Looking for family fun and adventures to fill the Yakima Valley’s sunny summertime days? Whether you want to get outside or beat the heat indoors, we found 15 great ways to have some fun!
1. Cool Off with a River Float.
Rill Adventures will outfit your family or group with everything you need for a scenic float through the Yakima River Canyon from now through fall. They’ll provide rafts, tubes, paddle boards and single or double kayaks, safety/floatation equipment, ice chests, dry bags and even picnic lunches and floatation for your furry companions! They require a minimum age of three years for rafts and 13 years for tubes. What better adventure on a hot summer day? Be sure to watch for wildlife on your journey. Elk, bighorn sheep, a variety of raptors, wild turkeys, other birds and even river otters all call the canyon home.
2. Enjoy Some Family-friendly Competition
Sign up for fluorescent fun at Dye Hard, Yakima’s nighttime 5K fun run, Saturday, June 28. Run under the glow of black lights, covered in fluorescent powder, and then finish with the post-event party, complete with music, dancing and even more powder. Wondering where to play the official sport of Washington State? Pick up the paddle and play on public pickle ball courts around the valley: Franklin Park in Yakima, Carlon Park in Selah, Cleman’s View Sports Park in Naches and Loges Park in Zillah. Finally, don’t miss the newly expanded 18-hole disc golf course at Union Gap’s Fulbright Park.
3. Have some Fun on the Farm.
What better way for kids to enjoy their fruits and veggies than picking themselves? Find u-pick adventures to be found at farms all around the valley this summer. Check out Washington Fruit Place (cherries), Blueberry Hill Berries (blueberries), Ahtanum Berry Patch (strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries) and Thompson’s Farm (cherries and peaches). This year, Ahtanum Berry Patch is excited to expand their u-pick and farm experiences. Join them for fun-filled Saturdays throughout the season, with u-pick berries and a full lineup of treats and activities for the whole family. Tieton Farm & Creamery welcomes visitors this year for farm tours to meet their happy herd of goats and sheep and then shop the farm stand for cheese, eggs and select produce in season.
Tips: Cherry u-pick kicks off the last week of June and first week of July. Harvest your own lavender, make bouquets, go on a bee scavenger hunt and find fun activities for kids at the Selah Ridge Lavender Farm Lavendar Harvest Days, July 11 to 13. Check out our full guide tou-pick adventures and farm fun for all the details and dates.
4. Discover the Bat Cave at Devil’s Creek.
Take a short, easy hike for the whole family to explore the natural wonders of Boulder Cave on Highway 410. The trail is just about 1.5 miles round trip. Boulder cave formed more than 10 million years ago. Over centuries, Devil Creek eroded the sediment from a series of lava flows, causing them to collapse and form the caves. Today, it’s a wonderful, quick adventure just a short drive from Yakima and is home to Pacific Western big-eared bats. The cave extends about 400 feet and runs alongside Devil’s Creek. The bats are a sensitive species in WA and OR. Follow posted precautions to protect them. There is a timed reservation system is now in place for Boulder Cave and the day use and picnic area. Reservations can be made up to 14 days in advance. Northwest Forest Pass required.
5. Learn to Fly Fish!
The team at Red’s Fly Shop offers fly fishing education for all levels. Their 101 class helps beginners develop the core skills to become confident anglers. Check out the rest of their group courses and private guided experiences and inquire about offerings for different age levels. Don’t miss their three-day Youth Fishing Camp, July 22 to 24!
6. Dance to Summer Rhythms at Outdoor Concerts.
Head to Downtown Summer Nights for live music and family fun on three Thursdays, June 12, July 10 and August 21. Each night features a different theme as a fantastic band takes the stage at the Rotary Pavilion adjacent to Historic Front Street. Check out the food and other vendors and don’t miss the kids’ activities and arts and crafts. Bring your dancing shoes and lawn chairs. Other free, kid-friendly outdoor concert series include the Summer Sunset Concert Series at Franklin Park on Fridays July 11 to August 15 and Viva la Música at Miller Park on Sundays July 20 to August 17 with a special finale September 14. Check out the performers (page 9 of the Yakima Parks Summer Guide).
