I thought Napa was the gold standard for wine trips. Then, a city in Washington changed what I look for in a vacation.

The Walla Walla Valley region is famous for its wine, and I loved visiting.

Wirestock/Getty Images I celebrated my 30th in Napa Valley and loved it, but the cost made it tough to justify returning.

Later, I found Walla Walla, Washington, which had great wine, dining, and vineyard stays for less.

I was able to have the kind of wine vacation I loved without a hefty price tag or packed itinerary.

When I turned 30, I wanted to do something different as I exited my 20s.

Since I had recently developed an interest in champagne, I looked into wine destinations .

I quickly settled on Napa in Northern California since it was the only one I'd heard of, and I found out the area offered sparkling wine tours.

With stunning vineyard views, ideal weather, tours and tastings, and, of course, incredible food and wine, the destination was nothing short of magical.

My husband and I stayed at a Vrbo called "The Casa," a little house we had all to ourselves, surrounded by vineyards and an adorable farm with chickens visiting our yard throughout the trip.

As memorable as this getaway was, it came with a high price tag.

The tours, tastings, meals, and Vrbo added up quickly, making our wine excursion an unlikely recurrence.

That is, until I discovered Walla Walla.

This smaller city in southeastern Washington is home to a thriving wine region and is only a short plane ride from our home in Seattle.

I decided to visit with my husband for my 33rd birthday, hoping to recreate my Napa experience.