There is a movie museum located in the lodge next door that showcases all the films that have been made in the area! It's fun and free.

Morning Glory Arch

• Hike to Morning Glory Arch. Also located on Hwy 128, this is an easy hike (four miles roundtrip) and will take you to one of the longest natural bridges in the world! It's a pretty hike that will take you across a creek bed multiple times, past cactuses, and across rock slabs. If you are you lucky, you might see climbers propelling down the bridge.

• Eat a delicious breakfast at Eklecticafe. To be honest, the town of Moab is small and somewhat unimpressive, but we loved the charm of Eklecticafe. This cute, local spot has a diverse menu and wonderful coffee. It's decorated with neat knickknacks and garden art.

• Grab a burger and shake at Milt's Stop and Eat. This place is a local favorite and the oldest restaurant in Moab. It's a great deal and all of the meat is grass-fed and hormone-free. Eat on the patio and enjoy the Moab air.

Seattle's Best Dumplings

Din Tai Fung

In our humble opinion, Din Tai Fung is the king of soup dumplings. The wait at this restaurant is always obscene, but it's worth it. Our tip? Don't go with a party bigger than two. Then when you arrive, try to snag a seat in the bar area. Same delicious food, 1/8 of the wait time! 

What to order? Pork XiaoLongBao and Spicy Steamed Pork Dumplings (Foodie Tip: the sauce the spicy dumplings come in is also great poured over fried rice)

Fu Man Dumpling House 

Fu Man Dumpling House is famous for their garlic dipping sauce. It is CRACK. Probably full of all sorts of bad stuff, but who cares. Indulge, pour it all those steaming, delicious dumplings and enjoy how happy your mouth feels. 

What to order? Fu Man Boiled Pork and Vegetable Dumplings 

Judy Fu's Snappy Dragon

Judy Fu is literally making your dumplings in the back room. She gets mad respect from us because even though these dumplings are misshapen and, compared to others, quite skimpy on the stuffing, they are so so good. We could eat 20 alone (we aren't saying we HAVE, but you know...we COULD). 

What to order? Pork and Vegetable Jiao-Zi, the handmade noodles are also to die for! 

Little Ting's Dumpling House

Little Ting's has great dumplings which are made fresh every day before each shift. They also add to the great dumplings with their friendly service and cute decor. 

What to order? Pork and Chive Dumplings and the Pan-Fried Scallop and Chive Dumplings 

Your Complete Guide to Halloween in Seattle

Halloween. The beginning of the holiday season. We here at Rain or Shine love Halloween. We dress up in ridiculous costumes, get stares on public transportation, and eat way too much candy corn (what is that stuff anyways? sugar and corn starch? probably going to kill us one day...). And we do it all for nothing other than a good time.

Halloween in Seattle is always a bit of a risk because of that pesky thing we all know and love so much here, rain. Face paint doesn't do so well in the rain. Elaborate hair-dos don't either. But when has the rain ever stopped us? We are Seattleites and we WILL do Halloween right. Check out our list to find all the things you need to have a spook-tacular week (yep, we just said spook-tacular and we aren't ashamed at all)! 

Costume shops

Display and Costume 

Display and Costume is home to all of your party planning needs, but they really go all out at Halloween time. The store is filled with already-made costumes including a wide selection of masks, wigs, outfits, and accessories. On top of all that they also have everything for the do-it-yourselfer, the store is filled with all sorts of items to create your perfect look including fabric, sequins, buttons, felt and much, much more.

Value Village 

Everyone's favorite thrift store stocks their shelves with ready to wear costumes every October. We love all their cute, little accessories (like witches hats, silly glasses, and colored hair spray!), but it's also the perfect place to find cheap, used clothing to fulfill costume needs. 

Arnie's Vintage Costumers 

Arnie's is going to be the place where you can get REAL costumes. We're not talking about the pre-packaged, cheap stuff from other stores. These babies are elaborate and beautiful and will 100% win you all the costume awards (I mean, maybe, no promises). You rent costumes here vs. buying and it's the place to shop if you want orante costumes from wild west wear to pirates and wenches to wizards. Our personal pick is Dweedle Dum. Please send us photos immediately.

Create your own Halloween masks at MOHAI

If you want something truly unique you have to create your own! For all you creative artists out there, MOHAI is hosting a mask making workshop the Saturday before Halloween. 

Parties/Events

Campout Cinema: Carrie

Watch this epic screening of Carrie at the EMP on Friday, October 28. There will be trivia, giveaways, and drink specials (everyone must be 21+). 

This is Halloween at the Triple Door 

See a scandalous rendition of The Nightmare Before Christmas at The Triple Door. Our favorite dancers at the Can Can will be performing the spooky and sexy show. 

Creepy Crawly Cocktails

Burke Museum at UW is hosting a night where you can look at bats and snakes (don't worry they aren't alive) and drink specialty cocktails. They didn't have us convinced until we read the cocktail creation: Westland Distillery American Single Malt Whiskey, black walnut bitters, orgeat syrup and lime juice. 

7th Annual ER Costume Crawl

This costume party is put on by some seriously players in Seattle. Vito's, Hotel Sorrento, and the Hideout team up to throw the hottest party in town. Plus if your costume rocks you could win $500.00. 

For the kiddos

Trick or Treat at Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market has a ton of stalls that participate in trick-or-treat. Walk around from stall to stall getting to know your local farmers and artists. Oh, and don't miss Orange Dracula, which is the hub of the event, in the lower level with it's photo booth (perfect for capturing those awesome costumes), and Dracula pinball machine! 

