Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau Blog

Experience the Tri-Cities through this writer's words

Jordan Youngs — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:42:03 -0700

By: Terry W. Sheely for The Reel News http://www.thereelnews.com/fish-for-fun.html

I'm leaning on the railing of my Hampton Inn balcony watching a big slug of a beaver swim upriver in the Columbia past a Richland jogger, two walkers and a bank fisherman. A spin-caster is methodically plugging the shoreline from the bow of a go-bass boat. I watch him and sip the edge off a smooth local red, an ‘09 Antagonist from Bookwalter Winery, and stare at the stack of notes, searching for a starting point.

State record walleye. State record smallmouth bass. Whopping big dollar national small mouth bass tournament. Nasty upriver bright chinook. Fall kings. Summer steelhead. Last free-flowing stretch of the Big C. White sturgeon, catfish, shad. The old Hanford Town site. Upscale, kickback houseboat fishing. Riverfront steaks. Monster mule deer. Chukar cherries. Atomic pizza.

Medallion frocked local wines served with cool jazz, electrifying symphonies, a little blue grass, Mediterranean gardens and a manicured splatter of golf greens.
Something for everybody, whether they fish or other, or both.

The new Tri-Cities with benefits: Three hundred days of sun, good fish at the doorstep, 160 wineries within an hour, golf, and a river ranch of houseboats.
And a fish guide called PigSticker who is backing the 24-foot jet into the black water, between darting red lights, shifting shadows, pickups and dripping trailers, and hopefully into a pile of nasty king salmon or steelhead stacked in the last free-flowing stretch of the Columbia.

The ramp, a long gravel bar actually, is crackling with activity and optimism. Chinook are in, steelhead just opened, I'm heading into water I've never fished before with a good guide and the better part of a clear September day to get it dialed in. In the bow, my wife turns up her collar, settles in for the ride upriver. Natalie is looking forward to today, fishing the Big C for salmon with Jon, seeing new country and dramatic new scenery, but she's dizzy with anticipation for tomorrow.

Tomorrow it's River Ranch Houseboats, foredeck barbecues, great sound system, smallmouth bass off the bow, rocketing sturgeon, paddleboards, private bedrooms, dinners topside, water slides and barefoot, kickback fishing in the beautiful lonesome of the Snake River above Ice Harbor Dam. And we'll be sharing the houseboat with good friends, Gary and Merrilee Lewis from Bend and their daughters Jennifer, 18 and Mikayla, 14.

The hard part of our Tri-Cities exploration will be making decisions, Jordan Youngs had warned, too much to do, too little time.
And he is proving to be right. This is a new Tri-Cities, a Fish Town with benefits.

The Columbia Basin's trio of towns has become a confluence of outdoor recreation where the Columbia, Snake and Yakima meld, where I can book a houseboat, dock it at a good downtown restaurant for crab cakes sautéed in lobster sauce and a half pound of king crab legs, then shuttle up to Tulip Lane and a cluster of wineries with live musicians, or grab a microbrew and slice at Atomic Pizza and fish with PigSticker Jon Forbes.

"Bring your boat, fish all day, dock at a restaurant and dine fine with great wine," is how Youngs' poetized the water-oriented recreationally astute second life of the three towns previously known for now mostly decommissioned Hanford Nuclear Reservation, Atomic Energy, The Bomb, and Mega-Tractors for monster grain fields. A little more rhyme than I had expected from the former TV weatherman now director of marketing for Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau for Richland, Kennewick and Pasco.

But he's right, PigSticker Jon says, this place has changed-for the better. And for fishermen, as I'm about to find out, the change is all good-if not downright comfortably indulgent.

Jon is waiting in the warm September pre-dawn dark outside the Hampton Inn in Richland with his 24-foot Willie sled packed and ready. Natalie and I climb in, sit down, and a short ride later step out in the dark on the round rocks of a riverbank launch at the outlet to WDFW's Ringold Springs Rearing Facility.
If it swims the Columbia Jon fishes for it-fall kings, brights, steelhead, sturgeon, shad, bass, catfish-"we're going to find a king up by the power lines at the old town site," Jon says, "and maybe steelhead."

Steelhead season has just opened, he explains and the leading edge of the chinook run is just starting to show. Above the launch, bank fishermen are claiming casting positions to work the swirls at the mouth of the Ringold hatchery ditch. Steelhead follow the shoreline through here, Jon says, within range of bankcasters working jigs and eggs, drifted egg clusters or throwing spinners. In the weeks when fall chinook and summer steelhead overlap dozens of bank fishermen jam their elbows and rods into these swirls and eddies.

