A group of women will be visiting Seattle next week for meetings. We would like to have some ideas of what to do in the evenings... and several of us are interested in driving to see and taste at a few vineyards on Saturday before we fly out on Sunday. We appreciate any ideas... We are staying near the airport.

I think St Michelle does the best tours.

I haven't been to all the tours, but St. Michelle is a lovely winery and Columbia is right across the way. You might even consider doing the Spirit of Washington train as they go to Columbia winery (though not St. Michelle).

The Spirit of Washington train is no longer running.

For more info on the wineries in the Woodinville area (just northeast of Seattle) check the page from the winesnw site below.
http://www.winesnw.com/woodinville.html

If you want to splurge consider dinner at The Herb Farm in Woodinville after your day at the vineyards. Reservations can be hard to get or you could luck into it. The meal is pricey but very fun.

Another suggestion, check into Willows Lodge for your last night and enjoy some post-wine tasting pampering (they have a small spa) and dinner at the Barking Frog on the property. Also, Redhook Brewery is right there for an alternative to winetasting.

If you just want winetasting - the two biggies are Chateau St. Michele and Columbia, both with tours and Chateau St. Michele has lovely grounds. With a little research you might be able to visit some of the smaller (but high quality) vineyards in the area but I would recommend calling first.

Please distinguish between vineyards and wineries. Most of the wineries around Seattle get their grapes from Eastern Washington. In February getting to those vineyards, never mind touring them, is anything but easy.

Thank you for the info. I am checking out the suggestions. Any ideas for evenings during the weekof our stay. Dinner, comedy, sights to see after 5:00?

Yes...be clear that the tasting rooms are on the western side of the mountains but the actual vineyards are a 3 hour drive away. Chateau Ste. Michelle has the best tour and tasting and there are many other tasting rooms all clustered within a 2 mile radius of the Chateau.

The Herbfarm is fantastic but reservations are generally needed months in advance and dinner runs about 250 - 250 per person. The Barking Frog is good. Purple Cafe is a great wine bar/restaurant. They have one both in Woodinville (where the wineries are) and in downtown Seattle.

As for the evening in Seattle, it really depends on your age and what you like to do. Anything availalbe in a large city is available in Seattle; theater, dancing, bars and terrific restaurants. Belltown in the downtown areas has great restaurants and bars all within walking distance of each other.

How about Teatro Zinzanni dinner theater?
www.zinzanni.org

For music The Triple Door or Jazz Alley?
www.tripledoor.com
www.jazzalley.co

Highly recommend Jazz Alley. Also the art museum if it's open again. I believe it was closed for renovation for a time. You might enjoy a whale watch as well.

Thanks, NW Native, didn't know that the Spirit of Washington was no longer.

But I was just at Seattle Art Museum and that is open. You can check out their website here:

http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/default.asp

And another vote for Jazz Alley.