University Village Trick or Treat

U-Village goes all out for their trick or treat event. Parents and kids will enjoy it, plus it's safe and some stores even have sales! Mom, we recommend making Dad do a few rounds alone! 

Pumpkin Patches

The Farm at Swan Lake

The Farm is one of the most popular pumpkin patches in the area and for good reason. They literally have it all and they don't half ass anything. 50-acre pumpkin patch, a 12 acre corn maze, and a pick your own apple orchard make it a great day full of good, wholesome, fall fun.

Fall City Farms

Fall City Farms is simply put, a-freaking-dorable. Seriously this place is right out of a fairy tale and is great for photos and as well as all the traditional pumpkin patch-ing activites! 

Napa in Bluejeans? Walla Walla Is So Much More

Walla Walla Incubator buildings near the airport where several small wineries get their start.

Remember when hippies in coveralls with a passion for unfiltered chardonnay ran the CA Napa Valley? Me neither. Those glorious heydays expired long before I could buy my own meal in a restaurant, let alone a vintage wine worth drinking. So it makes my hackles rise when the New York Times refers to Walla Walla as “Napa in Bluejeans,” as if one of Washington’s richest viticultural areas is like your rustic cousin who’s not sure which spoon to use with his vichyssoise.

Walla Walla is its very own AVA here in Washington state, sequestered in the south-eastern corner right next to Oregon, and produces some of the finest, well-structured wines on our local shelves. Mostly small producers and several estate wineries dot the map in a relatively compact area that lends itself to a weekend wine trip over the pass. I recently spent a glorious sunny weekend over in Walla Walla in the midst of the harvest/crush so now is absolutely the time to gas up the car and scoot over I-90.

Walla Walla is broken into roughly four geographic areas, so here are a few tips as you dip your toe into this terroir-rich region:

West

As you roll into town along HWY 12, you’ll encounter several wineries including L’Ecole No 41 in an old schoolhouse, and the sprawling lovely, expanse of Waterbrook Winery. All have parking and tasting rooms, so go ahead and stop in even before you get to your hotel. Better yet, save room in your trunk to load up on a few bottles on your way back out of town as wine dies in hot cars.

Insider Tip: Old HWY 12 is also home to some great wineries, including Cougar Crest and Reininger Winery. Some require you to call for specific estate addresses so plan ahead.

North (Downtown)

Not producing wines on your estate, but want to pour for the thirsty Walla Walla crowds? Many wineries have tasting rooms within short walking distance to each other in the quaint downtown district. You can hit up several like Mark Ryan, Rotie Cellars, and Trust Cellars without even breaking a sweat. Personally, I think Maison Bleue has the most beautiful, tranquil tasting room downtown. Tasting fees are often rolled right into the cost of a bottle if you decide to buy.

Insider Tip: Several tasting rooms are by appointment only, or you must accompany a wine club member to gain access. This is true of Corliss Estates and Doubleback. Plan ahead if there’s a specific wine or winery you’d like to try and make friends with club members by following event lists or signing up for updates.

Corliss Estates keeps its back library down in its own wine cave cellar below the facility.

The remarkable tasting and event facilities at Corliss Estates.

Done at Doubleback Winery

East (Airport)

Like Woodinville with its Warehouse District, Walla Walla has transformed several industrial buildings near the airport into wine incubators for fledgling producers and full-blown production facilities for others. Nearly two dozen winemakers are happy to showcase their vintages to you there, including K Vintners, Corvus Cellars, and Palencia Wine Company (with their incredibly well-priced $20 Cab Sav). Plenty of parking and lots to try.

Insider Tip: Walla Walla isn’t just wine; there are some great craft beer makers and distillers too. Give Shot in The Dark Craft Distillery a try if you’re looking for moonshine or a delicious Apple Pie liquor that would be perfect for Thanksgiving.

Large stainless steel fermentation tanks in action during crush and production.

The pump-over method keeps the “cap” moist and healthy during primary fermentation.

South

Heading back out of town and / or into Oregon you’ll find several more estate wineries. Think long rows of vines, huge chateau style buildings, and some of the most famous dirt in all of Walla Walla: The Rocks District. The Rocks District is a sub-appellation of the Walla Walla Valley AVA, which itself is a sub-appellation of the Columbia Valley AVA. This is one of the only AVAs where the boundaries are defined by the type of soil found there: cobblestones. The rocks impart a minerality to the grapes grown there found nowhere else in the world. If you’re lucky enough to try a wine from Cayuse Vineyards or Pepper Bridge Winery, you’ll see why the stones make the difference.

Insider Tip: Plenty of delicious wine still on the Washington side of the border. This author’s favorites can be found at Va Piano Vineyards and if you visit in the fall, you might still see fruit on the vines or production happening right in front of you at the facility.

Acres of fruit-laden vines at Figgins Family Wine Estates, just outside Walla Walla.

Many tasting rooms line the streets of downtown Walla Walla and make for a great afternoon stroll.

If you feel like putting in a few hours on the road, or want to catch one of the few daily Alaska Airlines flights out of SeaTac, Walla Walla is a perfect getaway for PNW wine lovers. And here’s my last insider tip: There aren’t a ton of hotels in Walla Walla and motels might not be your thing, but in recent years dozens of new VRBO and Airbnb houses have opened their doors. If you get a few friends together you can enjoy Walla Walla on a budget, some with a full pool, hot tub, kitchen, and often times in historic adorable homes in this charming wine village.

Salud!

Amy L. Dickson is a communications professional, freelance writer, and contributor to Rain or Shine Guides. She’s currently training at the NW Wine Academy for her Level 1 sommelier certification. Follow her at @amyldickson75.