Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau Blog

Taking Dad out in the Tri-Cities on Father's Day

Jordan Youngs — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 10:30:43 -0700

Before we get into all the fun activities going on in the Tri-Cities this coming Father's Day weekend, I wanted to share some funny one liners. You know, the ones that only Dad makes.

Me: "Dad, can I have 50 bucks?"
Dad: "Forty dollars? What do you need thirty dollars for?"

If you are anywhere with stuffed and mounted animal heads. Dad: "It must have been going pretty fast when it hit that wall!"

When rubbing your eye
Dad: "What's up?"
Me: "There's something in my eye"
Dad: "Yeah, it's your finger"

All joking aside, you and Dad can have a great time this Father's Day Weekend in the Tri-Cities. Here are a few ideas of things to do:

1. Take Dad to a professional baseball game. The Tri-City Dust Devils open up the season with games Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night at 7:15 P.M.

2. Have a golf outing. Whether it's playing 18 holes, a par 3, or just putting, grab the sticks and head out to the course.

3. Hike to the top of Badger Mountain with Dad. You can race him to the top or take your time and enjoy the view of the Tri-Cities.

4. Terra Blanca Winery and Estate Vineyard is having a special BBQ for Dads on Sunday.

5. Grab locally hand-crafter brew at Ice Harbor Brewery and listen to live music. Franco Paletta and The Stingers, a blues band from Portland, will be performing at 7:30 Saturday night.

6. Check out vintage cars at Howard Amon Park in Richland and as they will be on display during the Red, White, and Blue Car and Motorcycle Show from 9 A.M. - 4 P.M. Saturday.

7. If all else fails, take Dad out to a nice dinner at one of the Tri-Cities restaurants right on the banks of the Columbia River.

For more information on the events listed above, click here.

Happy Father's Day!

Any Dad one liners you can share?

Literally Sleep on the Columbia River in the Tri-Cities

Jordan Youngs — Fri, 13 May 2011 11:17:14 -0700

The Tri-Cities enjoys a desert climate, dry and warm. However, we have almost all the same activities as a waterfront destination with the Columbia, Snake, and Yakima Rivers in our own backyard. The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest and the 4^th largest in the U.S. by volume.

Keep in mind, when we talk about the Columbia and Snake Rivers, we aren't talking about class five rapids or kayakers dodging jagged rocks as they forcefully navigate themselves down the river. The river current through the Tri-Cities is very peaceful and hardly noticeable.

Activities include kayaking, tubing, water skiing, wake boarding, swimming, boating, kite surfing, paddle boarding, and wading. Not to mention, you can now literally sleep on the river.

Imagine a floating hotel room equipped with beds, a full kitchen, a barbeque, a flat screen TV, and a water slide. You and a group of your friends and family can make this a reality with River Ranch Houseboats.

The houseboats can sleep up to 12 people in beds, but additional boaters can sleep on the top deck under the stars. Anyone who is 25 and older can rent a houseboat and there is no special license required. The boats travel up to 10mph and are meant to be anchored or beached at specific areas on the rivers.

For more information on the houseboats head to www.riverranchboats.com.

Does the Tri-Cities really Enjoy the Best Weather in Washington?

Jordan Youngs — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:09:31 -0700

In order to make this claim, we need to first discuss what the definition of "Best Weather" actually is. There are some who enjoy gray and drizzly skies, people who like the cold and snowy scene, and those who prefer the extreme heat all the time. Without any hard scientific evidence I can say through my experience in Washington the majority prefers sunshine, dry, and warm weather with the occasional rainy/snowy day mixed in to break up the routine. More or less, a mix of all weather types with the bulk of days being sunny and mild.

As we get further and further into spring and eventually summer, let's break down the average temperature and precipitation month by month for various places throughout Washington. You'll see the Tri-Cities on average offers the warmest temperatures and the least amount of precipitation (with the exception of a couple tenths of an inch on a few months).

