Yakima, Washington: Community Information

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Perhaps it’s the four seasons or the nearly 300 days of sun a year that draw nearly 250,000 residents and more than half a million visitors to the Yakima Valley annually. Perhaps it’s the sweet smell of a valley that’s lush with orchards, vineyards and gardens.

Perhaps it’s the diversity and cultural opportunities that create a heritage rich with multi-generational families and new families sharing community-sponsored events and neighborhood-organized barbecues and holiday parties. Maybe it’s the central location—to Seattle, Spokane or Portland—to the mountains, the ocean, rain forests or the Columbia River. Perhaps it’s that feeling of belonging, even when you’ve just arrived, that inspires thousands of new families to call Yakima home every year.

So it was no surprise to us that when The Early Show’s Dave Price toured the country as part of The Great American Adventure Winnebago Tour, he and the CBS morning show team stopped in Yakima where he gushed to viewers nationwide about the agricultural bounty he discovered. At one point, Price even challenged The Early Show anchor Harry Smith to pick any letter of the alphabet and Price would name a fruit or vegetable grown in the Yakima Valley that started with that letter.

Most people think of apples when they speak of the Yakima Valley. The area is home to more than 50 varieties of apples. But few know that the United States produces 24 percent of the world’s hops, and about three-fourths of the U.S. crop comes from the Yakima Valley. And in the past 20 years, Yakima Valley wineries have continued to receive increasing acclaim. The magnificent vineyards of the sun-drenched valley lie in the same latitudes as the great wine-producing regions of France. As a result, Yakima’s hand-crafted award-winning wines have enjoyed an explosion in popularity.

Located at the confluence of the Naches and Yakima Rivers, Yakima serves as the gateway to the Cascade Mountains to the west and the bountiful Yakima Valley to the east. The city of Yakima is the business and commercial hub of Central Washington, serving a populace of about a quarter of a million people. The Yakima Valley boasts of excellent education, culture and, of course, recreation.

Yakima offers so many attractions that you’ll want to plan to stay a while or make multiple trips to see everything. Depending on when you arrive, the city also plays host to a substantial calendar of events throughout the year.

Yakima Real Estate

Yakima county’s economic vitality, along with relatively inexpensive land, modest living costs, natural beauty and a relaxed lifestyle, have spurred the success of yet another industry: real-estate.

Demand for second homes and an influx of retirees moving to the area has dramatically increased housing prices. Companies seeking inexpensive land are looking for deals on industrial and commercial sites. The wine industry is also helping to propel a boost in the tourism industry.

Attractions in Yakima, Washington

Mt. Rainier National Park

Mt. Rainier National Park is approximately an hour’s drive northwest of Yakima and is most accessible in the summer months. Some areas, however, may be visited year round. There are activities for the whole family including camping, hiking, wildlife observation, boating and skiing.

Capitol Theatre

The historic Capitol Theatre was built in 1919 and is on the National Register of Historic Sites. It is home to the productions of local organizations such as the Yakima Symphony Orchestra and Community Concerts.

Central Washington State Fair

The Central Washington State Fair runs for 10 days each year in late September/early October. The fairgrounds are spacious and scenic, making it one of the most enjoyable fairs in the state.

Mt. Rainier National Park

Mt. Rainier National Park is approximately an hour’s drive northwest of Yakima and is most accessible in the summer months. Some areas, however, may be visited year round. There are activities for the whole family including camping, hiking, wildlife observation, boating and skiing.

Nile Valley Days

Nile Valley Days is a charming community fair held every July in the mountain community of Cliffdell. Approximately a 45-minute drive from Yakima towards Chinook Pass, this three-day fair features local crafters and artists, and is great fun for the whole family. Related information: visit the Nile Civic Betterment Association Web site.

Recreational rivers

The Naches and Yakima rivers offer excellent opportunities for fishing, rafting and other outdoor sports. The Yakima River is one of the nation’s most popular destinations for fly fishermen.

Sundome

The Yakima Valley Sundome, located on the fairgrounds, hosts many concerts and trade shows year round. Built in 1990, the Sundome is the largest dome of its kind in the world.

Toppenish Murals

The city of Toppenish, a half-hour drive southeast of Yakima, houses one of the Northwest’s leading attractions with more than 34 large outdoor murals depicting the area’s history and culture.

