Tri-City Area and Real Estate Blog

“Staycation” was the buzz word last summer when gas prices rose to over $4 a gallon and people decided to find fun closer to home. But the word is making a comeback this year, especially in a time when more people are watching their spending and are concerned about the economy.

Kris Watkins, president and CEO of the Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau, said the word “staycation” appeared several years ago when cities were encouraging residents to stay close instead of spending money elsewhere.

Not only can a staycation save traveling costs for fuel and accommodations, but it can also save a lot of stress, she said. “More people are aware you can make a great vacation staying at home,” she said. “I think staycations have become more and more popular in the Tri-Cities and in the nation.”

Tri-Cities residents may choose to stay at home and organize a neighborhood barbecue, a family game night or a movie marathon, but the summer months in the Tri-Cities provide some unique and beautiful experiences.

“A staycation is a good opportunity to experience your own backyard,” Watkins said. You could rent a fun car for the weekend and stay at a bed and breakfast or even a hotel to get away from the house, yet still have the comfort of knowing you’re in the same town. All it takes is a little imagination.

There are many attractions that should be on a Tri-Citians ‘to do’ list, either for this year’s staycation or a future one. The Lamb Weston Columbia Cup for Unlimited Hydroplanes, July 24-26, along the Columbia River, and the Benton Franklin County Fair and Rodeo, August 25-29, are ready-made, family fun fare.

The Tri-Cities’ are in the heart of Washington’s wine country, offering residents the opportunity to visit 160 wineries within an hour’s drive.

The Visitor and Convention Bureau also promotes the area’s 10 golf courses, including Columbia Park golf course, which Watkins recommended for families with kids just learning to play the game.

Free family fun can be had at the Family Fishing Pond and the Playground of Dreams in Columbia Park, as well as Sturgeon Cove in Howard Amon Park. Families can attend a Dust Devils baseball or a Tri-Cities Fever home game on weekends as well.

Even with limited time on a weekend staycation, Watkins said to definitely include one of the Tri-Cities’ museums, like the Columbia River Exhibition of History, Science and Technology in Richland.

There’s also the Franklin County Historical Museum, the Washington State Railroad Historical Society Museum, and the interpretive center at Sacajawea State Park in Pasco. Check the local Parks and Recreation departments for activities and classes open for the public this summer, or take a dip at a free public pool.

Garage sale shopping is always fun on a Saturday morning, and Pasco’s TRAC has two more giant garage sales on July 25 and August 15. Or shop in historic downtown Kennewick or at the Uptown Shopping Center in Richland.

The Tri-Cities farmers’ markets offer local produce and arts and crafts Thursdays in downtown Kennewick from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Fridays at Richland’s Parkway from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the corner of South Fourth and Columbia streets in Pasco.

The Country Mercantile also provides produce, gifts, homemade chocolate and more a few miles north of Pasco on Highway 395.

Watkins said another idea for a staycation is taking a tour of the Hanford Reach National monument by kayak or jet boat down the Columbia River.

Columbia River Journeys and River City Tours in Kennewick specialize in jet boat tours of the Columbia and Lower Snake rivers. Just call ahead of time to reserve a four and a half hour tour of the Hanford Reach, or tours to Vernita Bridge and bar or to Ice Harbor Dam, May through September. They also offer wine tasting evening cruises with a catered dinner and customizable water and land tours for a few hours or a day.

Columbia Kayak Adventures on George Washington Way in Richland offers sea kayak courses, guided tours and rentals for beginner or experienced kayakers. Tours go along the Columbia, Snake and Yakima rivers to the Yakima Delta, the McNary Wildlife Refuge, Sand Islands, Palouse River and the Hanford Reach. They even have a “Sunday Paddle Group” for those who want to get out on the river every week.

Grab your poles and a fishing license at a local sporting goods store and book a guided steelhead, salmon, walleye or sturgeon fishing trip with Ecotrip on Kirstin Drive in West Richland.

Families can rent boats and ride on the Columbia starting from docks in Pasco, Kennewick or Richland and The Happy Horse Riding School in Burbank offers horseback riding lessons to Tri-Citians in the summer as well.