May:

City	Average High Temperature(Fahrenheit)	Average Precipitation
Seattle	64	1.8"
Vancouver	66	2.6"
Spokane	66	1.6"
Yakima	72	0.5"
Tri-Cities	75	0.7"

June:

City	Average High Temperature	Average Precipitation
Seattle	70	1.5"
Vancouver	71	1.8"
Spokane	74	1.2"
Yakima	80	0.6
Tri-Cities	82	0.4"

July:

City	Average High Temperature	Average Precipitation
Seattle	75	0.8"
Vancouver	77	0.8"
Spokane	83	0.8"
Yakima	87	0.2"
Tri-Cities	90	0.3"

August:

City	Average High Temperature	Average Precipitation
Seattle	76	1"
Vancouver	78	1.1"
Spokane	83	0.7"
Yakima	87	0.4"
Tri-Cities	90	0.4"

September:

City	Average High Temperature	Average Precipitation
Seattle	70	1.6"
Spokane	73	0.8"
Vancouver	74	1.8"
Yakima	78	0.4"
Tri-Cities	80	0.4"

Everyone likes different types of weather, but can we say the Tri-Cities has the best weather that appeals to the majority?

Source: National Weather Service

Cruise the Columbia

Jordan Youngs — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 09:24:48 -0700

The Columbia River flows directly through the Tri-Cities. The river offers endless recreation to Tri-Cities locals and visitors. Everything from kayaking, water skiing, jet skiing, swimming, fishing, sailing, wake boarding, inner tubing, wind surfing, parasailing, feet soaking, and now cruising.

Join the Portland Spirit as they bring the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler to the Tri-Cities area for a week of cruises starting Friday, April 15th - Sunday, April 24th. Riverboat dining experiences aboard the Portland Spirit vessels includes fresh Northwest cuisine prepared in their on board galleys, superb service, beautiful views of the Tri-Cities and live entertainment and narration. A lunch cruise, brunch cruise, dinner cruise, or a Snake River Locks cruise on their vessels is perfect for entertaining out-of-town guests or for celebrating your special occasions.

For more information and to schedule your cruise head to http://www.portlandspirit.com/ or call 800-224-3901.

www.facebook.com/PortlandSpirit

www.twitter.com/portlandspirit

?W' Works Wonderfully Within Washington's Tri-Cities

Jordan Youngs — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:16:16 -0700

Many of the Tri-Citie's attractions starts with the letter 'W'. In cases where it doesn't, there is a way to incorporate ‘W' somehow.

Water - With the Columbia, Snake, and Yakima Rivers running through the Tri-Cities, there are many recreational opportunities. These include: swimming, kayaking, power and pleasure boating, wakeboarding, waterskiing, wind surfing, and watching the hydroplane races in the summer.

Weather - The Tri-Cities enjoys some of the best weather in the Northwest with 300 days of sunshine a year. We have a mild climate with less than seven inches of precipitation annually. Summer temperatures average a pleasant 88 degrees, with river breezes contributing to cool evenings and balmy days.

Wine - We welcome you to the Heart of Washington Wine County®. The Tri-Cities is within a one-hour drive of 160 wineries and is complete with hotels, restaurants, and cultural amenities. During the warm summer months, the Tri-Cities has more than 17 hours of sunshine each day, two more hours than Napa and Sonoma. These long mild days in September and October are perfect for ripening wine grapes.

Wildlife - The Tri-Cities is home to eight National Wildlife Refuges and Reserves which include nature trails and shoreline viewpoints. In April and May, native wildflowers begin their grand display. In June see flocks of American White Pelicans, Great Blue Herons, Mule Deer, Coyotes, and Beavers. In late summer and early fall, watch the salmon run up the Columbia River.

Wedge - This will be your golf club of choice if you are within a few feet of a green at one of the Tri-Cities' ten beautiful golf courses. Beginner, intermediate and scratch golfers have their choice of gorgeous 18 hole, putting, and par 3 courses.

