Travel
Washington
By
Cathy Orr
Wenatchee
Wenatchee Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau: (800) 572-7753; www.wenatcheevalley.org
For the flavor of Wenatchee history, spend some time in the Wenatchee Valley
Museum and Cultural Center. Exhibits showcase the Native American cultural
heritage, pioneer and homesteading life, a coin-operated HO gauge, Great Northern
Railway exhibit, and of course an apple exhibit. You’ll really enjoy the series
of murals depicting scenes of early Wenatchee. (509) 664-3340; www.wenatcheevalleymuseum.com.
Head
just a bit northwest to the small town of Cashmere
to visit the Pioneer Village and Museum and tour the
Liberty Orchards, Aplets, and Cotlets Candy
Kitchen. Twenty original pioneer buildings in Pioneer Village date back to
the late 1800s and are furnished with artifacts. (509) 782-3230; www.visitcashmere.com.
A tour through the candy kitchen of Liberty Orchards will make your mouth
water. With few changes, the kitchen has churned out
slabs of candy since the company
began in 1920 and sells a variety of candy from fruit to chocolate. (509)
782-2191; www.libertyorchards.com.
Ellensburg
Chamber of Commerce: (888) 925-2204; www.visitellen.com
The Clymer Museum of Art features the works of Western
artist John Ford Clymer. His historically accurate
renditions of the West capture the spirit of the
wild Western frontier. And if you’re here Oct. 15, be a part of the 16th
annual Rendezvous Auction. Look for the mountain man in his camp, and enjoy
great
food and a silent auction. (509) 962-6416; www.clymermuseum.com
Speaking
of rodeo, you’d miss a lot if you miss the 82-year-old
Ellensburg Rodeo Sept. 1 to 5. Said to rank consistently
in the top 25 highest-paying
rodeos, according to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, the
event brings nearly 35,000 fans and competitors for
not only rodeo but also fair
events during the Kittatas County Fair, held in conjunction with the
rodeo. (800) 637-2444; www.ellensburgrodeo.com.
Though
it’s past this year, make plans next year to experience
Western
art at the Ellensburg National Art Show and Auction in May. More than
a hundred
artists exhibit their works in exhibits open to the public, and quick
draws, demonstrations, food vendors, and more than 14,000 feet of show
space mean
pure fun for Western art lovers. (509) 962-2934; www.westernartassociation.org.
Yakima
Valley
Convention and Visitors Bureau: (800) 221-0751; www.visityakima.com
A number of towns, including Yakima, flank the Yakima
Valley, so there’s a lot to do and see. You might
start in Yakima on a Yakima Valley Trolley—adventure
awaits in Old North Yakima National Historic District, where the tides
of change
have made little inroad. (509) 249-5656.
Described
by some as the city of murals and museums, Toppenish
warrants more than a passing glance. More than 65 murals
show scenes from the
Old West,
rodeos, railroading, farming, and historical events. View these historically
correct
images from Conestoga Wagons pulled by mules, or take a walking or
auto tour that offers a narrated history of each mural. (800) 596-3982;
www.toppenish.net.
The
Yakima Indian culture comes alive at the Yakama Nation
Museum and Cultural Heritage Center. Learn the story
of the Plateau people
and
their lands
and explore the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial commemorative exhibit,
called “Yakima
Exchange Traditions: Continuity and Change over Time.” (509) 865-2800;
www.yakamamuseum.com.
Tri-Cities
Convention and Visitors Bureau: (800) 254-5824; www.visittri-cities.com
Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland—they share a bit of
history and hometown pride, so a good place to start
your visit is the Franklin
County
Historical Museum.
Housed in Pasco’s 1910 Carnegie Library, the museum portrays
the experiences of Lewis and Clark, pioneers, Plateau
Indians, railroading,
and agriculture.
The building itself preserves a period atmosphere with its high
ceilings and dark wood moldings. (509) 547-3714; www.FranklinCountyHistoricalSociety.org.
Lewis
and Clark living history presentations are to take
place
through Sept. 3 with Saturday evening presentations that feature
demonstrations
and lectures
on travel, trade goods, medicines, scientific instruments,
and firearms of the Corps. Then there’s the Tri-Cities
Lewis and
Clark Heritage
Days Down
the Great Columbia at the Sacajawea State Park and Columbia
Park. Special features
include the National Park Service-sponsored Corps of Discovery
II and the Tent of Many Voices, a traveling museum and theatre
venue
that
honors both
the Corps
and Native Americans. www.DownTheGreatColumbia.com
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