Yakima Travel Information
Sunny Yakima sprawls around the confluence of the Naches and Yakima
Rivers framed with tawny, dry hills that belie the
fertility of this agrarian region. Yakima's
climate and rich soil enable an extended growing season, making this
Central Washington's commercial (and agricultural) hub. Apples,
pears, peaches, grapes, apricots, cherries, mint and hops are all
grown, picked and boxed
in Yakima to be shipped on nationally, and it's this rich heritage of
produce production and
the area's fruity history that is the focus at the Central Washington
Agricultural
Museum, a few miles south of town. Because of the regular spells of
sunshine, popular activities in the Yakima area are mostly
liquid-related, designed to assuage both body and, spirit. The Yakima Weekly Recorder published an ad from local
brewery owner, T. Hess, in 1888 which said, "The undersigned would respectfully
inform the people of Yakima that he is not dead yet, and always keeps
on hand a superior quality of Lager Beer"; today, there are two
breweries downtown that can pour you a pint made with locally grown
hops, though the region is becoming increasingly well known for its wines - there are
number of wineries open for tastings within the general vicinity, should tippling take your fancy.
Those after rather some physical activity can make a bee-line
for the river, where the preferred mode of transport is an inner-tube
float down the Naches. Optionally, do some catch-and-release
fishing in Yakima River Canyon for rainbow trout and take a spin around
in
a ski boat. For a ride off-road, steer your 4-wheel-drive along the
Jacob Durr Wagon Road, the old thoroughfare between Ellensburg and
Yakima and the 'shortest route to the Kittitas Valley, finished in
1888. Most of the ruts are original, as are the views out over the
Cascades and Yakima Valley. Yakima is 111 miles southeast of
Seattle and 125 miles north of Portland, Oregon.
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