Jon's jet spits into the dark and we're flying upriver, guided by his decade of river-running experience. Five outlandishly big mule deer bucks raise their heads as we blast past. They're on the Hanford side of the river, just steps away from a fence with warning signs, sensors, observers, Nuclear Reservation guards and safety. The nuclear production site is mostly decommissioned now, but the guards and the deer stay.
We run until daylight starts to paint the steep and deeply eroded cliffs on the east bank of the storied Hanford Reach. Jon serves up his PigSticker special; Corkies with golf ball size blobs of cured salmon eggs, leashed to diver planers and back-trolled slowly down river. It's the lure du jour.
Other boats are working the wide river, picking out points and slicks to prospect. A few fish are rolling. Steam rises from my coffee. Jon is a good guy to fish with, personable, quality gear, knows the local history, the river, the runs, and that I'm a wee bit early for both chinook and steelhead.
"It'll get hot in October," he says, "This place will be elbow to elbow and there will be tremendous numbers of fish caught." I'm at least two weeks too early according to the fish counters 50-plus miles downriver at McNary Dam. Fall chinook hit the dam fish ladder in peak numbers from September 13 to 28 with the high count on September 18. Those fish may take another week to hit the Ringold /Hanford Reach area. "Late September into October is prime," Jon says, and I make a note for future reference.

For steelhead too, it seems.

Peak for summer steelhead passing above McNary is between September 15 and October 8. A lot of those fish are headed for a right turn into the Snake River and Idaho, but a very big bunch is continuing north in the Big C toward Ringold and a host of top-producing tributaries above-Wenatchee, Entiat, Methow, Okanogan rivers. I make another note.

PigSticker, Natalie and I are fast heading toward a shoulda-been-here-next-week-trip but it's been a good day to try. We invest several hours backtrolling good looking salmon water above and below the wooden power line crossing. A dozen or so other boats are sharing the water but we never see a net go out.
The eroded cliffs along the east bank are a mesmerizing pattern of angles, shadow and light. Geese are in the air, herons, egrets and eagles along the banks. The river is wide and flat. When I stand on the boat seat I can see the historic old town site of Hanford, bought and vacated by the government in 1943 to create the world's first plutonium production facility that morphed into the "Hanford Manhattan Project." Two years later that project exploded over Hiroshima and Nagasaki and ended the war with Japan.

Only one building remains at the town site, the wind raked walls of the 1916 high school. A porcupine waddles along the high bank moving between willow clumps. There's a dry, quiet in the air. A sun-washed desert peace. It's hard to believe that beyond the porky, past the high school, across the sand and scrub is where the world changed forever.

PigSticker continues to work hard to coax us a bite. Jon makes the long run back to Ringold and continues below to see if we can run into any early movers. Boat ramps are few and far apart in this area.

The salmon/steelhead free-flowing water is within range of Tri-Cities ramps. It's a 17 mile run to Ringold from the ramps at Howard Amon Park in Richland, and 14 miles from the 4-lane ramp in Groves Park in Richland. Eight more ramps are available south of Amon Park in Richland, Kennewick and Pasco.

Best access to Ringold water is from the Ringold Springs gravel bar. Ten miles north on the east side is a one-lave gravel ramp at WDFW's Wahluke Wildlife Area that drops into the Wooden Power Line fishery. Also on the east side about 18 miles downriver from Vernita Bridge is the WDFW White Bluffs two-lane ramp. There's also a very popular WDFW ramp, especially popular during upriver bright and fall chinook seasons, at the Hwy. 24/Vernita Bridge.

Chinook, if they are here, are tight-lipped. A few roll, none bite. I know there are native spawners in here that will push past 40 pounds, plus the hatchery kings that typically weigh in the 20's. We back troll along a gravel bar with boulders on the bottom and I think that maybe I should switch gear and see what the smallmouth are doing. There's good bass fishing in here. The Washington record, in fact, came from the Reach, an 8.75 pounder that's held onto the top spot since 1966. And down below where the Snake and Columbia merge at Sacajawea State Park, in the Finley Area around Buoy 30 is where Mike Hepper landed the state record walleye on a cold February in 2007. That giant weighed 19.3 pounds.

Before we call it a salmonless day Jon gives us a boat tour of this historic reach, the last free-flowing stretch on 1,243-miles of river that drains a watershed the size of France. In 2000 President Bill Clinton designated this free-flowing water with its dunes, white bluffs, and rare wildlife, a National Monument. Fourteen concrete walls of hydroelectric dams block the river above and below this remnant of a free-flowing Columbia and strangely I find it satisfying just to fish such rare piece of water, this special place.