Walk - Enjoy this activity and others on 23-miles of contiguous riverfront trail. Weaving between the Tri-Cities, the Sacagawea Heritage Trail offers a view of nature's scenic beauty along the Columbia River.

Welcome Circle - One of the seven basalt story circles you will find at the Confluence Project at Sacajawea State Park. The story circles, created by famed artist Maya Lin, are just one of seven interpretations that make up the project. All seven projects are located at the confluence of rivers throughout the region and each of the seven locations was a stopping point for Lewis and Clark on their journey more than 200 years ago.

Watermelon - An amazing treat among other freshly picked produce and homemade goodies you will find at one of many farmers' markets throughout the Tri-Cities.

What kind of ‘W's can you use to describe the Tri-Cities?

Seattle to Tri-Cities in 16 minutes

Jordan Youngs — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:39:41 -0700

Unless you are travelling at the speed of sound, the chances of you making it to the Tri-Cities from Seattle in 16 minutes is unlikely. However, the Tri-Cities of Washington State is centrally located in the Northwest and there are several different ways one can get here. Let's explore the practical methods with reasonable travel times and take a look at some of the more unconventional methods with absurd travel times.

First of all, there are several direct flights into the Tri-Cities on commercial airlines. These include flights from Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix /Mesa, and Minneapolis.

Flight times:

Seattle to Tri-Cities: 50 minutes

Salt Lake City to Tri-Cities: 1 hour 30 minutes

San Francisco to Tri-Cities: 1 hour 40 minutes

Las Vegas to Tri-Cities: 2 hours 5 minutes

Denver to Tri-Cities: 2 hours 10 minutes

Los Angeles to Tri-Cities: 2 hours 20 minutes

Minneapolis to Tri-Cities: 2 hours 50 minutes

Mesa/Phoenix to Tri-Cities: 3 hours 30 minutes

If hopping on a plane isn't your thing, the Tri-Cities is just a drive away.

Drive times:

Walla Walla to Tri-Cities: 1 hour

Yakima to Tri-Cities: 1 hour 15 minutes

Spokane to Tri-Cities: 2 hours 15 minutes

Wenatchee to Tri-Cities: 2 hours 15 minutes

Lewiston, ID to Tri-Cities: 2 hours 15 minutes

Seattle to Tri-Cities: 3 hours 30 minutes

Portland to Tri-Cities: 3 hours 30 minutes

Vancouver, WA to Tri-Cities: 3 hours 30 minutes

These are the transportation methods most visitors use to get to the Tri-Cities, but let's take a look at some weird ways.

Walk time (3 mph):

Seattle to Tri-Cities: 2 days 18 hours 37 minutes approx.

Unicycle time (6 mph):

Portland to Tri-Cities: 1 day 11 hours 30 minutes approx.

A camel's sustained running speed (25 mph)

Spokane to Tri-Cities: 5 hours and 20 minutes approx.

Speed of sound time (750 mph):

Seattle to Tri-Cities: 16 minutes approx.

Regardless of your mode of transportation, come enjoy great wine, water recreation, golf, and weather in the Tri-Cities.

Can you think of any interesting ways to get to the Tri-Cities? Use some high school math and tell us how long it would take by commenting below. Don't forget to hit the share button too.

5 Super Bowl Sunday tips in the Tri-Cities

Ben Anderson — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:13:33 -0700

Packers fan's go to Cheese Louise

Every cheese head, football fan or not, should visit Cheese Louise for the best gourmet cheeses and a great selection of wines. With "the Pack" in the big game this year Cheese Louise is promoting a "Cheese and Packers" tray for just $35. The tray includes gourmet cheeses, fruit, nuts, crackers, torta and more.

Terrible towels in the Tri-Cities at Kimo's

Owner, Kimo von Oelhoffen, was part of the 2005 Steelers Super Bowl Champions team. With his notoriety comes a great gathering place for those donning the Black and Yellow this Sunday. Bring your "Terrible Towel" and get a chance to win a selection of prizes and giveaways. Being the home of Rattlesnake Mountain Brewing Company means your suds are going to be some of the best available. Watch the game in style and enjoy a micro-brew with the rest of Steeler Nation.

