What To Do in the Yakima Valley - Other Activities

Recreational Heartland

The Yakima Valley is a perfect hub for day trips throughout the Central Washington Region, and numerous historic towns and scenic wonders are within an hour drive. Hit the road and watch the geography change, you'll be amazed at the variety and diversity of this region. National forests and wildlife viewing, lakes, streams, rivers, skiing, hiking and beautiful agriculture settings transport you to the great outdoors. And neighboring towns will take you back in time. Past and present are side by side in farming communities from apple orchards to vineyards.

Golfing

Yakima's finest golfing experience is Apple Tree Golf Course. Located in an orchard in West Yakima, it offers an opportunity to enjoy a gorgeous experience in the country. Apple Tree has gained notoriety for the famous 17th hole, a par-3 apple-shaped island representing one of Yakima Valley's best products. Public golfing is available at Sun Tides Golf Course, or two community golf courses, Westwood Golf Course and Fisher Golf Course.

Historic North Front Street

During your stay in Yakima, plan to stop in and enjoy the many activities offered in the city of Yakima. Take a step back into history with a stroll along the boardwalk of Track 29 and visit very unique shops located in authentic railroad cars. Visit the restored 1912 Northern Pacific Depot which houses boutique shops and attractions located on North Front Street.

Yakima Greenway

Walk, ride a bike, or in-line skate on the Yakima Greenway, a ten-mile paved path that follows the Yakima River and includes a string of parks, shady nooks, lakes and playgrounds.

Chimposium

As you travel to the Yakima Valley on I-90, stop in Ellensburg to visit the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute (CHCI), located on the Central Washington University campus at the corner of "D" Street and Dean Nicholson Boulevard.

Begun in 1966, this is the first and longest-running research project of its kind. Washoe and the other three signing chimpanzees (Loulis, Tatu, and Dar) have acquired extensive American Sign Language (ASL) vocabularies. They gesture and vocalize the same as free-living chimpanzees and also use ASL in their interactions with humans and with one another. Chimposiums are one-hour educational workshops involving our world-renowned signing chimpanzees. It traces Project Washoe from its inception to the present, and discusses free-living chimpanzee culture, the plights of both free-living and captive chimpanzees, and chimpanzee sign language conversations. The workshop also includes a guided observation of Washoe and her family.

The CHCI is designed to facilitate research on primate communication, human as well as chimpanzee, and serves as a training center for students, an educational center for the general public, and a sanctuary for Washoe and her family. Prepaid reservations to attend a Chimposium are highly recommended.

Say Cheese

Continuing down the Yakima Valley is Sunnyside. The many dairies in this small community make it easy to see why Darigold built a milk and cheese factory here. In fact, a must-see is Darigold Dairy Fair. Darigold boasts 160,000 pounds of cheese per year and Flying Cows. Under the "Big Top," built as a big circus tent, you will find "squeaky cheese," self-guided tours, gifts, deli, and lots of famous Darigold ice cream. Another great stop in Sunnyside is Snipes Mountain Microbrewery and Restaurant.