For those on a tight budget, Watkins suggested a stroll or bicycle ride on the 23 miles of continuous trails along the Columbia River, stretching from Sacajawea State Park in Pasco to WSU Tri-Cities and Hanford in Richland.

Columbia Park Trail accesses Bateman Island just south of North Columbia Center Boulevard in Kennewick. The island, a Tri-Cities landmark, has dirt walking trails, fishing and lots of plants and wildlife to enjoy, at the confluence of the Yakima and Columbia rivers.

The Horse Heaven Hills above the Yakima River includes trails open to horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking all summer long.

There are also a lot of great opportunities to experience art, music and theater this summer, beginning with Columbia Basin College’s summer showcase.

The Allied Arts Gallery on Lee Blvd in Richland, has its Annual Art in the Park, featuring hundreds of local artists.

Also watch for free concerts and movie at venues all over the Tri-Cities this summer, including Bookwalter Winery’s free music and Fairchild Cinema’s free family movies in Pasco.

Cities in the outlying areas, like Walla Walla and Yakima, also have a lot to offer for day trips that many Tri-Citians may not be aware of, Watkins said. There’s the Benton County Historical Museum in Prosser and the Fort Walla Walla Museum in Walla Walla.

For more outdoor activities, travel to the Ice Harbor Lock Visitor Center at Ice Harbor Dam outside of Pasco, or the McNary Wildlife Refuge and dam near Umatilla to count fish. Or camp at Lewis and Clark Trail State Park 25 miles northeast of Walla Walla, Palouse Falls State Park in Lacrosse 75 miles from the Tri-Cities or Steptoe Butte State Park in Oakesdale, 140 miles away, but accessible within a few hours.

There’s plenty of room to go off-roading, camping, or hiking on the 4,000 acres of open land at Juniper Dunes Wilderness Area, about 15 miles northeast of Pasco. Visitors access it from Petersen Road four miles north from the Pasco-Kahlotus Highway.

But Watkins had some advice for Tri-Citians who decide to staycation and want to make it a memorable and fun experience. “Plan the trip just like you’re going on vacation,” she said.

That means not doing anything you usually would, including keeping in touch via internet, cell phone, TV, etc. Set up email auto-responders or have your mail and newspaper held for the vacation. Leave projects and housework alone. Have a start and end date. Other online sources give tips including setting a schedule of activities and documenting the “trip” with photos and videos.

Explore your hometown, rediscovering destinations you don’t normally reach in your busy life. And above all, relax. “In our busy lives, we don’t have time to stop and smell the roses,” Watkins said.

A staycation could be a perfect opportunity to do that.

June 1:

Annual Juried Student Art Exhibit: 8am – 8:30pm, CBC Esvelt Gallery, 2600 N 20th, Pasco

Heart Smart Soup N’ Salad Lunch: 12pm – 1pm, Kennewick Senior Center, 500 S Auburn, Kennewick

Session 1 Beginner Sailing Clinic: 530pm – 8:30pm, Schlagel Park boat Launch, Pasco

June 2:

Tri City Regional Chamber Open for Business Expo: 1pm – 7pm, Three Rivers Convention Center, Kennewick

Financial Planning Workshop Series: 4:30pm- 6pm, WSU Tri-Cities, E Bldg, Rm 212, 2710 University, Richland

Intermediate Class Sailing Clinic: 5:30pm – 8:30 pm, Schlaegel Park boat launch, Pasco

June 3:

Alternative Energy User Group Meeting: 7pm – 9pm, CBC Health Science Center, 891 Northgate, Rm 242, Richland

TNA Live! (Wrestling) Cross the Line: 7:30pm – 10:00pm, Toyota Center, 7000 W Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick

June 4:

1st Thursday Artwalk in Downtown Kennewick: 6pm – 10pm, participating businessess in downtown Kennewick.

