The newest addition to the outdoor art scene in the area is quite a cool one! Not withstanding, the…read morefact that my better half is one of the 167 people that had their picture displayed on the outside of one of the historic buildings in town. This project is one that is part of a larger international movement called inside-out which aims to help communities see what makes them unique by highlighting pictures of residents. It's a really neat project that has gone on in over 200 cities and realize largely on volunteers in the community to help complete the project. It's very fun to get to walk by and see giant portraits of people you recognize, and some you don't, but that you know are from your city. It's amazing to see how similar everyone looks with a smile or making a funny face. A great addition to downtown, and something that has turned an otherwise ordinary alley into a spot that you can take your friends to!

Dinosaur town is a fun little park and gathering spot in the town of Granger. The area sits on a…read morenice little area with a pond, an amphitheater and a couple playgrounds with lots of dinosaurs to climb on and around. A couple slides and swings, as well as a concessions area with some tables complete this unique play spot about a mile from the freeway. This place gets an extra star because they add on to it just about every year! The main playground near the concession stand and the amphitheater has some great dinos to climb on as well as the swings and slides. The second area across the street has more dinos, an smaller sandy area for little kiddos and the creme de la creme...the T-Rex statue! This one is a bit big to climb on, but it's great for pictures. As stated, they add to the park each year. I'm or sure which was the most recent addition, but one on a small island situated in the middle of the lake seems to be one of the newer models. It's a short walk around the lake to the little peninsula and there's some nice area to sit once you're there. They host movie night here and it's a place they obviously take some pride in. Worth a stop if you're passing by and need to let the kids run around a bit, plus it's fun to climb in dinosaurs!

Lots of dinosaurs here. My goodness. So many dinosaurs. If you wanna see dinosaurs, this is the…read moreplace to go.

You are driving down I-82, in a very "different" Washington state than the one in which one Seattle…read moreis located, and you see a sign. It says "Welcome to Yakima, the Palm Springs of Washington" in various tacky fonts and colors. Instead of evergreens and gray skies, you are surrounded by sparsely vegetated hills strewn with sagebrush and the sun may be beating down on you or your dashboard ... and you begin to process the following: One star for the effort to erect this billboard. Another star for latching onto a calling card of sorts although, at 9:00 p.m. Pacific Time on December 16, 2016, it is 12 degrees Fahrenheit in Yakima WA ... and 59 degrees Fahrenheit in Palm Springs CA. Another star for making you laugh, causing you to shake your head, and/or waking you up. The "Yakima, the Palm Springs of Washington" sign, albeit a stretch, is A-o.k.! It may not change the course of your life, but you probably won't forget it.

Surely the Rat Pack took trips to Yakima, WA. That's the only way someone could have come up with…read morethe connection: Yakima = Palm Springs. Regardless, Yakima is its own beast. It's located just below the Cascades and just downriver from the beautiful Yakima River Canyon. It is centrally located in the rectangle we lovingly call Washington. For me, Yakima (aka "Crackima") is a nice place to take a break if you're coming home from hiking. It's a small town with Palm Springs aspirations (is this really a good thing??).

The Teapot Dome Service Station I either got from Atlas Obscura or a book called Weird Washington…read morebut I can't entirely be sure but this place has been on my bookmark list forever and finally got to go to it while on vacation. It's Yelp classification of Local Flavor fits the bill precisely! Historical and unusual this tea pot dome service station was actually a functioning one at one point in time and the building has been kept up and maintained perfectly so it looks quite pristine! Antique gas pumps are nearby to admire, a pic nic table and a memorial nearby. Admission is free and the day I was here I visited with a very congenial gentleman about the nearby area and took some info home about the building and the area. Definitely a cute place to stop! The attraction isn't anything that would be too terribly time consuming to stop at and a good place to stretch your legs and enjoy a service station of the past.