"Loudest Party in Town" Jack-Son's in Kennewick

Jack-Son's in Kennewick is hosting a party unlike any other. Giveaways, half price nachos, 16 screens, and local radio station Power 99 rocking the scene means this is going to be one great place to catch the game. If you're a Packer fan or a Steeler fan there's room for everyone. The management promises this will be the "loudest party in town" with an even split of fans for each team.

Over $2000 in prizes at Jack-son's in Richland

Jack-son's in Richland is hosting the game in style as well. Prizes include; 42" plazma HD tv, season tickets to the Tri-Cities Fever Football team, dinner for 6 provided by Pampered Chef, and more. More than $2000 in prizes and giveaways plus $4 20oz. drafts make this a great place to watch one of the biggest events on TV. Space fills up fast and you are encouraged to make reservations.

Let it ride at local casino's

The local casino's are a great place to catch the game while playing for big prizes and cash. Most are running food or drink specials. Click to get more information about promotions and games for Super Sunday; Atomic Bowl & Jokers Lounge & Casino, Coyote Bob's, Crazy Moose Casino, Yakima Nation Legends Casino

Tri-Cities Golf Courses, Open for Business Year ?Round

Jordan Youngs — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 10:41:17 -0700

Some golfers in the Northwest may take the winter months off to sit by the fire place with some hot cocoa, reading up on their latest golf magazine and figuring out how they are going to solve their slice come springtime. In the Tri-Cities of southeastern Washington that's not the case. Golfers come from all over the Northwest and get out on the course all winter long to work on their game.

"The only day we are scheduled to be closed is on Christmas Day and even then a lot of members will sneak out and play," says Mike Lundgren, President and General Manager of Canyon Lakes Golf Course in Kennewick.

The Tri-Cities is known for 300 days of sunshine a year and those sunny days keep on shining in the wintertime.

"Golfers from western Washington are pleasantly surprised with the amount of roll they experience on the Tri-Cities dry fairways." "On the west side they often run into the problem of balls falling short because of damp air and soggy landing areas, typical this time of year. And of course they love our blue skies and sun shine," says Nick Rodriguez of Horn Rapids Golf Course in Richland.

"One of the best things about winter golf at Canyon Lakes is that we are generally open year ‘round and ‘play summer rules.' Everything on the golf course is off grass. There are no mats and no reason to "bump the ball," explains Lundgren.

As an added bonus, the Tri-Cities is located in the Heart of Washington Wine Country. There are over 160 wineries for you to visit within an hour drive. Tasting rooms at area wineries remain open throughout the winter months.

Drive times to the Tri-Cities are convenient. If conditions are ideal across mountain passes in Washington and Oregon plan on a three and a half hour jaunt from both Seattle and Portland and just over two hours from Spokane. Direct daily flights are also available from Seattle.

Golf packages including green fees, carts, and hotel accommodations are being offered right now on http://www.visittri-cities.com/, so don't let old man winter keep you inside. Get out on the course in the Tri-Cities.

Harvest and Halloween Fun in the Tri-Cities

Jordan Youngs — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:10:43 -0700

It was hard to give up the beautiful Tri-Cities summer as we slipped into October this year. During the first weekend of October Mother Nature brought us sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 80's. Kids were still diving into the Columbia River, boats were still towing water skiers and people were still walking around in shorts and sandals. Now with only less than a week before Halloween, the winds have picked up slightly, temperatures have dropped into the 50's and the shorts have seen their last days of 2010. However, this is perfect weather to get out and enjoy the great harvest festivities with the family and even get a little scare in the process.