Washington Wine Country

Wineries abound in the Yakima Valley, as do fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruit stands dot the local highways, and for those who are interested, there are plenty of opportunities to self-pick produce at local farms. The Yakima Valley’s outstanding agriculture draws people from all over the Northwest.

Yakama Nation Cultural Center

Also near Toppenish is the Yakama Indian Nation Cultural Center. The museum contains wonderful dioramas and exhibits that tell the story of the Yakama people. There is also a restaurant and gift shop, a library, a theatre and an RV resort. The Yakama Nation Legends Casino is open Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Yakima Area Arboretum

The Yakima Area Arboretum is open every day from dawn until dusk, and the Jewett Visitor Center is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The arboretum harbors more than 2,000 specimens of native and exotic species of woody plants on 46 acres of land adjoining the Yakima River.

Yakima County Stadium

Yakima Stadium, adjacent to the Sundome, is home to the Yakima Bears, a Class ‘A’ Arizona Diamondbacks affiliated baseball team. In addition to baseball games, the stadium hosts concerts and other activities.

Yakima Farmers Market

Yakima is also home to a thriving farmer’s market, which is open every Sunday from May to October. Local produce and hand crafted items are available at the market.

Yakima Greenway

The Greenway, which runs through the arboretum, is another facet of Yakima’s outdoor activities. The Greenway stretches from Selah Gap to Union Gap, and west along the Naches River. It has more than 10 miles of paved pathways which connect parks, river access landings, nature trails, fishing lakes and protected natural areas.

Yakima Valley Museum

The Yakima Valley Museum, located in downtown Yakima, offers historical exhibits on the Yakima Valley’s natural history, American Indian culture, pioneer life, early city life and the development of the Valley’s fruit industry.

To learn more about everything the Yakima Valley has to offer, visit www.everythingyakima.com.

Yakima Events

There’s always something to do in the Yakima Valley. Every year residents and visitors of all ages gather to celebrate traditional holidays, cultural celebrations, artisan creations and the bounty of a valley built on harvests beginning in late spring.

Yakima’s Calendar of Events continues to grow each year. Some of the most popular events include:

• Yakima Downtown New Year’s Eve, an annual celebration of the new year with live music, great food and fireworks at midnight.
• Cinco de Mayo celebration.
• Yakima Live, a huge gathering of artists, musicians, restaurants, wineries and breweries.
• Yakima Summer Kickoff Party, an old fashioned community picnic.
• The Fresh Hop Ale Fest, an Allied Arts event celebrating the art of brewing with great live music and delicious food.
• Shots 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament.
• The farmers’ market October Fest, a celebration of fall with great German food, beer tent, live music and dancing.
• Downtown lighted parade with Santa and a Christmas tree lighting ceremony holiday event presented by The Capitol Theatre.
• The weekly farmers’ market, providing fresh produce and beautiful hand-crafted art from local farmers and artists, and many more smaller events throughout the year.

For a list of events, click here.

Yakima Wines and Wine Country

As Yakima Valley’s viticulture has matured over the last two decades and its winemaking prospered, many newer wineries have cropped up to quick acclaim. As the industry continues to grow, it is a must to come back and see which new wineries have joined this charming wine country. Today, the Yakima Valley boasts of more than 40 wineries and hundreds of vineyards within a 50-mile radius.

The best strategy to wine tasting is to meander down Interstate 82 with your Yakima Valley Visitors Guide in hand, or sign up for an unforgettable wine country tour. Pick half a dozen places or more to explore. You’ll often encounter winery family members in the tasting room delighted to recommend the best wine to enjoy with regional cuisine, talk about the winemaking process, or the traditional wisdom of barrel- or bottle-aging.

Yakima Sports and Recreation

People in Yakima are passionate about the outdoors! From the many lakes less than an hour away, to river rafting or fishing in the Naches and Yakima Rivers, mountain climbing or hiking the Cascade Loop, water skiing or playing golf in the summer and snow skiing and snowboarding in winter, the people of Central Washington love our recreation. There are 13 public parks within the Yakima city limits and four additional parks in Yakima County. Yakimia boasts of several golf courses, including the prestigious Yakima Country Club Golf Course and the beautiful and challenging Apple Tree Resort that welcomed the 41st President of the United States, George H.W. Bush.