7. Travel the Taco & Tamale Trail.
Who doesn’t love a good taco? Make it a delicious summertime adventure and see how many of the 20+ stops on the Yakima Valey Taco & Tamale Trail you can check off! You’ll find authentic flavors from one end of the valley to the other.
8. Pack a Picnic.
The Yakima Area Arboretum is a treasure here in the valley and it’s one of the best places around for a picnic. Wander the trails and explore this “living museum,” home to more than 1,000 specimens over 46 acres of land. Then, find a shady spot for a leisurely lunch. Or, check out our guide to picnics on the trail. The Yakima Area Arboretum also hosts a wonderful kids day camp.
9. Get Creative!
Creative Yakima invites everyone for a pottery painting experience at their lovely studio space. You can take home a ceramic masterpiece painted in a day or even complete your very own collection this summer! They provide all the supplies and the expert tips! Take a look at their summer kids workshops, with themes from Minecraft and under the sea to enchanted creatures. Happily Painted is getting creative with two four-day kids art camps (book one day or all four days for each theme). Explore a vibrant world of color with the Tropical Art Camp June 16 to 19. Imagination meets the outdoor adventures at their July 7 to 10 Great Outdoors Art Camp, with a different outdoor theme each of the four days.
10. Book a Riverside Camping Retreat.
With nine cabins, 20 RV sites and a large meadow for tents, Elk Ridge Campground is nestled alongside the beautiful Naches River. Just about 40 minutes outside of Yakima on Highway 410, it’s a perfect, picturesque mountain escape surrounded by plenty of trails to explore. Bring your fishing rod!
11. Travel Back in Time.
Did you know the Yakima Valley is home to 13 museums and historic sites? This summer, check some kid-friendly favorites off the list! For train lovers, visit the Northern Pacific Railway Museum. The Yakima Valley Museum’s interactive mountaineering exhibit, busy bees exhibit and the Children’s Underground are just a few highlights for young visitors. The Yakama Nation Museum shares the stories and the rich culture of the Yakama Nation people. The Central Washington Agricultural Museum is a great stop for kids and their Pioneer Power Show, August 17 to 18, has a variety of vintage trucks, engines and equipment on display along with plenty of kids activities.
12. Catch an Outdoor Show.
Enjoy a night out under the stars at the Outdoor Summer Cinema Series (no cost). On Sunday evenings, movies begin at Chesterly Park at 8:30 pm. Here’s the lineup: Moana (July 20), Little Giants (July 27), Big Hero 6 (August 3) and Despicable Me 4 (August 10) and Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone (August 17).
13. Go for a Climb … Indoors.
Beat the heat at Yakima’s only indoor climbing facility, High Steppe Climbing Center. Everyone from beginner to advanced can experience the excitement of climbing on the center’s constantly changing routes. On 7,500 square feet of climbing surface, they offer lead climbing, auto-belay, bouldering and more. All ages and all levels are welcome! Various safety policies and protocols must be followed specific to children younger than four, 10 and 14.
14. Make some Tasty Treats.
Join Healthy Eats Nutrition for hands-on kids cooking classes and delicious fun. Learn cooking basics (June 26) and knife skills (July 9), make perfect pizza and have a pizza party (July 16) or learn all about baking sweet treats (July 25). Kids six to 12 years old must have an adult participating alongside them.
15. Explore Rare Shrub Steppe Terrain.
In fewer than five minutes from Downtown Yakima you can find yourself on one of the trails preserved and maintained by the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy. These three trails are part of more 5,000 acres of land the Conservancy preserves, protects and restores in the beautiful shrub-steppe and riparian terrain. The land is made up of sagebrush and grasslands, flowering meadows, oak woodlands and basalt cliffs. Choose your adventure under sunny skies, whether you hike, mountain bike or horseback ride. Hit these trails in the spring for a lovely wildflower display and in fall for beautiful colors along the canyon floor. In the summer, enjoy them best when it is cooler in the morning or evenings.
The Cowiche Canyon Upland Trails deliver great views of the city of Yakima spread out below to the south and east, with Mt Adams in the distance, the Cowiche area to the northwest, and across the canyon to Naches Heights. The Cowiche Canyon trail on the canyon floor is gravel with beautiful rock formations, bridges. It follows the flowing Cowiche Creek for an easy, flat hike.
Categorized in: Family Fun, Farm Fresh Fun, History and Culture, Outdoor Recreation