"Come back toward the end of September or October," Jon says, "it'll be hot. Always is." I make a calendar note.

Houseboat Bass
We meet Jordan for wood-fired pizzas and micro beers at the kitschy Atomic Ale and Brew Pub up on Lee Street then head east though Pasco on Highway 124 to Ice Harbor Park for the second leg of our Tri-Cities Discovery. The park with a good ramp, loading dock, and marina is just above Ice Harbor Dam where we rendezvous with the Lewis' and River Ranch Houseboats owner Ben Harris.

Smallmouth bass and big Idaho steelhead are what we're looking for in this section of the Snake.

Harris' River Ranch Houseboats is based in Burbank and includes a fleet of 59-foot houseboats for both Snake and Columbia rivers. He says he'll shift the boats around for custom trips-fun and sun in the Columbia with and dine and wine at downtown restaurant docks, or fish and hunt, wild and quiet in the Snake above Ice Harbor Dam. We opted for wild and quiet.

River Ranch has been in operation for just a couple of years and is the only houseboat fleet operating out of the Tri-Cities, Youngs says. When we finish loading food, drinks, bags, tackle and more rods than most tackle stores, Harris gives us the tour, a map pinpointing good anchorages and buoys, explains the controls, 115-hp twin outboards, switches on the electrical panel and turns us loose. With 1,568 feet of floor space and room to sleep 12, our little crew of six has plenty of wander-room.

The big boat is a floating condo.

It's equipped with full size beds, electric stove, refrigerator/freezer, gas barbecues, microwave, all the pots and pans, utensils, toaster and coffee maker we'll need, plus flat screen TV and DVR, marine radio, two bathrooms, shower, deck furniture granite counter tops, central heat and air conditioning, water cooled generator and 110 electricity.

We idle out of the marina into impounded Lake Sacajawea, point the bow toward Idaho, throttle down and don't look back. Thirty-two miles of Snake River, from Ice Harbor to Lower Monument dam, is ours for the prowling.
Natalie smiles.

The oversize helm is a bit intimidating and there is a 60-foot lag between spinning the wheel, adjusting the throttles and turning the boat that takes a little getting used to, but within a couple of miles we've got it fairly well on track-and our wake no longer looks like a snake swimming with a broken back.
First evening stop is an anchor buoy in a quiet bay at Big Flat Habitat Management Unit. A white egret wades in front of a green wall of tules, geese fly so low over the water their wing tips brush reflections and upriver are miles of water running between cliffs and hills with long yellow grass. Orchards, green and lush are on the hilltops, but the river banks are as wild as the evening the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery Expedition camped along here.

Gary casts a smallmouth plug from the bow and I fire up the barbecue.

Grilled halibut buried in Italian bread crumbs and cheddar, roasted veggies, little red, purple, and white potatoes, crab cakes, salad, garlic bread-not the usual fish camp food.

The girls try out the water slide, adopt the paddle boards, and drift away.

A three-quarter moon is lighting up the water when the coyotes break loose.

We take turns cooking, driving the boat, fishing, staring through binoculars and choosing music. A long rip rap rock bank with overhanging willows and wads of desert brush begs to be fished.

A slight head wind is arguing while I try to hold the big boat within casting range of the rocks for Natalie and Gary to target, and regret not trailering my 17-foot fish boat. A runabout towed off the stern is perfect for serious houseboat fishing.

Gary lands a couple of small smallmouth that ate wobbling plugs right where they should and we swap sides of the river to spend a second night tied up to the dock at aptly named Fishhook Park. The park is closed for the season-from the land side-which means us river-runners have it to ourselves. Gary and I throw spoons and spinners for steelhead along the edges but come up empty.

Merrilee serves up home-made tacos, juicy slices of Hermiston watermelon, smoked oysters and clams. This fish trip is a long way from sleeping bags and baked beans. After dinner we fish for smallmouth until dark when Gary and I take the flashlights and head for the park sprinklers on a nightcrawler hunt.
Either my crawler grabbing technique has suffered in recent years or these are the fastest nightcrawlers in Washington. "Spooky crawlers," I tell Gary after three of the slithers dive into holes when the light hits them. "With good reason," Gary replies. "Any nightcrawler living in ‘Fishhook Park' has got to be paranoid."
In the blackness overhead, comes the Pterodactyl-like screech of a great blue heron, and in the distance coyotes yammer. A large fish crashes in the water near the boat.

Carp I think. Steelhead I hope.

