On July 16, we left Post Falls, Idaho after a couple of days of rest, hopped back on I-90 and once again headed west. Washington is called the "Evergreen State". According to the brochure, "this is the state you visit when you want the best of all worlds." I have to admit that no matter where you are or which direction you look, there is an awesome view, either of the magnificent Pacific Ocean, mountain ranges that reach to the heavens, rumble (and sometimes erupt), rivers and their surrounding shrubbery and forests that will take your breath away! The state is the 20th largest state with 66,51 square miles with a population of 6,668,200. We passed through Spokane and when we hit U.S. 395 turned south toward Prosser, Wa. As we did not make it to Canada, and we have been to the Oregon wine country several times, it was time to try something new.
Prosser is a quiet friendly town surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. Nestled between the foot of the Horse Heaven Hills and Rattlesnake Hills with the Yakima River running right through the town. Prosser is the "birthplace" of the Washington Wine
Industry and proudly showcases over 25 local wineries!! Have to say that we did manage
to make it to quite a few of these. The red wines here are heavy reds with rich aromas of deep red fruit, think, cherries, black cherries, raspberries and plums.Prosser is at the edge of the Horse Haven Hills where bands of wild horses once roamed, now a vast wheat growing area and in the Yakimia Valley. The Yakima Valley is the home of the Yakima Indian Nation. This once arid region today ranks among the most fertile irrigated areas in the United States. More than fifty different crops and a wide variety of livestock, particularly beef and dairy cattle, are raised here. Water fir this 450,000 acres of irrigated land is diverted from the Yakima River and it's tributaries and distributed through a network of reservoirs and canals.
While we were in the Yakima Valley, we took a trip to the town of Toppenish, where the west still lives. Toppenish is located entirely within the boundaries of the Yakima Indian Nation. The small city of 9,000 is adorned with more than 70 historically accurate murals. Splashed across buildings throughout town, the larger-than-life murals lead visitors through a vibrant visual history of Toppenish. Have to admit there were something to see!!
We were going to spend three days in the heart of wine country and ended up staying five days. What a delightful place!
The best part was that on the day we arrived we discovered that there was to be an Arts and Wine Festival held that night in the center of town. What a fun evening!!!
We are off to Seattle for a few days and then on to Anacortes. More on that later.
Until then, take care,
Candy and Johnny
