When most people think of Washington state, they think of rain, clouds, and more rain and more clouds. In cities like Yakima, though, this isn’t the case at all. Yakima gets less than eight inches of rain per year, and while the temperature gets cool, it rarely drops below freezing. Yakima is home to a variety of attractions and places of interest for those interested in visiting, or those already at home.
- Yakima Valley MuseumFrank Fujimoto / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND
The first place on the list of attractions is the Yakima Valley Museum. The museum is home to many different artifacts ranging from prehistoric fossils to horse-drawn carriages and wagons. Yakima Valley Museum is also a known as the home of exhibits dedicated to the Yakama Indians (or Native Americans) that called the area home before Yakima was founded in 1865. Another amazing exhibit that Yakima Valley Museum offers is the “Time Tunnel.” The Time Tunnel is an exhibit designed to take visitors back 25 million years. While visiting the past, museum-goers are likely to see several species of prehistoric life including mammoths and bison latifrons, an ancestor of the bison or North American Buffalo.
The next stop that Yakima offers is the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy. The Cowiche Canyon Conservancy owns more than 2,000 acres of land and has several nature trails running through it. Guests are welcome to explore these trails 365 days a year. While traveling through the trails, hikers will experience the fantastic plant and animal life that make the region known, the most well-known of which are the beavers that thrive in Cowiche Canyon. The Cowiche Canyon Conservancy is also well-known for their conservatory activities and those inclined toward environmentalism can visit the conservancy to inquire how they can help preserve our world.
The next step for a hungry hiker or museum-goer would be The Essencia Artisan Bakery. The Essencia Artisan Bakery is ranked the number one spot to eat in Yakima, located just a few minutes off of Interstate 82. The bakery offers a wide selection of baked goods, artisan breads (which they are most famous for) and various cakes for diners with a sweet tooth. The bakery is also well-known for the strong emphasis on acquiring produce from local producers adding to the environmental edge that the town already has.
After lunch is the perfect time to visit one of Yakima’s several wineries and vineyards near the city. The most well-known of which is Bonair Winery. The Bonair Winery has more than 40 acres of vineyards located on some of the most fertile soil in the area. The winery offers many different types of wine designed for even the most advanced palate or wine aficionado, including many award-winning vintages perfect for special occasions.
Yakima Washington offers a great deal for travelers and those living within the city. From museums to wineries, hiking to artisan breads, Yakima never fails to satisfy the interests of just about everyone.
About the Author: Victoria Heckstall is a travel writer. When she visits Yakima Washington she stays at the Rodeway Inn Hotel & Suites in Yakima Washington.