Astronomy: More than Romance? 7pm – 11pm, CBC, 2600 N 20th, Pasco

June 5:

2nd Annual Northwest Desert Classic Rodeo, 7pm -9pm, TRAC Center, Pasco (also runs 6th & 7th)

Echoes of Ireland: 7:30pm – 10pm, Southridge High School Auditorium, 3520 Southrdige Blvd, Kennewick

June 6:

Bateman Island Bird Walk: 8am – 10:30am, Wye Park, above the causeway, Columbia Park Trail, Kennewick

The Atomic City Roller Girls D-Day in the Desert: 3pm – 5pm. Highlands Grange Park, 1620 S Union, Kennewick

2009 Band Organ Rally: 9am – 5pm, Columbia Park Stage (near playground of dreams), Kennewick

June 7:

Family Pancake Breakfast: 8:30am – 11am. Kennewick Senior Center, 500 S Auburn, Kennewick

Benton City Community Market: 9am – 1pm, 1100 Ellen Street, Benton City

Columbia Crest Vineyard Tours: 10am – 12pm, Hwy 221, Columbia Crest Drive, Pasco.

May 9: Classy Chassy Show & Shine: 8:00am – 5:00pm, (509) 582-7221, Historic Downtown Kennewick, between between Washington & Dayton Street, Kennewick

2009 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer: 8:30am – 11:00 am, (509) 783-9894, Howard Amon Park, Richland

Untapped Blues Festival: 12:00pm-11:00pm, (509) 737-7661, Benton County Fair Grounds, Kennewick.

Group Health Inland Empire Century bicycle ride: 6:30am-4:30pm, Richland to Pasco to Kennewick to West richland & back, Tri-Cities.

Mid-Columbia Symphony - Celebrate the Season: 8:00pm-10:00pm, Three Rivers Convention Center, Kennewick

May 10: Tri-City River Cruises Mother’s Day Brunch Cruise: 11:00am-12:30pm (509) 943-5057, Columbia River, Richland

Massenkoff Russian Folk Festival: 2:30pm – 4:30pm, (509) 547-6243, Richland High School, 930 Long, Richland

May 11: Chancellor’s Art Exhibit: 7:00am – 10:00pm, (509) 372-7185, WSU Tri-Cities, East Building administration corridor, Richland

May 12: Health & Safety Expo 2009: 7am – 7pm, (509) 376-9035, TRAC Center, Pasco.

May 13: Children’s Developmental Center Annual Golf Tournament: 7:30am – 9:00pm, (509) 735-1062, Canyon Lakes Golf Course, Kennewick

May 14: Biz 411 Educational Seminar: 8:30am-4:10pm, (509) 783-9558, Home Builders Assoc Building, 10001 W Clearwater, Kennewick.

WSU Nursing Convocation Ceremony: 5:00pm-8:00pm, (509) 372-7180, Battelle Auditorium, 902 Battelle Blvd, Richland

The Pillow Man: 7:30pm-9:30pm, (509) 547-0511, CBC Theatre, 2600 North 20th Avenue, Pasco

May 15: WSU Tri-Cities Commencment Ceremony: 4:00pm – 5:30 pm, Toyota Center, 7016 W Grandridge Blvd, Kennewick

Dinner in the Dark: 6:00pm – 9pm, Shilo Inn, 50 Comstock, Richland

May 16: CREHST Alphabet House Tours: 9:00am – 11:00am, (509) 943-9000, Various locations, Richland

Super Duper Mini Chef Kid Event: 10:00am-12:00pm, (509) 554-2587, Columbia Center Mall, Kennewick

Barbershop Extravaganza: 7:00pm-9:00pm, (509) 375-1450, Bethel Church, 600 Keene Rd & Shockley, Richland

Mixed Martial Arts Fight: 7pm-10:00pm, (509) 586-9211, Benton County Fairgrounds, 1500 S Oak Street, Bldg 2, Kennewick

A local port director is encouraging area young professionals to get involved in their community.

Tim Arntzen, Port of Kennewick director spoke to about 60 young professionals at the February group meeting at Backbone Panini and Wine Bar in downtown Kennewick.

Arntzen presented the Port’s plans for Clover island and waterfront development in Kennewick, including the new yacht club building and a planned 62-foot tall lighthouse on Clover Island.

