Even before Washington, Missouri, was officially founded in 1839, there were already settlers living in and around the area located on the southern tip of the Missouri River. Some of the earliest residents were followers of the great frontiersman Daniel Boone, who moved his family to nearby in the late 1790s. In 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark passed through town on their journey west. In the 1830s, a large influx of German immigrants began to populate the town, influenced by the writings of Gottfried Duden, whose“Report on a Journey to the Western States of North America” drew comparisons between the Missouri River Valley and the Rhine in Germany.
Established as one of the first American cities west of the Mississippi River, Washington’s location on the map served as an ideal steamboat landing for westward vessels for much of the 19th century. Today, as the largest community between St. Louis and Jefferson City, Washington’s population continues to grow, and along with it, a flourishing downtown area dotted with family-owned storefronts and historical markers such as the Missouri Meerschaum Company’s three-story brick factory, home of the world’s oldest and largest manufacturer of corn cob pipes. The company, which is marking 150 years in 2019, ships approximately 5,000 pipes across the country and around the world daily.
Speaking of milestones, Washington’s biggest annual event, the Town & Country Fair, is celebrating its 90th year this year. The five-day event is among the biggest fairs in Missouri, and features a plethora of attractions, including live music by national acts, rides, motorsports events, special exhibits and a Family Fun Center.
TOWN & COUNTRY FAIR
Aug. 7 to 11
Entertainment headliners: Micah Tyler (Aug. 7), Locash (Aug. 8), Shooter Jennings (Aug. 9), Styx (Aug. 10) and David Lee Murphy (Aug. 11)
Attraction highlights include Agriland (face-painting, Stick Horse Rodeo and Pig Chase contests and more); Family Fun Center (jugglers, dance parties, beginner’s yoga); and Motorsports (tractor pulls, Stadium Motocross, etc.), among others.
*Daily admission: $15 to $30 (adults), $10 to $15 (children ages 6 to 15); season passes also available
*Admission includes concerts, shows, exhibits, midway rides and motorsports events. Visit washmofair.com for a complete schedule of events and ticket information.
IN AND AROUND WASHINGTON
STREETSIDE TACOS
You’ll notice a certain SoCal vibe when you step inside Streetside Tacos—and that vibe is no pretense. Owner Anthony Avila hails from Los Angeles, and since opening Streetside one year ago, his Southern California-style tacos—reminiscent of the traditional street tacos he grew up enjoying—have earned quite a reputation in Washington and beyond.
Streetside Tacos, located on Front Street, is a far cry from Avila’s former downtown eatery, Tacolicious, which built a loyal following but had seating for only a handful of people. When Avila and his business partners rebranded and moved to a prime spot along the riverfront, the possibilities flowed.
In addition to the honest-to-goodness tacos (served “Street Taco Style” with cilantro, onion and lime; or “American Style” with lettuce, cheese and tomatoes), the menu is extensive. There is also an excellent Baja Cali Fish Taco with beer-battered cod, baja sauce and cabbage, as well as all sorts and combinations of enchiladas, taquitos and quesadillas. Spice things up with a Gangsta Relleno, a stuffed pepper with cheese and covered in red ranchero sauce. We’d be remiss if we don’t mention the SoCal Nacho Fries—think nachos with the works, but with French fries instead of tortilla chips. And the Monstro Burritos are just that: monster-sized and most definitely shareable.
Streetside has also begun serving house-made tamales using a recipe from Avila’s mother, who can sometimes be seen at work in the kitchen. Did we mention Streetside has a complimentary chips-and-salsa bar, showcasing its different types of homemade salsa and chips? Oh, and the kitchen makes its own queso, too. facebook.com/SSTacos
MAIN STREET CREAMERY
Yes, you can have ice cream for lunch—and apparently many people are doing just that!
Owner Nick Kiser, who moved to the area from Wildwood to open the establishment in March 2018, says don’t be surprised to see a line forming outside the door on the weekend or during peak season, even before this downtown Main Street destination opens at 11 a.m. Kiser estimates that at its busiest, the shop goes through 200 to 300 gallons of ice cream a week!
Maybe—just maybe—those show-stopping, over-the-top specialty milkshakes have something to do with it. Indulge in the Rise N’ Shine, a java chunk shake drizzled in chocolate and garnished with a slice of house-made gooey butter cake; The Cowboy, made with Butterfinger and topped with a donut, upside-down vanilla cone and caramel drizzle; or the Strawberry Gooey Goodness, a strawberry milkshake with strawberry gooey butter cake, whipped cream and oodles of strawberry drizzle. Main Street also has regular ice cream cones, sundaes and classic milkshakes on the menu, but why not go for the gusto—so you can have your shake and eat some cake, too? facebook.com/MainStreetMilkshake
MISSOURI WINE COUNTRY
Do you know that the road to Missouri Wine Country passes through Washington, with more than 40 wineries a short drive away?
One such destination is Balducci Vineyards, just a mere 10-minute car ride from the center of town. The estate has been with the Balducci family since 1987, when Rick and Carol Balducci—owners of Balducci’s Restaurant in St. Louis–purchased the land from a cousin. The family became grape growers, selling their fruit to local winemakers until opening their own winery in 2001. Today, the couple’s son, Nic, is the winemaker, crafting critically acclaimed wines such as Bella, a dry white made from 100 percent vignoles, and the refreshing Rosé, which is perfect on a warm summer day.
Of course, we can’t ignore Balducci’s pedigree when it comes to food—the family’s namesake restaurant has been in business for almost 45 years—and the winery delivers with a dining menu that alone is worth the trip. Pair the House Salad with a glass of Bella or Natalia, the Chicken Vignole with some Vidal Blanc, or the Mediterranean Pasta with the subtle—yet-fruity—Aria. Balducci’s also hosts a special dinner every second and fourth Friday of the month, featuring wine paired with classic Italian entrees. BalducciVineyards.com
Just a few miles further down MO-94 is the popular Montelle Winery, which boasts the best view in all of Missouri Wine Country. Its list of award-winning vintages is long, with the Chardonel, Dry Vignoles, Norton and La Rosée leading the way. Montelle’s Klondike Café features hot and cold appetizers, salads, sandwiches and wraps; and the newly opened Parliament Room offers full-service seating for lunch on the weekends, as well as Saturday evening dinners. The sunsets here are spectacular! montelle.com