The Yakima Greenway is a continuous 10-mile walking and biking path that overflows with the sounds of walkers chatting, children laughing, playing and exercising, runners preparing for marathons and residents of all ages and levels of fitness out enjoying the fresh air nine to 10 months each year.

Yakima’s residents and visitors enjoy recreation year around, and the great variety of adventures and activities make Yakima hard to resist. When not participating, Yakima residents love to watch! There’s a great pride in our professional sport teams.

Yakima is home to two professional sporting teams: the Yakima Bears, a minor league baseball team; The Sun Kings; and the Yakima Reds, members of the United Soccer League. Year around, indoors or outdoors, it seems there’s always something to see or do in Yakima, where sports and activities abound.

Whether you prefer hands-on activity or just to sit back and watch, there’s so much to do, see and enjoy in the valley. It’s a full-time activity just trying to fit everything in.

Links of interest

Cascadians - The Cascadians is an outdoor recreation and conservation club located in Yakima, Washington.  Activities include hiking, backpacking, climbing, skiing, bicycling, kayaking, and rafting. Cascadians have been enjoying the trails and peaks of the Pacific Northwest since 1920.

Yakima Schools and Education

From grammar school through trade schools and universities, the Yakima Valley is rich with excellent educational opportunities. Area public schools have received Presidential awards of excellence while private schools and public schools boast statewide sportsmanship excellence in basketball, soccer, tennis, football, track and field, as well as excellence in the musical arts.

The great diversity of our Valley is certainly represented in our schools. We have a robust mix of public and private educational institutions serving the needs of our community. The Yakima Valley is a great place to further your education and career with a number of excellent local colleges including Yakima Valley Community College, Heritage University, City University, Perry Technical Institute and extension classes from Washington State University and Central Washington University.

Coming in 2008, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, a private osteopathic medical school, is scheduled to open. Currently there are only 25 osteopathic medical schools in the entire U.S.

The Yakima community provides a rich learning environment for family physicians. Central Washington Family Medicine’s graduate Family Practice Residency Program is affiliated with the University of Washington’s School of Medicine’s top-ranked department of family medicine and is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The internship year is also approved by the American Osteopathic Association.

Yakima’s medical community is continuing to grow. In addition to Memorial’s growing Family of Services and the talent that has relocated to Yakima as a result of these innovative research- and technology-driven care centers, the educational opportunities in the Valley have more than quadrupled in the past decade. Area students have many options for degrees in nursing, advanced health care, physical therapy assistants, x-ray, medical records, dental hygiene and the Family Practice Residency Program. Through any one of the area’s campus or satellite locations, education is available for certification and continuing credits.

Yakima Culture

Long before settlers entered the Yakima Valley, Native Americans thrived on the land which was rich in salmon, berries and nuts. The homesteaders who established the community of Yakima that we know today continued this tradition of living off the fertile land and making the desert bloom.

The culture of Yakima today is strongly anchored in agriculture. Many residents of the Valley are orchardists or farmers. Everyone, whether a grower or not, can enjoy and benefit from the Valley’s fresh produce.

Yakima has a large Hispanic population which offers valuable contributions to the culture of the Valley. The Yakama Indian Nation is also an invaluable facet of the Valley’s culture. Living in Yakima, it is easy to experience and learn from the diverse peoples, histories, and cultures that are so close by. Through the medium of agriculture, different people have come together and can share common goals and ways of life.

The Yakima Valley Museum and the Yakama Indian Cultural Heritage Center are two excellent places to go to learn more about the culture of the Yakima Valley.

The Yakima Valley – home to nine museums, each with unique collections – enjoys a rich cultural heritage, which is reflected in the abundant ways in which the arts are celebrated each year. From its Native American roots to its 40% Latino population, across its broadly varied towns and districts, Yakima offers insight into many diverse cultural histories even as it presents a unique life-experience all its own. Visit our Museum.

The Yakima Valley Museum includes more than 38,000 objects in the collections at the museum and over 40,000 documents and photographs in the archives and research library focusing on the natural history of the valley, Native American culture, early pioneer life and the roots and development of its fruit industry. The museum houses one of the largest collections of wagons, carriages and early motorized vehicles west of the Mississippi. The museum serves as the official repository for the personal belongings of Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, a controversial statesman, prolific writer, environmentalist and native of Yakima.