The first place I would recommend in the Tri-Cities is the Country Mercantile in Pasco. One of their main attractions is their giant corn maze. From past experiences I can tell you that you may be in the maze longer than you bargained for. Through every twist and turn you'll find yourself deeper in the maze, but with a little luck and a decent memory you'll find your way out ......eventually. After a stroll through the corn maze, you can climb their hay pyramid, head to the petting zoo, or go inside the store for hot chocolate and a treat. Let's not forget about their pumpkin patch. You'll take a hay ride out to the pumpkins where you can pick out the perfect one. Afterwards, you can take another ride on their mini-roller coaster, carousel, and other amusement rides. The Country Mercantile is located off of Hwy 395 just north of Pasco. The Harvest Festival is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m during October.

Now, if you are looking for more of a scare I recommend All Season Landscape and Design in Pasco. They have a regular corn maze, haunted maze and haunted house. Inside the haunted maze you'll be greeted by ghouls and goblins and enter different rooms that depict frightening scenes. You can also enjoy, a bounce house/obstacle course, hay pyramid and jousting. All Seasons Landscape and Design is located on Road 68 in Pasco, just north of the water towers. Their activities are open in October on Friday nights from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 12 a.m, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Of course, the haunted corn maze doesn't open till after dark.

The Tri-Cities offers fun for the whole family during October. Make sure to explore our website for hotel accommodations and other events to attend during fall.

What are some of your favorite things to do close to Halloween in the Tri-Cities?

Grapes Rule the Tri-Cities in September

Jordan Youngs — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:04:27 -0700

Whether it's grape events, the delicous smell of wine grapes, the sight of lush wine grapes hanging off the wine, or the sweet taste of the wine grapes, the grapes rule the Tri-Cities in September. The grape harvest is upon us and it truly is one of the greatest times of year in our area.

If you have driven past a vineyard in the Tri-Cities recently or been around one during harvest time you know the incredile aroma that is present. The best way I can describe the scent is that it smells like the little grape Jolly Ranchers candies. When passing a vineyard I will make sure to roll down all the windows to get the full experience.

If you are into more than just smelling the grapes, this weekend (Sept 25 and 26) you can actually experience the wine grape harvest in the Tri-Cities through a couple great events. First of all, join us during the 24^th annual Catch the Crush event. Many wineries in and around the Tri-Cities will give tours of their wineries and vineyards, explain the wine making process, and of course have wine to taste. Oh, lets not forget one of the more popular activities during this weekend, the grape stomps. This is where you can get down and dirty with the wine making process and stomp the grapes with your bare feet.

Some wineries do offer complimentary tasting and others charge a small fee, however, you can purchase a premiere Catch the Crush pass for $30 online at www.wineyakimavalley.org or for $35 at select wineries in the Tri-Cities area including Goose Ridge Estate Winery and Tapteil Vineyard Winery. As a premiere pass holder tasting fees will be waived and other discounts will be given at participating wineries.

This Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. you can also head over to Historic Downtown Kennewick for Grapefest 2010. Here you will also be able to stomp grapes, enjoy live music, BBQ, arts and crafts, and a fun run.

This is a great weekend for wine enthusiasts. Let the Tri-Cities be your central hub during this event, go to http://www.visittri-cities.com/ for hotel accommodations and for a list of local wineries.

Walk through the soil that produces some of the world's best wines

Jordan Youngs — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:33:47 -0700

The Tri-Cities region offers you the chance to visit many different wineries and tasting rooms within a short driving distance, but now you can explore where the whole wine making process starts, in the vineyard. Terra Blanca Winery and Estate Vineyard, located in the Red Mountain AVA, is offering guided vineyard walks through October.

Red Mountain lies within the rain shadow of the Cascade Range and only averages about eight inches of precipitation a year. The vineyards are watered through drip irrigation that comes from wells. Specifically, on the Terra Blanca grounds, temperatures are about five degrees warmer than the nearby valley floor. Warm summer days subside to cool desert nights, giving the grapes ample ripeness, while maintaining natural acid profiles. The soil of the Terra Blanca estate is composed of silty fine sands and fine, sandy silt loams with interbeds of carbonate-coated gravels, cobbles and boulders. Silt, sand and loam hold very little water and when combined with drip irrigation allow for very tight moisture control. Calcium carbonate also adds to the flavor and texture of the wines, imparting silky chalk and earthy notes.