Anrtzen said he wanted to make Clover Island appealing to young people and families, with walking paths and waterfront development, but to do that he needs to know what young professionals want.

“We want you to stand up and say something,” Artnzen said. He encouraged young professionals to apply for positioins on any of the six committees with current openings. Applications for those positions closed February 27.

A brainstorming session in January revealed a greater desire to know what’s going on in  the communities, said Nathan Craghill, YPTC steering committee member.

“We thought it would be a good idea to have the Port come in and tell us what they’re planning to do and what they want from us,” he said.

Arntzen attended the meeting, where young professionals were on their hands and knees rebuilding the community with maps and Legos.

Arntzen’s presentation is part of the YPTC’s new format, said Angie Mykel, chairwoman of the group. Each meeting will have a specific focus, ranging from waterfront development, to the wine industry, Hanford and education.

“We want to let people know what’s going on,” Craghill said. “Unless they search for it and go to (city council or port) meetings on their own, there’s not a lot of information out there.”

The new format will help educate YPTC members, most whom have lived in the Tri-Cities for less than three years, in what is happening in the community.

“We wanted to find a way to report back on the information and what’s going on,” Craghill said.

Speakers are planned through 2009 and most of the presentations will be less than 30 minutes. At an upcoming meeting, Craghill and the other leaders of the group will go over meeting conduct — like the right time for public comment.

The March focus is public meetings and getting involved. Members have been asking for more ways to lead committees and help with organizations, Mykel said. This will give them some of the tools and contacts to do it.

Buddy and Mary Carpenter thought about retiring to Arizona. Or Walla Walla, Or any of the other retirement destinations across the west.  But now, the couple that lived in Portland for 38 years, gladly calls Richland home.

Trends show that moves like theirs are part of the retirement culture and that the Tri-Cities is becoming a popular retirement choice.

According to the National Association of Realtors, retirement was the third-most-common reason people purchased a home in 2008 – behind the desire to own a home and a job-or family-related move.

And experts expect the seniors to continue moving to the Tri-Cities. The Tri-Cities is a top community for seniors moving into the region. Good weather, a fairly stable economy, low housing costs and a lower cost-of-living makes the community attractive.

People who are searching for less-expensive, mid-sized communities often find the Tri-Cities. About 10 percent of people moving into the area are retirees or people planning to retire within five years.  Those were primary reasons the Carpenters moved to Richland.

After the sale of the Portland area home, they wanted to avoid spending a huge amount on a new home – preferably with a golf course view and an easy trip downtown. “It’s only three miles to downtown. In a metro area, it would be 25 miles and take an hour to get there,” said Buddy Carpenter. “Here, you’ve got world class wineries everywhere you look, nice golf courses and weather that allows golf most of the year.”

In recent years, the Tri-Cities has become so popular for retirement that a local wealth management specialist has begun to teach classes on it. Todd Halterman, CEO of Pacific Crest Planning in Kennewick said he has seen an increase in people looking for advice and planning to come to or stay in town.

“We’re centrally located, three hours from Portland or Seattle, two hours from Spokane, four from Boise,” he said. “Travel and tourism is very inexpensive, the economy is stable and the real estate market is good.”

The cost of living in this area is noticeably lower than many other regions. According to Sperling’s Best Places, an online community data search engine, the cost of living in Kennewick-Pasco-Richland was almost 15 percent lower than the national average in 2008.

Housing is 50 percent less than in Seattle and 38 percent less here than in Portland, according to CNN Money’s cost of living calculator. The Carpenters noticed that quickly.

“People don’t believe us,” Mary Ann Carpenter said. “We tell them how much we paid for the house and they think we’re lying to them.”

As Baby Boomers age they will place more demands on health care and social systems, Halterman said. And they need to manage their money to pay for lifestyle and economic decisions, he said.

The Carpenters did that. They traded in a two-story home with acreage for a single story home on a small lot in a golf course community in Richland. “We had a limited income and we’re newly retired, and we didn’t want to invest all our money in housing.” Mary Ann Carpenter said. “We had a nice windfall from a house with acreage and we wanted to live on that.”