Yakima Arts, Events and Entertainment

There are three stage theaters in Yakima, including the Capitol Theatre, which hosts approximately 300 performances a year, most notably their Broadway series, the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, headliners and spectacular Christmas events; the Warehouse Theatre Company, a popular community-run theatre and musical company featuring Yakima’s finest thespian talent; and the Seasons Performing Hall featuring chamber music and jazz. With its glorious stained-glass dome and windows, perfect acoustics and architecture that might have been transplanted from the Italian Renaissance, it is a Yakima treasure that has been featured in the Wall Street Journal.

Affiliated with the Warehouse Theatre Company is the Allied Arts Council. Allied Arts of Yakima Valley (established in 1962) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the coordination and promotion of arts events in the Valley. Allied Arts focuses on developing artistic and academic skills, community enhancement and economic growth through the arts. To get involved, visit the Yakima Allied Arts Web site.

Larson Gallery, located on the Yakima Valley Community College campus, offers free general admittance during gallery hours, Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The gallery is home to juried shows and curator-selected shows. The largest juried show is the Central Washington Artists Exposition each fall. Artists from Central Washington are invited to submit various forms of artisan works, and 100 pieces are selected by a regional jury. Throughout the remainder of the year, director Cheryl H. Hahn selects a variety of shows from across the country and around the world. For more information, visit www.larsongallery.org.

There are multiple jazz festivals throughout the year, including art fairs, a weekly farmer’s market, a blues and jazz festival, a hop festival and many more. Every summer Yakima Valley residents and visitors gather together for a three-day Yakima Folklife Festival featuring performers, crafts and of course food at Franklin Park. For more information, visit the Yakima Valley Museum’s folk life Web site.

The Yakima community supports and encourages the arts in all their many forms—music, dance, theatre, symphony, visual arts and comedy—each one creating another layer of sustenance in a busy world. From Broadway shows to local productions, from touring extravaganzas to preschool recitals, the Yakima community loves to be entertained.

Yakima Valley - A way of living!

Perhaps it’s the four seasons or the nearly 300 days of sun a year that draw nearly 250,000 residents and more than half a million visitors to the Yakima Valley annually. Perhaps it’s the sweet smell of a valley that’s lush with orchards, vineyards and gardens. 

Perhaps it’s the diversity and cultural opportunities that create a heritage rich with multi-generational families and new families sharing community-sponsored events and neighborhood-organized barbecues and holiday parties. Maybe it’s the central location—to Seattle, Spokane or Portland—to the mountains, the ocean, rain forests or the Columbia River. Perhaps it’s that feeling of belonging, even when you’ve just arrived, that inspires thousands of new families to call Yakima home every year.

Click here to read Seattle Business Monthly’s feature on Yakima.

So it was no surprise to us that when The Early Show’s Dave Price toured the country as part of The Great American Adventure Winnebago Tour, he and the CBS morning show team stopped in Yakima where he gushed to viewers nationwide about the agricultural bounty he discovered. At one point, Price even challenged The Early Show anchor Harry Smith to pick any letter of the alphabet and Price would name a fruit or vegetable grown in the Yakima Valley that started with that letter.

Most people think of apples when they speak of the Yakima Valley. The area is home to more than 50 varieties of apples. But few know that the United States produces 24 percent of the world’s hops, and about three-fourths of the U.S. crop comes from the Yakima Valley. And in the past 20 years, Yakima Valley wineries have continued to receive increasing acclaim. The magnificent vineyards of the sun-drenched valley lie in the same latitudes as the great wine-producing regions of France. As a result, Yakima’s hand-crafted award-winning wines have enjoyed an explosion in popularity.

Located at the confluence of the Naches and Yakima Rivers, Yakima serves as the gateway to the Cascade Mountains to the west and the bountiful Yakima Valley to the east. The city of Yakima is the business and commercial hub of Central Washington, serving a populace of about a quarter of a million people. The Yakima Valley boasts of excellent education, culture and, of course, recreation.

Yakima offers so many attractions that you’ll want to plan to stay a while or make multiple trips to see everything. Depending on when you arrive, the city also plays host to a substantial calendar of events throughout the year. For further information about Yakima, please click here.