The Ultimate Guide to Eco-Travel in Tri-Cities

The Ultimate Guide to Eco-Travel in Tri-Cities, WA:

How to be a More Sustainable Traveler

Travel Close to Home

One of the best things you can do to reduce your environmental impact when traveling is to stay close to home. Luckily, anywhere within Washington State is within a short drive of the Tri-Cities (3.5 hours from Seattle, 3 from Portland, and 2 from Spokane). 

People who travel to the Tri-Cities love its small-town feel, but its size (300,000 people) means that you have access to food, entertainment, and recreation that you find in bigger cities. From award-winning wine to the three rivers and the sunny weather here, there’s something for everyone in the Tri-Cities.

Muscle Over Motor

Taking public transportation such as Ben Franklin Transit is an affordable and eco-friendly transportation option that improves traffic congestion and reduces pollution in the atmosphere, and it’s certainly better than driving cars — but using your own muscles to get around has all those same benefits, plus it’s deeply satisfying! Once you get here, a fun challenge is to see how much you can use your own body to get around. It’s slower than driving, but traveling slow minimizes your impact on the environment, and often makes for a richer, more meaningful experience while you’re here.

To make it possible, stay in places that have walkable or bikeable accessibility to dining & shopping: For example, the Clover Island Inn is easily accessible to Columbia Gardens Urban Wine & Artisan Village and downtown Kennewick. Richland hotels such as Holiday Inn Richland on the River, The Lodge at Columbia Point, Riverfront Hotel, and Courtyard by Marriott Richland Columbia Point are walkable to downtown Richland and The Parkway, where you’ll find food and shopping, and Howard Amon Park right on the Columbia River. Bike along the river path on the Sacagawea Heritage Trail, or kayak or paddleboard on the river. Your body (and the earth) will thank you!

Enjoy Local Experiences

Opportunities abound to dive into slow travel experiences that mesh well with a sustainable lifestyle. There are many parks and public lands that are ripe for exploration. In spring and summer, enjoy the bounty of local produce at one of the farmers markets across the area. If you’re here in October, the Water Lantern Festival is a treat to behold. The event organizers are committed to sustainability, and part of the cost of attending goes to collecting and removing the lanterns, as well as trash clean up.

Shop Secondhand & Recycled

Visit some of the local thrift boutiques or antique shops that are here in abundance: repurposing and reusing gives new life to furniture, clothing, and other items. There’s very little (if any) packaging requiring disposal, and it supports local business owners. There’s always a treasure to be found! Check out the Uptown Antique Market, Bergan's Timeless Treasures, or Reborn Bike Shop, which sells pre-owned bicycles and gear.

Support Local & Sustainable Businesses

When you shop local, that money goes directly to benefit the residents of the town you’re in and increases their quality of life. Seek out restaurants that source food organically and locally as much as possible. Sourcing food locally means you get fresher food, plus, it's less packaging, requires fewer food miles, and keeps more jobs in the community. 

Some notable local businesses are making strides with making their businesses more sustainable. Purple Star Wines is innovating with their packaging to eliminate foil wrapping and reducing weight of bottles, resulting in less wastage and less fuel needed for transport. Solar Spirits Distillery is an award-winning craft distillery that produces all of its spirits with sustainability in mind. Terra Blanca Winery & Estate Vineyard has a "Salmon Safe" certification, meaning they don’t use chemicals or fertilizers that can run into streams and harm the salmon population.

Discover Local Heritage

When you learn more about the heritage of local communities, you develop a deeper respect for them, and it helps preserve culture and traditions. The Tri-Cities has a rich and diverse cultural heritage that can be celebrated here, with black, indigenous, and Hispanic heritage all contributing to the melting pot of the community. From indigenous art, to the Black History Driving Tour highlighting black laborers at the Hanford site, to the colorful reflection of Hispanic culture in the shops and food of downtown Pasco, there are multiple ways to celebrate the diversity of the area.

Eco-Tourism is a vehicle for encouraging visitation and enjoyment of our outdoor recreational opportunities. This Partnership with Battelle aids Visit Tri-Cities’ work to ensure the responsible development and protection of our natural environment to ensure these assets are available for generations to come.

Outdoors Learn More

Hiking & Biking Learn More

Photographic Journey: Capturing the Beauty of Tri-Cities Rivers Learn More

Farmers’ Markets Learn More