For anyone who appreciates history, architecture, scandal and the Venn diagram where all of them…read moreoverlap, the historic Teapot Dome service station in Zillah, Washington is for you! Located on the main drag in downtown Zillah, this iconic structure is both hard to miss and a poignant reminder that if you are an elected official and do something dumb, it will probably be memorialized forever... Perhaps in the form of an old gas station! For those who are unfamiliar with the teapot dome scandal (like I was until about three minutes ago) - here is a link to a Wikipedia article that will give you some background. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teapot_Dome_scandal In a nutshell, the presidency of Warren G. Harding was rocked by some illegal activity where leases to drill for oil were granted inappropriately. One such place was in teapot dome, Wyoming... Hence the name. Wouldn't you know, those rascals in Zillah, Washington were on the ball and constructed this novelty gas station as a reminder of the past and to give your kids something fun to look at when you would stop for gas. Unfortunately, this place doesn't have active pumps anymore, but they do use it as a welcome center for the community. There's a nice little parking lot out front, some restrooms if you need to stop, and plenty of opportunity for a picture that will remind you of those clever people down in Zillah! Also, I can imagine architects may appreciate all that goes into a place like this. At present, I don't have a good enough appreciation for the complexities of architecture to know whether not this place is a masterpiece or a piece of crap. Either way, it looks like something out of a nursery rhyme and is unique in the service stations that I have ever been privy to. If you're going through the area, it's worth taking a three minute detour to go see this place!

My husband found this place on Google as we were driving through the area and we had no idea what…read moreto expect. As soon as we pulled up I was excited to get out of the car. There was so much to see. We probably spent at least 45 minutes walking around the perimeter with our dog checking out all the details. There was so much interesting art everywhere. This is the long time home of two local artists who started transforming this property in the '70s. They have Incorporated tens of thousands of bottle caps and thousands of bicycle reflectors into the art they have displayed here. I loved the quirky sculptures and tiny details that I kept finding. This place is a total whimsey overload and I am here for it. They also have a guest book that you can sign and leave a message. I honestly got emotional writing in it. There is something really moving about people creating beauty and sharing it with others just for the simple Joy of doing so. So many of the "attractions" we visit come with expensive admission tickets and gift shop waiting lines but places like this are the reason I love to travel and explore. Unexpected places created by people who just want to make the world more interesting. This place is a gift. If you're passing through Ellensburg, this stop is worth your time. Drop a note in their guestbook and thank me later.

A must visit if in Ellensburg -- interesting pieces of art -- my favorite is the bear! Street…read moreparking is plentiful and it's near downtown as well.

What a wonderful time of year when we gather as a community along the main road in the area and…read morewatch a myriad of vehicles and people Don their Christmas lights! Aside from it being incredibly cold, this is a very pleasant experience. The official parade time was 530 to 7, but The festivities start at around six. The whole thing lasted about 45 minutes and was a nice parade of local businesses, trucks and farm equipment it all lit up! Word to the wise, get down to one of the businesses on Yakima Avenue around 430 and get yourself a table, some appetizers and a beverage with which to watch the parade. It's a great time for those young and old, and some of the parade floats throw candy, so there's always something to look forward to!

Tip #1: Get a map book, they're available even when the office is closed. We got into Toppenish…read morewhen the Chamber of Commerce was closed, this is where the mural visitor information is, and there are brown signs that sort of guide you. They have a rack outside that has a bunch of guide books and these are key. Tip #2: plan a few hours, and do yourself a favor, get out of your car and walk around. We're going to have to go back because we under-estimated the time we would want to spend. These are surprisingly high-quality art pieces and a remarkable quantity. A lot of towns SAY they are a "town of murals" so I expected same-old same-old and am happy to say I was wrong.

Oh, Leavenworth. I was pondering if 4 or 5 stars was what I was going to drop for the town of…read moreLeavenworth. In the end I decided to be generous and give 5 stars. What could deduct at least one star is all of the traffic and congestion in this quaint German styled town. Once you do get your car parked you are in for a really long walk. Not that I personally am against walking per se and I am actually fond of doing this activity daily but those who may have mobility issues it could be a real struggle. It doesn't really matter what time of year you come here as it always seemed extremely congested. But I know to avoid Leavenworth around Christmas time as the level of congestion definitely "levels up" considerably from what I hear. Leavenworth's prime time is Christmas and from the pictures I have seen the town looks beautiful. There is an option to take a train to Leavenworth during this season which sounds like a lot of fun and it would definitely avoid parking problems. Despite throwing in congestion and parking problems at the very start of my review each time we have visited and endured these things the shops, the German style chocolates , the restaurants that serve German Sausages and the breweries have proven to make the hassle worth it. However with that said one kind of has to psych yourself up for a Leavenworth trip and if you are looking for a super chill vibe perhaps exploring towns like Lake Chelan and Wenatchee might be better and they aren't too terribly far away from here. Not only is Leavenworth is heavy in German themes and decor it's also nestled in the mountains which really add to the dramatic effect and you can get the feeling you may be in Europe aside from closer observation that everything is written in American style English.

