Olmstead Place State Park: This park is a 217 acre day-use park that features picnic space, beautiful gardens, walking trails and a small museum. The 217 acre farm has two houses: a farmhouse and a smaller Cabin. Samuel Olmstead and his family moved to the site in 1875, the same year Ellensburg was platted. The parks hosts a popular threshing bee each September and is at 921 N. Ferguson Road, about three miles west of Kittitas.

Quiet, shady pull thrus situated on the Yakima River.

This region displays the beauty of the valley from a different perspective. Just north of town, this area offers a variety of opportunities for those with outdoor interests such as: Hiking, Horseback riding, motorcycle, biking, x-country skiing, snowmobiling.

What: New exhibit at the Children's Activity Museum
Where: 118 E. Fourth Ave. Ellensburg, WA 98926
When: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
12 p.m. - 7 p.m. Thursday
Cost: General admission: $4.25 per person (Children under 1 are free)
$14.50 for a family pass. Memberships are also available.
Contact: 509-925-6789

For information, visit the Western Art Association website.

Roslyn is a historic coal mining town which boasts of a log cabin built in the 1880's, 25 old ethnic cemeteries and the quaint Roslyn Museum. Roslyn is the filming site of the television series "Northern Exposure."

Happy Trails Horseback Riding Ranch Hay Rides - Sleigh Rides - Wagon Train trips - Carriages. Address: 551 Pioneer Trail Road - Easton, WA Take Exit #74 off of Interstate 90 and follow it down 1/2 mile.

The Clymer Museum of Art is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, Noon to 5 p.m.

Visit Central Washington University online for information.

Umtanum Creek Recreation Area is a great place to explore, with a fine canyon hike leading to rolling hills above.

Shaken by an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale, the north face of Mount St. Helens collapsed in a massive rock debris avalanche. Open daily 9:30 a.m. to close. For more information please call (360) 274-7750.

This is one of Washington State's best trout fishing areas.

There are few mountaintops in Washington that are accessible by such a short and easy trail. Red Top is a great trail for kids and for adults wanting a half-day hike in the Teanaways. This area is also considered one of the best by valley rock hounds.

From I-90, take exit 85 and go north on Hwy. 97 North for 18 miles. Just past the Mineral Springs Campground, go north on FR 9738. In 2.6 miles, go left on FR 9702. Drive 4.5 miles to the trailhead at the picnic area, elevation 5,000 feet. NW Forest Pass required.

A Walkabout Museum of late Victorian architecture featuring 27 buildings. Enjoy sites from the Lynch Block (dating back to 1888) to the Federal Building (1917) and Ben Snipes Bank (1889).

This canyon, just southwest of Ellensburg, offers year-round entertainment. Hiking, horseback riding, sledding and watching elk feed.

We are conveniently located to historical museums and golf courses. Take Exit 106 off of Interstate 90.

See Kittitas County Recreational Opportunities and the Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce for more information.

From this scenic viewpoint you can see Mt Rainier, Mt. Adams and the Stuart Range. It's great for picnicking, hiking and photography.

Located in Thorp Washington, the Thorp Grist Mill was built in 1883 by a homesteader who lived near the Yakima River. This is the only flour mill, of six in the county, still standing. The mill, nearly fully equipped just as it was when it stopped operating in 1946, is maintained as a major tourist destination by the non-profit Thorp Mill Town Historical Preservation Society. For visitors, there are self-guided outdoor tours available year-round and guided indoor tours from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The mill was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1977, and restoration work went into high gear in the late 1980's and through the early 1990's.

Hiking and Horseback. This beautiful ridge borders Ellensburg to the south. If offers scenery and several opportunities for varied interest and skill levels. Enjoy a gorgeous view surrounded by forest and wildflowers in the Spring.

Picnicking, Rafting, Bird watching and Fishing. The winding river provides a beautiful and serene place to enjoy a picnic, float a raft, fly fish or simply listen to the birds who rest on its shore. There are over seven launch sites and 19 miles of accessible water.

Hiking, Horseback, Motorcycle, and Bicycles. This is a 4.4 mile moderate hike that winds along the shore of Lost Lake before climbing a plateau to Manastash Lake. It follows the shore and then climbs steeply to its end on the Manastash Ridge at a 4 x 4 trail. There is a spur trail accessed from this point.

The Yakima Canyon offers spectacular scenery and fantastic opportunities . . . you may even be able to see one of our local bald eagles! There are several places to stop and enjoy the amenities. Picnicking, fishing, rafting and bird watching.

Olmstead Place State Park is one of the first homestead in the Kittitas Valley. It features the original log cabin, barns and authentic materials from the late 1800s. Good spot for picnicking.