Vineyard walks are Fridays at 3pm and Saturdays at noon and 3 pm. The cost is $15 a person and reservations are required. Contact Terra Blanca at (509)-588-6082 and find them at 34715 North Demoss Road in Benton City.

?Kennewick? to hit the Puget Sound waters in early 2012

Jordan Youngs — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:31:43 -0700

No, we aren't talking about the actual city of Kennewick here, but it was announced this month that a brand new Ferry named after ‘Kennewick' will be motoring through the sound in the future.

The Washington State Transportation Commission has been excepting proposals to name this new ferry, which is under construction now. The proposal, created by Kennewick city officials and greatly supported by the Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau, mentions that Kennewick refers to "grassy place" and that the community is known for mild winters and early nautical history when steamboats ran on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Not to mention that Kennewick is the home to both the 9,300-year-old Kennewick Man skeleton and the state fossil, the Columbia Mammoth.

Out of five other nominations the Transportation Commission voted 6 to 1 in favor of calling the new ferry ‘Kennewick'.

The City of Kennewick and the Visitor and Convention Bureau couldn't be more pleased about the Commission's decision and believes this will promote tourism throughout our region as passengers learn more about the name and where it comes from.

The new 64-car ferry, Kennewick, will start motoring through the Puget Sound in spring of 2012.

Family fun for all at this year's Art in the Park event

Jordan Youngs — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 08:57:12 -0700

What's better than walking along the Columbia River on a sunny Tri-Cities afternoon while enjoying magnificent artwork, live artist demonstrations, live music and great food? You can do all of those things for free Friday, July 23^rd and Saturday, July 24^th during Allied Arts Association's 60^th annual Art in the Park event in Richland's Howard Amon Park.

Stroll through the park and take a look at brilliant photography, jewelry, metal art, furniture, pottery, paintings, glass art, and much more. No need to worry about parking, a shuttle will be running to the park from nearby Fran Rish parking lot, the Federal Building, and Carmichael Middle School. Shuttle service is $1.25 per person; $3.50 for a family of three or more.

Art in the Park is the annual fundraiser for Allied Arts Association. The funds from this event support the operation of their gallery located at 89 Lee Boulevard and also scholarships for art students.

Wine, Laptops, and Ostrich

Jordan Youngs — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:49:47 -0700

The Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau's Awesome Experience at the 2010 Wine Bloggers' Conference in Walla Walla

When I first heard about this conference I knew it would be a great opportunity to spread the word about the Tri-Cities and how we are the epicenter of Washington Wine Country. I was aware there was a huge community of wine enthusiasts and in this day and age, a lot of people who like to blog. However, I did not know there was a whole conference devoted to people blogging about wine. Therefore, when I registered for this event I knew I would be in for a learning experience.

I arrived to the third annual "Wine Bloggers' Conference" on a Friday morning at the Marcus Whitman Hotel in Walla Walla. Just outside the ballrooms, several different wineries from all over Washington and Oregon had tables setup and were showcasing their wines. I chatted with a few wineries that are located close to the Tri-Cities before I expanded my communication out into the blogging world. I met a few bloggers who were interested in visiting the Tri-Cities and seeing what we had to offer. After a few minutes of chatting I ran into "Wine Biz Radio". It's a group of bloggers who had a video camera setup and were running a live podcast from the conference. The gentleman running the camera said "You're next." Surprised, I stood there thinking about what I was going to say live over the internet. Once I sat down with the two hosts for the interview I explained that I was from the Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau. There was a moment of silence before one of the hosts asked "What's ....the Tri-Cities?" Alright, fresh meat ...I explained to them that we are an area about an hour west of Walla Walla and visitors and locals have access to over 160 different wineries within an hour drive. The hosts seemed quite pleased about the response and towards the end of the interview I gave out our website, http://www.visittri-cities.com/ , and invited the audience to visit.

