WALLA WALLA AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

2018

  • Travel + Leisure named Walla Walla one of the 50 Best Places to Travel to in 2018

  • MSN, Trip Ideas - one of the 31 Most Romantic Weekend Getaways in America  

  • 49th spot on moveBuddha’s list of 100 popular cities to move to with populations between 10,000 and 50,000.

  • Selected to host 2018 Wine Bloggers Conference

  • Whitman College listed as Fulbright top producer - The Chronicle of Higher Education (Click here for additional rankings)

2017

  • Walla Walla featured in "Where to Retire Magazine" as a top retirement destination in the November/December 2017 issue
  • Top 50 most searched destinations under 65,000 population – moveBuddha.com, a relocation assistance service
  • Downtown Walla Walla Foundation received an Economic Vitality award from Washington Trust for Historic Preservation

  • 20 Best Romantic Vacations in America for a Couples' Getaway - Tripadvisor

  • 15 Relaxing Fall Getaways - Travel Channel

  • Whitman College ranks 47th in Kiplinger's Personal Finance's 300 Best College Values for 2018

2016

  • Complete Streets Award from Washington Transportation Improvement Board 
  • Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community designation  
  • Ranked 104th out of 200 for Best Small Places for Business and Careers by Forbes
  • Received 23rd Tree City USA Award
  • Parks & Recreation Department received the Washington Recreation and Park Association’s Spotlight Program Excellence Award in the category of Arts and Cultural Services for the Gentleman of the Road Stopover
  • Finalist for Best Food Town category of the Sunset Travel Awards, along with Portland, Oregon; St. Helena, California; and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

  • Port of Walla Walla Snake River Wastewater Crossing Project received a “Best in State: Silver Award for Successful Fulfillment of Client/Owner Needs” from the American Council of Engineering (ACEC)
  • Whitman College received a top 10 spot on Forbe's America's Top Colleges for 2016-2017 academic year.

2015

  • The Foodie's 5 Must-See Wine Country Destinations - Wine Enthusiast

  • Sunset Magazine Best Food Town finalist with Portland, Oregon; Berkeley, California; and Las Vegas, Nevada. 
  • Lifetime of GMA Achievement Award for excellence in city planning awarded by Governor Jay Inslee
  • Named Breathtaking Wine Country Destination by Fit Travel by Shape
  • Named one of the 10 Most Beautiful Town in Washington by The Culture Trip
  • Named one of the 15 Most Underrated Cities in the USA by Global Yodel
  • Ranked 33rd out of more than 1,300 places as Best Small City in the US by NerdWallet
  • Featured as Wine with a Splash of Sunshine by 425 Magazine

  • Selected as one of the 2015 Gentlemen of the Roads Stopovers

 2014

  • Downtown Walla Walla Foundation's Residential Guidelines was recognized as an Outstanding Special Project by Washington Trust for Historic Preservation

  • One of the 10 Best Wine Travel Destinations – Wine Enthusiast Magazine
  • One of the 24 Best Places to Live and Work – Sunset Magazine
  • Excellence on Main Award from the Washington State Main Street Program
  • Washington State Governor’s Smart Communities Award
  • Named one of the Top 6 Affordable Wine Regions in the US by Bankrate.com

 2013

  • Finalist for America’s Best Small Town for Food in Rand McNally’s Best of the Road competition
  • Fodor’s lists Walla Walla in 10 Best Small Towns in America
  • Received 19th Tree City USA Award
  • Walla Walla Police Department Merit Award for Masonry from the Masonry Industry Promotions Group
  • Walla Walla named as semifinalist for Smart 21 Intelligent Communities

  • Walla Walla Community College named Top Community College in Nation - by the Aspen Institute

2012

  • "Travel + Leisure" magazine list of America's Prettiest Winter Towns

  • American Planning Association names Walla Walla in Top Ten Greatest Neighborhoods
  • Community Facilities Award from the Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council
  • The Daily Meal names Walla Walla one of the Country’s eight Best Small Towns for Food
  • Finalist for America’s Best Small Town for Food in Rand McNally’s Best of the Road Competition
  • Municipal Excellence in Public Works Award for Infrastructure Repair and Replacement Plan from Association of Washington Cities
  • One of the five global finalists for Wine Enthusiast’s Wine Region of the Year Award
  • Tyler Public Sector Excellence Award from Tyler Technologies
  • Tonique Magazine Names Walla Walla as Most Authentic Wine Region in America
  • Wastewater Treatment Plant Outstanding Performance from Washington State Department of Ecology

  • Charles Smith World Headquarters received an Outstanding Design or Rehabilitation award from Washington Trust for Historic Preservation

2011

  • Friendliest Town in the Country – USA Today
  • Friendliest Small Town in America – Rand McNally
  • One of the Five Best Small Towns in America – USA Today
  • Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association
  • Going Above & Beyond in Drinking Water Award from the Washington State Department of Health
  • State of Washington Governor’s Smart Communities Award for the Washington Park Gathering Place project

2010

  • America’s New Wine Capital – The Today Show
  • Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association
  • Government Fleet Magazine awards the Fleet Services Division with the Environmental Leadership Award

2009

  • Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association
  • Named one of The West’s 20 Best Small Town – Sunset Magazine

  • Governor's Smart Communities Award for Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 

2008

  • Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association

2007

  • Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association

2006

  • Top 5 Places to Retire – CNNMoney.com
  • Port of Walla Walla receives "Port of the Year Award" by the Washington Public Ports Association
  • Port of Walla Walla receives the Governor's Economic & Workforce Development Award

2005

  • ESRI Special Achievement in Geographic Information Systems
  • Excellence in Downtown Revitalization Award – National Trust for Historic Preservation
  • 2005 Wine Destination of the Year – Sunset Magazine  

2004

  • Best Economic Restructuring Story – Department of Community Trade and Economic Development

  • Downtown nominated for the 2005 Preserve America Presidential Award
  • Received its 10th Tree City USA Award and its 4th Tree Grow Award

2002

  • One of 12 national Distinctive Destinations –  National Trust for Historic Preservation
  • The West’s Best Place to Live  – Sunset Magazine

  • Best Main Street  – Sunset Magazine

2001

  • Arbor Day Award – the Washington Arbor Day Council

  • Great American Main Street Award – National Trust for Historic Preservation 

2000

  • Semi-Finalist for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Great American Main Street Award

1999

  • City receives Honorable Mention from National Trust for Historic Preservation 

1996

  • Named One of the 100 Best Small Art Towns in America in a book by John Villani, John Muir Publications