Came here on a weekend after Christmas weekend is not as fun as I thought. It was raining and it…read morewas too crowded. Not many parking lots around the area and it was all full. I got stuck in traffic vast majority of the time trying to get into town. Drove another 20-25 mins just to find a parking spot on the street blocks away from the park. Once parked, we tried to find a restaurant to eat but all of the places have a waitlist of 3hrs to 6hrs long for a party of two. How ridiculous is this? So we opt on picking up bratwurst and pretzel/cheese dip at a food stall next to the park called Leavenworth Village of Lights. Bratwurst ($14) and pretzel ($10.50). It cost a total of $26.61. The area is pretty and a cute little town but over crowded and no other activities for families. It is no longer than 5 blocks stretch. This is a one and done area to visit but will not be coming back again.

So, okay, I don't think you're REALLY meant to climb to the top and get a close up view of the…read morehorses. It's very slippery and steep. The only reason there are 4 instead of 5 stars - because how can you really criticize a highway sculpture? - is because if they ARE going to have a trail, which they do, how about some nice steps made out of railroad ties, for instance, instead of VERY SLIPPERY volcanic rock? The real title of this sculpture is Grandfather Cuts Loose the Ponies. It was made by David Govedare and is unfinished, although it was made a while ago, so perhaps we can just call it finished. It consists of several life-sized horses, all slightly different. There are viewpoints on both sides of the highway; however, you can only hike to it (crawl, maybe) from the parking area on the eastbound side of the highway.

Just east of the Vantage Bridge…read morehttps://www.yelp.com/biz/i-90-vantage-bridge-vantage?hrid=dgakWPY4_7V36mIYBEzsfQ on I-90, there is a sign pointing the way to a scenic view. I was not able to spot the Wild Horses but I definitely had a great view down the valley to the bridge and over the lake. It was supremely windy up here today. Absolutely bonkers. I very nearly got blown off my feet but the view was worth it. [Review 17108 overall - 96 in Washington - 624 of 2022.]

It's hard to think of a "downtown" area for Richland, but if we were to have a central location, I…read morethink The Parkway serves as a decent choice. The Parkway is a street where a lot of local businesses call home, and we're lucky for it. It's pretty small, but this avenue serves as a nice little area to walk around and see some pretty cool and diverse shops. The Ave is parallel to GW Way, and is just a few blocks from Howard Amon Park. On Fridays during the summer, The Parkway is home to arguably one of the best Farmer's Markets in the area (dare I say, even better than the Pasco Farmer's Market!). During the winter they have lights strewn around the trees along the street. The Parkway is also fairly pedestrian friendly. Lee is just a one-way street, and there is a roundabout at Lee & The Parkway. This isn't thorough, but as of this writing, here is a list of the businesses which are at The Parkway: Richland Farmer's Market (http://www.yelp.com/biz/richlands-farmers-market-richland) Frost Me Sweet (http://www.yelp.com/biz/frost-me-sweet-richland) Richland Players Theater (http://www.yelp.com/biz/richland-players-richland) Casa Mia (http://www.yelp.com/biz/casa-mia-of-richland-richland) Ariel Gourmet & Gift (http://www.yelp.com/biz/ariel-gourmet-and-gifts-richland) Cheese Louise (http://www.yelp.com/biz/cheese-louise-richland#query:cheese) Victorian Tea Garden (http://www.yelp.com/biz/victorian-tea-garden-the-richland) Greenies (http://www.yelp.com/biz/greenies-richland) Subs & Jean (http://www.yelp.com/biz/subs-n-jean-richland) Things Worth Keeping (http://www.yelp.com/biz/things-worth-keeping-richland) Strandz Salon (http://www.yelp.com/biz/strandz-richland) Fringe At The Parkway Salon (http://www.yelp.com/biz/fringe-at-the-parkway-richland) Smoovies (http://www.yelp.com/biz/smoovies-richland) The Book Worm (http://www.yelp.com/biz/bookworm-the-richland-2) Stone Soup (http://www.yelp.com/biz/stone-soup-richland) Richland Bell Furniture (http://www.yelp.com/biz/richland-bell-furniture-inc-richland) Granzel's Barber Shop

This place has a ton of awesome food and it's only getting more businesses. Check out the bike…read moreshop, theater, Paperstreet Brewing Co and definitely Porters! There's also a farmers market here from summer to late fall and they're building a nice new amphitheater that should be up and running before the spring! Definitely check this place out!