Next we all converged on the ballroom for the welcoming ceremony. Just about everyone had out laptops with a glass of wine in hand. Never had I seen so many laptops and glasses of wine all in the same room. Like I said before, this was going to be a learning experience for me.

As the weekend went on I met great people and had insightful conversations with bloggers. One of the more memorable events at the conference was "Live Wine Blogging." The event is pretty much like speed dating, except with wine and again ...laptops. We all gathered in the ballroom once again at tables. A representative from each participating winery had five minutes with each group to showcase their wine and answer any questions bloggers had about it. The bloggers tasted and blogged about the wine live over the internet. It was quite the experience.

On Sunday night it was time to say goodbye to the bloggers. The Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau had the chance to co-host around 100 of the bloggers for dinner at Red Mountain's Terra Blanca Winery during a post conference tour. It was a beautiful evening with the temperature in the mid 80's and the sun showcased the hills in Benton City nicely. During the dinner we enjoyed great food and conversations with bloggers. This is where the ostrich comes in. Throughout the dinner, different plates of food were being passed around. A plate with meat and vegetables on skewers came around. It looked to me like short ribs or maybe chicken. Once I tasted it, it had a different taste, but still great. Later, Chef Frank Magana, owner of Picazo 7Seventeen Wine Bar and Restaurant in Prosser, came out to tell us about the food he prepared for us. I was curious to know exactly what kind of sauce made those skewers taste differently. He then explained to the group "I decided to go with ostrich for the skewers tonight." It was the first time I had tried ostrich and it was a fitting dinner to end the conference since the whole experience was brand new to me.

To wrap things up, the conference was a wonderful opportunity for Washington Wine Country. The blogosphere is still buzzing about beautiful Walla Walla and the Tri-Cities.

Beat Boredom at Tri-Cities Perfect Parks

Ben Anderson — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:54:44 -0700

It's hot. The days are long. The kids are home for the Summer. Every day they say the same thing by about 2 p.m. "I'm bored". In the Tri-Cities we're very lucky. There are parks in almost every neighborhood and huge mature trees for shade to escape from the relentless rays of sunshine. Summer in the Tri-Cities is never dull or boring with so many parks to visit and so many activities to attend.

The Playground of Dreams, on the East end of the 400 acre Columbia Park, is a monument to the can-do spirit of the Tri-Cities and a testament to the value we place on the upcoming generations. Originally built in September of 1999 by mostly volunteers the park was an instant favorite of Tri-Citians. Near the playground now is an Aquatic Playground, family fishing pond and a stage for performances. In the park you'll find an Audubon Natural Area, barbeque facilities, an 18 hole frisbee golf course, rope course, several boat launches and during the summer the Dreamland J&S Express train.

In Richland's Howard Amon Park you can find another fixture of family fun. You'll find Sturgeon Cove Playground and its signature 16 foot metal sturgeon. There are a couple of rock wall structures totry your hand at climbing. Swings galore, a tot-lot and even a zip-line round out the fun for this huge structure and will be fun for people of all ages. Through the summer there is also a small wading pool for the little ones. Besides boat docks and miles of walking and riding paths you'll find gazebos, barbeque grills and tons of shade. When the kids are done with the playground you can inject a little education into their summer break byvisiting the CHREST Museum which is nearby.

Smaller, but just as fun, is the water feature of theKennewick Grange Park on Union. The kids will have fun turning on the water from the palm trees and other features and they'll have a play structure that has slides, monkey bars and other apparatus to keep their imaginations running. You can even add a little nature hike to their visit by strolling the demonstration gardens produced by Washington State University Master Gardeners. When the kids are running out of energy and need some more quiet activity the Mid-Columbia Library is ready to give them a chance to keep up with their summer reading.

Many neighborhoods across the area have smaller parks that welcome kids, teens, adults and a dog or two. You'll find enough to keep you busy and perhaps you won't have to hear the kids saying "I'm bored" even once this summer.