I live in Puget Sound and would like to take a 5 or 6 night trip over the mountains and through the Palouse this spring. From the Palouse I would like to tour a little of Canada (fruitland, lakes, etc..) and then shoot back home to Port Orchard.
First question. Where exactly is the Palouse? When is the best time to see the rolling, green hills? What sights should I see and where is a good place to stay?
Really don't want to spend too much time there, but just a nice day drive through the hills and see the green. My wife is from Germany and we love to travel. After seeing a few car commercials with cars driving through the Palouse I thought I would give it a try.
After 2 nights here I would like to head north to Canada. Some friends visiting from Germany spent 3 weeks camping in Canada and loved the fruitland area. They said there were lots of lakes and things to do. I would like to know any must see's in this area and a nice wooded lake with cabins for rent for a few nights.
Thanks for the help!

The palouse is the area south of Spokane where WSU is. This is pretty sparse land, I don't know if there are really any hotels except in Pullman and maybe Colfax! Then you would need to drive north to Canada, there is a border crossing in northern Idaho that I know of.

http://www.palouse.com/

Wendy

One of my favorite drives in the world that sounds like it fits your question is east from Spokane into the Idaho Panhandle. From Couer d' Alene, head north through Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry on into Canada. When you hit Canada Hwy 3, head west again. You can go all the way back to the coast in Canada or drop back into Washington, whichever is your preference. If you like scenic drives, this is a good'un.

Palouse is great. Been many times.
Not many tourists. The highway from
Spokane south is US 95. Stop at Steptoe Butte and Pullman(WSU). Go all the way to Clarkston,
on the Columbia. Come back up the Idaho
side. You will be reminded of the greatness of our country and its people.

Thanks, dwooddon & cessna. I'll probably take your advice and go via Idaho to Canada. What would be the best time to really see the GREEN hills?

Touring the Palouse in the spring is one of our favorite things. It's not very well known outside the region, and it's simply GREAT touring. The hills are indescribably green, red barns, blue skies with puffy clouds - breathtaking.

The best areas IMO are around Dayton and Pomeroy, with Pullman and Walla Walla being more or less the "anchors" of the area. SR 127 and US 12 are key roads, but any side roads will do. As far as time goes, any time in April or the first half of May will probably be good.

Try to fit in Palouse Falls off SR 26 if you can, and you also might enjoy the overlook above Clarkston WA and Lewiston ID. If you want to head north on US 95 through the Idaho panhandle, fine, otherwise crossing back past Grand Coulee Dam to US 97, then north to Osoyoos BC and back across the mountains on BC 3 is a dynamite drive in the spring, too - orchards, BC hard cider... yum.

If you can, try to book into the Patit Creek Restaurant in Dayton (we stay at the comfortable Victorian Dayton Hotel). The Patit Creek as a 3- or 4-star restaurant, sort of French, sort of "continental" (whatever that means) - generally regarded as the best restaurant in eastern Washington, and IMO it would rank highly anywhere. Quite a surprise out here in the wheat fields.

Fanstic advice Gardyloo, Thanks!!
Looking forward to the trip.