The next afternoon, we head back to the marina to drop off the Lewis family. On the riprap breakwater that blocks the marina from westerlies, fishermen are dangling shrimp and cluster eggs under floats for steelhead or casting for smallmouth. One young man nails a decent smallie as we pass. Still no sign of the steelhead run that's rumored to be coming. The Corps of Engineers says 8.6 million steelhead smolts went into this river two years ago, almost 5,000 adults were counted at Ice Harbor Dam this week, the peak of the return run. I can see the dam from here, but I have yet to see a steelhead.

Back on the water, Natalie and I have the boat to ourselves and surprisingly it handles just fine with our crew of two. We explore toward Ice Harbor Dam, pass several more mooring buoys positioned by River Ranch, swing around small boats trolling for steelhead, head back upriver and trade horn signals with a tug pushing three empty barges toward grain elevators in Lewiston.

I fish a bit along the way as Natalie steers. Late in the afternoon I call it quits and tie up at another RR mooring buoy in a quiet cove. That evening, my birthday, we grill pork chops on the foredeck, chill a plate of fresh tomatoes, Walla Walla slices and cucumbers, and eat on the open upper deck. For dessert, I uncork a celebratory bottle of Barnard Griffin Syrah, prop my feet on the railing and watch a golden sun light up the yellow fields and basalt grasses. There should be mule deer coming to water and if there are I can't see them.

That night, after popcorn and a good white from Tagaris Winery, I return to the upper deck, stretch out in a lounge chair and stare into blackness at a few million stars. Even the coyotes are quiet tonight. A meteor sears across the stars and disappears over an silhouetted orchard in the distance. I'm a million miles away from a worry.

Tomorrow we'll fish for bass again, slowly, reluctantly work downriver, back to the marina, turn the boat, unbruised, over to Ben Harris, load the van and drive back into reality.

But that's tomorrow.

Today I've fished for bass and steelhead, photographed the egrets, saw new country, celebrated another year, ate popcorn and sipped good local wines, stared into a gazillion stars, and fell asleep with the moon shining on still river water, the boat gently swaying on the mooring buoy, and rippling wavelets licking at the hull.

I'm liking this Fish Town with Benefits. I'll be back.

Don?t like the taste of wine? Come to wine country anyway

Jordan Youngs — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:07:29 -0700

You may have read the headline of the blog entry and said "That makes zero sense. Why would I go to a whole region deeply rooted in wine if I don't like the taste of it?"

Excellent question. Even though your palette detests the taste of a Bordeaux or Malbec, you can have an enjoyable time in wine country.

For starters, wine is so much more than a nice beverage to sip on. It's about the lifestyle, the people and the experience.

Here are few things you can enjoy while visiting wine country that don't involve tasting it:

1. Take in the stunning views at each winery.

2. Meet the winemakers and their staff and learn about the process of growing wine grapes and making the wine. It's quite interesting.

3. Enjoy live music at the winery. Many wineries in the Tri-Cities offer live performances during the evening.

4. Have a meal or a snack. Multiple wineries in our area serve appetizers and even have full restaurants. There is nothing wrong with taking in the view while having a snack and enjoying an ice water or other beverage.

5. Meet winery dogs. These unique animals are full of personality and have been appointed as the social directors of their wineries. They greet and interact with guests as they visit.

6. Eat chocolate. This one is easy. A lot of wineries pair red wines with chocolate, but who says you have to drink the wine too?

Temperatures this weekend that start with a 6!

Jordan Youngs — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:17:22 -0700

The Tri-Cities is known for having some of the best weather in the state. However, let's be honest, winter is winter in Washington state and almost all locations, the Tri-Cities included, get hit with wind, cold temperatures, rain and even snow.

While getting ready to head into the office this morning I overheard the local weather man predicting temperatures this weekend that actually started with a number higher than 4 and 5. Yes, 60 degree weather is returning to the Tri-Cities for the first weekend in March. Temperatures in the low 60's with mostly sunny skies on the weekend, time to end my hibernation

So what to do this weekend? Sure I could do something that isn't entertaining like pull weeds in the yard or any other backyard task. Not this weekend. Temperatures in the 60's is t-shirt weather, so I am thinking about heading down to the Sacagawea Heritage Trail on the river and getting a nice walk in. Maybe I will even bring my rollerblades. A round of golf perhaps? How about a hike up Badger Mountain? A dip in the Columbia Ri.... I'm kidding, it's going to be nice out, but not THAT nice.

Whatever you choose to do this weekend, have fun in the Tri-Cities. If pulling weeds is your thing, then go get ‘em!

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.