Kennewick is the Tri-Cities' largest community with a population of over 74,000, and covering over 25 square miles. As the retail hub of southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon, shopping opportunities abound in west Kennewick in the area of Columbia Center mall, and in east Kennewick in the historic Downtown Shopping District.

Home of the Toyota Center, sporting events are fast, furious and full of family fun, whether you attend the ultra-exciting National Indoor Football League's Tri-Cities Fever games, or the Western Hockey League's Tri-City Americans matches.

Recreational activities abound year-round in Kennewick, which is a Native American word meaning "Winter Paradise." Outdoor enthusiasts can spend over 300 days a year in sunshine, enjoying their favorite sport or activity. Boating and fishing on the Columbia, Yakima and Snake Rivers, or if you prefer, hiking or biking along the 23-mile Sacagawea Trail, perched on the banks of the Columbia River. If your taste runs more towards a round of golf, Canyon Lakes Golf Course is just one of three public courses located within the City, and is rated as one of the premier courses in the Pacific Northwest.

You're sure to enjoy family fun spending a day in one of Kennewick's 27 beautifully maintained parks. Columbia Park is 360-acres of river frontage that has something to offer everyone. Youngsters flock to the Playground of Dreams and the seasonal Aquatic Splash Park. Weekends and warm weather bring out the J & S Dreamland Express, an open-air multi-car train ride that can be enjoyed by the entire family. Warm summer nights feature "Movies on the River," a no-cost family appropriate treat. During fishing season, children are invited to drop a hook into the Family Fishing Pond. Other area activities to enjoy include the sights and sounds of nature along the Audubon Nature Trail, a visit to the duck pond, or walking or bicycling along miles of paths. Don't forget to bring the teenage kids to play the challenging 18-hole Frisbee golf course, home of the Windy River Open.

Capping off a summer of family fun activities, Columbia Park has hosted the Water Follies Columbia Cup unlimited hydroplane races for over forty years. Tens of thousands of spectators line the shore each July to watch the hydros fly by on the water and the Air Show fly overhead between each race.

No matter what your interest, there is something for everyone in Kennewick. Come join the fun. www.go2kennewick.com

In 1805, Lewis and Clark camped at the confluence of the Columbia and Snake rivers in an area that 200 years later is called Sacajawea State Park honoring their American Indian guide. Little did they know the surrounding area would soon be called Pasco, today a bustling, thriving community of 61,000.

Pasco's growth is energized by transportation, commerce and trade. In the beginning, the city relied entirely on the river and rail for transportation, but has since matured into a genuine transportation hub including surface, air, water and rail, all modes moving agricultural, dry goods, technology and products to near and distant corners of the globe.This effort requires the support of a variety of businesses, industries and government involved in communications, utilities, education and government agencies, all working in harmony to maintain a growing, sustainable economy. Pasco is a place where people put down roots and raise families in a safe, forward-thinking, active environment.

Pasco positioned itself as a "sports-minded" community by building 20 soccer fields; eight softball fields; one professional minor league baseball stadium; seven baseball parks; one multi-purpose outdoor stadium with state-of-the-art field turf and a ten-lane, all-weather running track capable of hosting state-level football and track events; a 50-meter pool; a professional indoor rodeo arena, and a dedicated 3.1-mile cross-country course for walkers, joggers and runners. Golfers can also enjoy nearly year-round play at a professional course, or if you enjoy tennis there are 24 public courts available. For bikers and hikers there are 15 miles of pathway, much of it overlooking the majestic Columbia River. If it's a positive lifestyle you yearn for, Pasco offers it. www.pasco-wa.gov

Looking for a place where you can stroll along the Columbia River, enjoy an outdoor concert or find an imaginative playground for your youngsters? Would you enjoy visiting a community that offers fishing, boating and water skiing opportunities as well as antique shops and wineries? How about a vacation destination with a symphony, ballet and jet sprint boat racing? If any of these appeal to your sense of leisure-time fun, sports or entertainment, you'll want to plan your next outing, trip or vacation in Richland. This city of 49,090 residents is also home to three community theater troupes, medieval renaissance and folklife festivals, and a classic car and street rod event. Richland offers you steelhead fishing, beautiful and challenging golf courses, a self-guided walking tour of the National Historic Register's "Gold Coast Neighborhood" with its "Alphabet Homes" and several places that commemorate Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery.

A new skateboard park, the Columbia River Exhibition of History, Science and Technology Museum, and the Three Rivers Arts & Entertainment District also await you in Richland. All this and sunshine, too! Come visit Richland. www.ci.richland.wa.us

The City continues to grow, offering a unique mix of urban and rural living. This growth has attracted new businesses and the addition of a new elementary and middle school. West Richland is poised to welcome new commercial and industrial development with its open spaces, available land and infrastructure.

West Richland's many public parks and new Sports Complex have become hubs for exciting community activities throughout the year. Events including an extensive Summer Concert Series, Hogs & Dogs, Fall Harvest Festival, Veterans Day Parade and December's Carols and Cocoa contribute to West Richland's growing economy and offer families high quality recreational experiences near home. www.westrichland.org

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