If you live in (or are thinking about moving to) Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Liberty Lake, or Spokane, you’ll hear the same thing every fall:

“You have to make a Green Bluff Washington day trip from North Idaho at least once.”

Green Bluff is a small farming community just north of Spokane, home to a cluster of family farms, orchards, and seasonal attractions. The Green Bluff Growers association brings together roughly 30 member farms that host u-pick produce, festivals, live music, and family-friendly events throughout the year. 

In the video, the team takes you along for a fall day on the bluff: pumpkin donuts, apple tasting, jalapeño picking, a stop for pumpkin spice lattes, and plenty of laughs along the way. It’s exactly the kind of day trip that makes living in North Idaho or Eastern Washington feel special—rural charm, big views, and easy access to fresh, local food.

A Sweet Start: Pumpkin Donuts & Huckleberry Jam

Like any good fall outing, this Green Bluff Washington day trip from North Idaho starts with food.

First stop: warm pumpkin donuts. If you’ve never had fresh donuts at one of the farms up on Green Bluff, be warned—once you start, they’re hard to resist. They’re the classic “just one more” treat to enjoy while walking through the orchards or watching the kids climb the farm play structures.

The guys also give a shout-out to Huckleberry Haven, a Montana-based company known for wild berry delicacies like their wildly popular wild huckleberry jam. It’s the kind of simple, ingredient-focused food (huckleberries, sugar, pectin, citric acid) that pairs perfectly with a slice of homemade bread or a weekend brunch at home in North Idaho.

If you love gifts with a local feel, stocking up on jams, syrups, and sauces from places like Huckleberry Haven and the farm shops on Green Bluff is an easy win.

U-Pick Apples, Garlic, and Peppers

One of the best reasons to plan a Green Bluff Washington day trip from North Idaho is the sheer variety of things you can pick yourself.

At farms like High Country Orchard and other Green Bluff growers, you’ll find seasonal u-pick options for apples, pears, cherries, peaches, peppers, tomatoes, and more. 

In the video, the team talks about:

• Apple tasting (with kids or friends):
  They once grabbed one of every apple variety—over 20 types—and did a blind taste test at home. Cosmic Crisp took first place for their family, thanks to its crunch and balanced sweetness. It’s a fun, low-cost family tradition that you can easily copy.

   

• Garlic & more:
  One farm offers over 30 varieties of garlic, proving that “garlic is garlic” is definitely not true. Different garlics have different levels of heat, richness, and roasting flavor—perfect if you love to cook.

   

• Peppers for pickling:
  Rows of jalapeños and other peppers are ready to pick, with a crash course in how to spot the hottest pods (hint: look for lots of “stretch marks” on the pepper’s skin). They plan to turn them into pickled jalapeños with cucumbers and carrots—ideal for nachos, tacos, or charcuterie boards all winter long.

   

Whether you’re into canning, big-batch sauces, or just want fresher produce than the grocery store, Green Bluff is like a seasonal pantry for North Idaho and Spokane-area residents.

Canning, Prepping, and Living That “Mini-Homestead” Life

Not everyone who moves to North Idaho ends up on acreage. Many newcomers choose neighborhoods in Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, or Spokane Valley—but still dream of a more “hands-on” lifestyle with their food.

That’s where a Green Bluff Washington day trip from North Idaho really shines.

The farms here offer:

• Bulk boxes of Roma tomatoes for homemade marinara

   

• Apples and pears by the box for sauces, pies, and dehydrating

   

• Peppers, cucumbers, and garlic for pickling and canning projects

   

The Green Bluff Growers map and crop calendar help you see which farms are open and what’s in season month by month, so you can plan multiple trips throughout the year—not just in October. 

For anyone trying to live more intentionally, stock a pantry, or stretch their grocery budget with preserved foods, regular visits to Green Bluff are a practical (and fun) part of the lifestyle.

Fall Vibes: Foggy Mornings, Flannel, and Pumpkin Spice

The video also leans into the mood of fall in the Inland Northwest: fog rolling over the hills, leaves turning, and that cozy mix of crisp mornings and sunny afternoons.

At High Country Orchard, you can grab a pumpkin spice latte or a simple black coffee and sit on the porch while the kids explore the barnyard, playground, and petting zoo. The guys joke that it’s “fall in a cup”—pumpkin spice, flannel, boots, and pumpkins everywhere you look.

This is exactly why Green Bluff is packed with Idaho license plates every weekend in October. It’s close enough for a quick trip, but far enough into the country that it feels like a mini getaway.

Where Is Green Bluff, Exactly?

If you’re watching from out of the area and wondering where all this is happening, Green Bluff sits on the north side of Spokane, tucked between Liberty Lake and Spokane itself, and just a short drive from the Idaho border. 

Approximate drive times for a Green Bluff Washington day trip from North Idaho:

• From Post Falls: About 30–35 minutes

   

• From Coeur d’Alene: Around 40–45 minutes

   

• From Liberty Lake or Spokane Valley: Roughly 20–30 minutes

   

Most of the route is a scenic drive through rolling farmland. It’s one of those trips where the journey really does add to the experience.

Is Green Bluff a Place You Can Move To?

Green Bluff itself is mostly made up of long-established family farms, with a small population and limited housing inventory. It retains a true small-town, agricultural feel—and locals are very intentional about keeping it that way. 

But here’s the good news:

You don’t have to live on Green Bluff to enjoy it.

Living in nearby communities like Spokane, Mead, Liberty Lake, Coeur d’Alene, Hayden, or Post Falls gives you:

• Easy day-trip access to Green Bluff year-round

   

• Short drives to big-box shopping, dining, and healthcare

   

• Quick access to lakes, rivers, hiking, skiing, and all the North Idaho outdoors you’ve heard about

   

If you want that balance of modern conveniences and weekend farm adventures, this whole cross-border region (North Idaho + Eastern Washington) checks a lot of boxes.

Thinking of Moving to North Idaho or Eastern Washington?

For locals, a Green Bluff Washington day trip from North Idaho is just part of the seasonal rhythm—pumpkin donuts in the fall, u-pick cherries and berries in the summer, and quick weekend drives for fresh produce and fresh air.

If you’re still in “research mode” and watching videos from afar, days like this are a great snapshot of what everyday life can look like when you live here:

• Easy access to family-run farms and orchards

   

• Strong sense of community and tradition

   

• Short drives to airports, shopping, and jobs

   

• Endless opportunities to unplug and make memories with your family

   

If you’re considering a move to North Idaho or Eastern Washington and want to explore neighborhoods, homes, and lifestyle fit, you can schedule a consult with our North Idaho Experience team. 

We help people every day who are curious about this region—whether you’re planning to move now or a year from now. When you’re ready to make Green Bluff and the North Idaho lifestyle part of your everyday reality, we’d love to help you make that move.