How to Spend the Perfect Weekend on the Palouse

Chiana McInelly

Moscow, Idaho, and Pullman, Washington, aren’t technically sister cities, but they have plenty in common, from their locations in the heart of the Palouse region to their college-town vibes. The presence of the University of Idaho and Washington State University make for a unique blend of small-town atmosphere and big-city amenities. 

Dre Arman, Idaho and Nevada chapter coordinator for Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, and Alexis Foran, tourism promotions manager for the Pullman Chamber of Commerce, are both transplants (Arman from Ohio, Foran from Colorado). 

They’ve weighed in on the perfect weekend itinerary for visitors looking for the best way to enjoy their trip to Pullman and Moscow.

Friday 

Ready to start your trip to Pullman and Moscow? These towns are so close to each other – less than 10 miles and a few minutes apart – that either community is a perfect home base for exploring the area.

Since both are university towns, there’s no dearth of hotel rooms, many of which are great values, but visitors looking for something a bit more stylish can opt for the exclusive Hattabaugh Hotel in Moscow (located above the Colter’s Creek Winery tasting room in a historic building) or the hip Hotel McCoy in Pullman (which has its own bar, bottle shop and grilled cheese bistro). 

Foran recommends kicking off the weekend with dinner at The Black Cypress, where diners can enjoy modern American food with Mediterranean flavors like Cypriot sandwiches (halloumi cheese, seasonal jam and mint on grilled bread) and ribeye with XO rub in an upscale but comfy dining room. 

“It is one of Pullman’s finest restaurants,” she says, pointing out the Main Street restaurant’s romantic vibe. 

The dining room is on the small side, so reservations are recommended, but making them is well worth the effort. 

After dinner, Foran doesn’t have far to go for a nightcap. “A lot of smaller communities have a local dive bar, a hole in the wall,” she says, “but because Pullman is a weird mix of small-town and metropolitan amenities, next door is an upscale cocktail bar.” 

Etsi Bravo toes the line between grown-up bar and nightclub, with velvet chairs, chandeliers and an ever-changing roster of events giving it a sophisticated feel. 

Saturday 

On the second day of your trip to Pullman and Moscow, be sure to rise and shine with a visit to Moscow’s One World Cafe, where Arman often grabs her morning joe. The cafe brews Landgrove Coffee, which is roasted just down the road in nearby Troy, Idaho. One World offers three different drip coffees – Arman’s pick is the Guatemalan beans. 

“I’ll grab a coffee, and if the farmers market is happening, I’ll walk around with coffee,” she says. “If it’s not happening, I’ll hole up in One World for a while.” 

The Moscow Farmers Market takes over three blocks of the city’s Main Street every Saturday from May through October, with over 75 vendors setting up shop. Pick up luxurious, cozy, handknit mittens and scarves from CountryTime Alpacas, grab cold-pressed juice blends (like beet, strawberry, pineapple and lemon) from Palouse Juice and nab a jar of local honey from Woodland Honey. 

Next, head out for a hike and take in the Palouse’s natural beauty. Both Arman and Foran recommend a trip to Kamiak Butte County Park, where the 3.5-mile Pine Ridge Trail offers great views of the rolling hills of the region. 

“It’s a really nice sanctuary out there, with wildflowers and birding,” Foran says. “The good thing about out here is you don’t have to climb a 14-er to get the view.” 

Head back to Pullman for lunch at Rico’s Public House, a historic tavern that’s been serving the community since 1909. Whether you’re ordering from the brunch or lunch menu, a Scotch egg on the side is mandatory. 

Make your way to the Washington State University campus for a visit to the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art – you can’t miss the building’s blindingly reflective scarlet facade that’s been dubbed “the crimson cube.” Those who prefer their art alfresco can tool around the city and check out the many murals that have popped up in recent years. They range from brightly abstract to elaborate still life. 

The most recent, Riverside Mural, is an over 100-foot-long stylized landscape that echoes the scenery of the Palouse in tones of blues and greens. It debuted in October 2023 on a building overlooking a section of the South Fork Palouse River that runs through downtown Pullman.

Or check out The Gathering Place Candle Bar on Main Street, where customers can create custom candles with their own labels and scent blends. “I’m obsessed,” Foran says. 

For dinner, choose your own adventure, whether laid back or upscale, in Moscow at either Humble Burger (“The best smashburger ever,” says Arman, “and the best fry sauce in the West”) or modern American restaurant Lodgepole (“If I’m treating myself, I go there … It’s Northern comfort food.”) 

Afterward, visit the Pour Company for craft beer. The taproom serves beer and cider from Idaho producers as well as a strong selection of bottle imports from Japan (Hitachino), Belgium (3 Fonteinen), Italy (Birra Baladin) and England (J.W. Lees). 

The Pour Company closes at 9 p.m., so for late-night live music, head to John’s Alley Tavern for affordable drinks, a round of darts or a turn on Big Buck Hunter, tunes and an all-around good time. 

Sunday 

For Sunday brunch, there’s one option that Arman recommends “hands down”: The Breakfast Club, a Moscow institution that has been serving breakfast and lunch to residents and students for 25 years. Be sure to get there early to snag one of the first open tables (doors open at 7 a.m.). 

The Harvest Bagel, toasted and topped with avocado, tomato, onions and sprouts, is Arman’s go-to, but the menu also boasts temptations like stuffed biscuits and gravy and pound cake French toast. 

And before wrapping up your weekend, make time for an experience you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else: Stop by Pullman’s WSU Bear Center, where you can watch grizzly bears (subjects of the university’s bear research, conservation and education program) in their outside enclosures. 

You may see them playing in their exercise yard or lounging in a pool (no word whether they are smarter than the average bear). 

Enjoy the weekend? Go ahead and start planning for the next time you take a trip to Pullman and Moscow!