There is an urban legend about a small town in Washington (Soap Lake) that is the home of mysterious therapeutic mineral waters, so I took a recent road trip to find them.
I also found some truly hidden treasures inside the nearby towns of Quincy and Ephrata, including a restaurant owned by a reality TV star, a fabric shop owned by a YouTube celebrity, a Mexican restaurant with the best reader board sign for miles, and more.
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The Town of Soap Lake Is More Than Just ‘Mineral Water’
Here are five stops I think you’ll love for a unique PNW road trip on the Washington highways and byways, brought to you by the tiny towns of Soap Lake, Ephrata, and Quincy.
Stop #1: The Beach
Don’t try to sneak off with any of the mud or sand when you visit the West Beach in Soap Lake. (Wait, people actually do that?!) You can kayak, paddle board, and do some light swimming at this beach.
10 Main Ave W, Soap Lake
This sign says, “No removal of mud or sand from beach area” in three different languages!
Stop #2: The Ukrainian Food Store
Friends of mine were raving about the candies, deli meats, breads, cheeses and other treats they got to try at Mom’s European Food & Deli.
331 Main Ave E, Soap Lake
Stop #3: Cloudview Kitchen + Bar
When a friend told me that this restaurant in Soap Lake is partly owned by a guy that was a contestant on Project Runway, I flew to Google to see who it was. It’s Blayne Walsh from Season 5!
117 Main Ave E Ste 55, Soap Lake
Stop #4: Mi Cosinita Mexican Grill and Cantina
The favorite part of my road trip view was this reader board sign out front. The day I passed it, it read, “It’s called a heatwave. We call it Margarita Weather.”
222 Daisy St S, Soap Lake
Leaving Town? Grab a Cup of Joe for the Road in Quincy
Before you reach the town of Ephrata, you’ll end up in Quincy. I recommend a stop at Murphy’s Corner Coffee for an architectural treat. You can also stock up on some coffee and packaged ice while you’re there.
1099 Hwy 283 N, Quincy
Ephrata looks like a town that is trapped in the 70s but fashioned with a 21st century twist. You’ll see buildings that make you go, “what decade are we in?“, but then there will be a modern-day Subway store with a digital reader board right next to it.
The Fabric Patch
If you’re into sewing and quilting like me, you can’t make it all the way to Ephrata without a pit stop at The Fabric Patch. The owner, Cindy, and her employees happen to be celebrities on YouTube in case you didn’t know! I got to hang out with some quilty friends at their quilt retreat that Cindy and her husband own.
20 10th Ave SW, Ephrata
I love that a simple road trip gave me so many adventures. There’s so much more to explore near Soap Lake, Washington, than beyond the hype.
Best of the Yakima Farmers Market A Visual Guide
The Yakima Farmers Market is every Sunday at the Rotary Market Place in downtown Yakima (15 W Yakima Ave) from May through October.
Gallery Credit: Lance Tormey