It's good for our families, our communities, and the planet - and lucky for us, Washington is one of the best places on Earth. This year, stay home for the holidays. Here are five fun ways to eat, drink, and travel locally this season. Enjoy!

1. Stock up your cellar with the savings: At Holiday Barrel Tasting in Walla Walla, December 4-6, you'll get discounts on new releases, library wines, and more. Over 50 Walla Walla Valley wineries will be open with winemakers on hand to introduce their new wines and discuss the creative winemaking process. Try the new vintage and take home wines that are only available at the wineries and tasting rooms. (Bonus: festive holiday displays. Dunham, Reininger, L’Ecole, and others really dress up for the season!)

2. Ski, spa, and sip - all in one day: Tired of the crowds at Stevens and Crystal? Just 45 more minutes in the car and you’re at White Pass Ski Resort, 12 miles southeast of Mt. Rainier National Park. Snowboard, ski, or snowshoe the day away on this glorious, roomy mountain. After the last run of the day, drive into Yakima for a Hot Stone Massage at Ummelina Spa, with complimentary Shea Butter hydration and Desert Water, a natural anti-aging body mask honoring the desert dry Yakima Valley. Then stroll down the street to Kana Winery and cozy up with a glass of wine. White Pass Season Pass holders get discounts here, as well as at Hogue Cellars and others.

3. Get away from the big city bustle: Just 20 miles from Walla Walla, Waitsburg is a small town (population: 1,223) with a big appetite for good food and great wine. Monteillet Fromagerie makes fresh, artisanal goat and sheep cheeses. Visit the farm and buy some Chevre, Larzac, or Sauveterre to take home. You can also taste their cheese at the local watering hole, Jimgermanbar. The mostly local menu of “Etruscan Snacks” will pair oh-so-nicely with your favorite Walla Walla Valley wine. Need a little Southern comfort food instead? Go to the Whoopemup Hollow Café for Jambalaya, Mac ‘n Cheese, and cornbread. Their house red is made by Walla Walla’s own Balboa Winery.

4. Give unique wine country gifts: Wine lovers will rejoice over the gift of a wine club membership, offering them a full year of exclusive discounts, tastings, special event invitations, and more. They'll also love a subscription to Wine Press Northwest, restaurant gift certificates, and, of course, wine! How about a case of the Twelve Days of Christmas? Stop by Preston Premium Wines in Pasco and pick up their new release, The 12 Days of Christmas wine. Sold only by the case, the bottles feature 12 different labels to coordinate with the 12 Days of Christmas carol. This limited edition wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. It has rich, toasty oak aromas with hints of vanilla and caramel. Cassis, spice and chokecherry surround the palate, and the finish is smooth and chocolaty.  

5. Enjoy snowflakes and serenity at Sagecliffe: Escape from the hustle and bustle and enjoy “Snowflakes and Serenity” at the Cave B Inn at Sagecliffe, poised 900 feet above the Columbia River. Begin your weekend with a wine tasting at Cave B Estate Winery, followed by a hot stone massage at the spa. Then retreat to your cliffehouse to snuggle up in front of the fireplace with a warm drink and cookies, while outside your window, the trellised veranda twinkles with tiny lights. Nostalgic holiday DVDs, a peppermint bubble bath and mistletoe complete the ambience of holiday warmth and serenity.

Happy holidays!