They also wanted to be close to hospitals, which ruled out more rural areas with lower housing prices. “When you get to be our age, you want to know where the nearest doctor is,” said Buddy Carpenter, with a wink.

Planned communities like Horn Rapids, on golf courses and near shopping and restaurants, are gaining popularity. People want smaller lots that are easier to care for and require less maintenance. They do want to be part of a community and be able to go to visit neighbors.

According to the National Association of Realtors, about 20 percent of people who move into resort or recreation areas want to be close to health care and 36 percent want access to entertainment and leisure activities. That is where many believe the Tri-Cities is falls short.

“We lack (culture) and it will hold us back from being a premier retirement community,” Halterman said. “We also need more riverfront development. That’s paramount to the tourism, travel and retirement industries.”

The National Association of Realtors said seniors work with Realtors more than any other group. About 30 percent of seniors contact a realtor first in the homebuying process — the highest percentage of any group. The group is also the least likely to start a home search process.  The group is also the least likely to start a home search online.

As the Tri-Cities has grown up, so has the population – and so has the population coming in. Halterman said about 70 percent of his clients are longtime Tri-Cities residents and about 30 percent are newcomers.

But a few years ago, only about 15 percent were newcomers, he said. “A lot of people have been arriving here over the last 15 years,” he said. “They like wine, golf, the rivers and cheap real estate. This is a nice-sized growing urban market. The worst you can say about it is that we’ve got no trees.”

Sunshine was a major selling point for the Carpenters, although they’re wondering when they’ll see the sun again.” “They sold us on the weather and mild winters,” Buddy Carpenter said. “I think everyone’s lying to us.”

Improved shopping has also made the area more appealing. The addition of more mall stores and new shopping districts, like Queensgate Village and expansions at Southridge mean residents can get what they need without driving too far.

Halterman said the golf, sunshine, fishing and river recreation, low cost of living and good wine combine to make the Tri-Cities and attractive place to live.  “I can see this place becoming a mecca to retirees in Washington,” Halterman said. “This is a great place to retire to.”

Source: Journal of Business, Tri-Cities Area.

If you are interested in having fun, Kennewick is the place for you! Kennewick, the Tri-Cities’ largest community, with a population of over 66,000 and covering more than 25 square miles, is one of the fastest growing cities in Washington. 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. The Vista Entertainment District is home to the Toyota Center, Toyota Arena, and Three Rivers Convention Center. Sporting events held in the Arena and Center are fast, furious, and full of family fun; whether you attend the ultra-exciting Arena Football II League Tri-Cities Fever games, or the Western Hockey League Tri-City Americans matches. Along with sporting events, Broadway musicals, big name entertainers, the ringling Brothers Circus, and ice skating shows are also showcased throughout the year. The 75,000 sq. ft. Three Rivers Convention Center is home to the Mid-Columbia Symphony.

Recreational activities are available 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. Experience boating and fishing on the Columbia, Yakima, and Snake rivers, or if you prefer, hiking or biking the 23-mile Sacagawea Heritage Trail along the banks of the Columbia River. If your tastes run more towards a round of golf, Canyon Lakes Golf Course is just one of three public courses located within Kennewick, and is rated as one of the premier courses in the Pacific Northwest.

Enjoy family fun by spending a day in one of Kennewick’s 27 beautifully maintained parks. Columbia Park has 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 JS 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 activities include the sights and sounds of nature along the Audubon Nature Trail, a visit to the  duck pond, or walking and bicycling along miles of paths. Don’t foget to play the challenging 18-hole Frisbee Golf Course, home of the annual Windy River Open Tournament.

Columbia Park is fast becoming the premier event location of the the area hosting over 60 special events each year including the July 4th River of Fire and the Seahawks Blue Tour. The Water Follies Columbia Cuo Unlimited Hydroplane Race has been a staple of the Tri-Cities for over 40 years, attracting tens of thousands of spectators that line the shore the last full weekend of July to watch the hydros fly by on the water while the air show flies overhead between each hydro race.

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

Source: Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Center Official Welcome Guide