When most people think of Washington, they think of Seattle, the Space Needle, and Mt. Rainier. Washington is far more than that, however. The Cascade Mountains divide the state into two distinctive regions. To the west is the rainy, cloudy region that most people associate with Washington. To the east one finds a much drier area which is hotter in the summer and often colder in the winter.
Through this eastern region flows the mighty Columbia River. In the southern part of the state it is joined by the Snake River and the Yakima River. It is at this junction that the Tri-Cities area has grown up. There really are three cities in the area Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland. We visited the area for the first time in April over Easter and found it to be a distinctive place to visit for a few days.
The main reason we went was to go on an Easter brunch river cruise. The cruise was operated by Water2Wine Cruises. It lasted two hours and included a buffet brunch. The food was wonderful, and the cruise was very relaxing. However, it was a slow cruise through the Tri-Cities, and there was not much to see. They offer other cruises including a cruise on the Snake River which might have some more interesting sights to see.
Our first night there we wandered over to the Columbia Marina Park to check out where we would be catching our boat for the cruise. We discovered it is a great place to take pictures of the sunset. From the park you can walk up to the the freeway that crosses the Columbia River, and it gives a nice water view for your sunset pictures.
Another great place for a view of the Tri-Cities is Badger Mountain. This is a very popular hiking trail area as it is on the edge of the city. There were a number of people out hiking when we were there. Be aware that there are really no trees to speak of for shade so in the summer heat this would be quite challenging. However, once at the top, the views can go on for miles. While we were warm in April, it was really not a bad hike and one of our favorite things we did in the area.
One thing we did not do was visit the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. We didn’t have the foresight to plan for it so we were unable to get a reservation to go. However, on our next visit to the Tri-Cities we will make sure to go as it seems to be very worthwhile.
Clover Island is a place that the city of Kennewick has built up and made into a unique place. The most popular spot seems to be the lighthouse, but the boat docks can be interesting as well. The island also offers a great view of the cable bridge nearby and some art pieces. We spent an hour or so walking around the area. A few blocks away is Old Kennewick which we thought would have some interesting shops, but perhaps because we were there on a Monday, there wasn’t much to see or do there. There was an antique store and some nice restaurants, but that was about all. It was a bit disappointing.
At the juncture of the Snake and Columbia Rivers is Sacajawea State Park. It has some nice views of the rivers, and some magnificent old trees. There is also a museum there, but as luck would have it, it was closed the day we were there for some maintenance work. It is a large park with lots of parking. It does require a Discover Pass from the state or an entrance fee to get into the park.
All around the Columbia River you can follow the Sacajawea Heritage Trail. This is a 23 mile trail that goes up and down both sides of the river. It is paved the entire way. We walked parts of it in places but made no attempt to follow it all the way around. However, if you want to walk along the Columbia, just head toward the water, and you should find a trail nearby.
One final spot worth mentioning is the Uptown Shopping Center. If you like the mid-century vibe, this is the place for you. They are working to revive this mall which had fallen into decline. There are some vintage shops as well as restaurants here. One well known place is the Spudnut Shop which sells donuts made with a potato based dough. They are really quite good. If nothing else it’s fun to look around at the murals and art that have gone up around the mall that gives it that mid-century look.
While the Tri-Cities area is not the most exciting place to visit, it is worth spending some time there. It is certainly worth a long weekend from Seattle. I have only touched on a few things here. There are plenty of other ways to enjoy the area so take the trip over and enjoy some time on the dry side of Washington.