Tri-City Area and Real Estate Blog

According to the Tri Cities Visitor & Convention Bureau, the Tri Cities is a wonderful spot for tourism with a 4 percent increase in rented hotel rooms in the community for 2009.  In comparison to the other areas like Spokane, Yakima and King County which saw drops in their hotel occupancy, the Tri Cities boasts $366 million in travel and tourism which helps support more than 4,400 jobs per year; this of course helps to diversify our community even more.

Wineries, golf, and recreational activities in the sunshine attracts folks to the wonderful Tri Cities, and we’re always hopeful that some of those tourists will become residents one day! Conventioners have brought big business and tourist dollars to the Tri Cities to the tune of 113,000 visitors which converts to more than $32.5 million in direct spending. Thus far for 2010 and beyond, around 180 conventions and sporting events have been scheduled worth $34.9 million in local spending.

The bureau has made tremendous strides to present the Tri Cities to the outside world, and to share all our positive aspects, which are many and diverse. They have been delightfully successful! When you come visit us and decide to stay, the agents at Distinctive Properties, Inc.,  will be more than happy to assist you with your real estate needs. Check us out at  www.distinctiveprop.com

Our beautiful Tri-Cities has grown so much over the last few years and the wine industry has been a large part of that growth.  Below are some of the wonderful wine events upcoming in our communities. Please take a look and schedule yourself a little jaunt to these festivals and sample all that our Mid-Columbia Wine Country has to offer.

September 26 & 27: Catch the Crush, Tri-Cities/Benton City. This 23rd annual event is a lot of fun with many activities, including grape stomps, harvest and crush activities, winery tours, free-run juice, hors d’oeuvres, wine tasting and live music. Find out about all the fun at www.columbiavalleywine.com

November 6 & 7: Tri-Cities Wine Festival, Kennewick. This event is one of the Northwest’s oldest and will be held at the Three Rivers Convention Center this year. Lots of competition amongst wineries, and loads of camadraderie as well. For more information go to www.tricitieswinefestival.com.

November 13 & 14: Savor the Flavor, Pasco. Tri-Cities wine and food come together to benefit the Oasis School. For more info go to www.tastetricities.com/savor.

The City of West Richland invites you to enjoy our growing amenities as you visit area wineries and destination points of interest. West Richland is adjacent to the Red Mountain American Viticultural Area, attracting thousands of tourists and local citizens each year.

The city is home to the West Richland Wine Park, part of the Red Mountain Center – 1 320-acre multi-use development designed around the wine destination theme. West Richland is also home to the Pacific Rim Winemakers, a $7 million winery which is receiving regional and national acclaim (www.rieslingrules.com), as well as the Red Mountain View Wine Village, opening this year.

West Richland features breathtaking panoramic views, an excellent quality of life and is one of the fastest growing cities in the state. The city has rapidly become a first choice for families seeking residential excellence and a relaxed lifestyle. West Richland’s many public parks and sports complex have become hubs for exciting community activities throughout the year. Events including a Summer Concert Series, Hogs & Dogs, and the Veterans Day Parade contribute to West Richland’s growing economy and offer families high quality recreational experience near home.

The City of West Richland upholds a tremendous visions to serve its citizens, businesses, industries, and tourists with an increasing number of amenities fitting to their needs.

Source: Tri-City Visitor & Convention Bureau Offical Guide

Columbia Valley wineries are celebrating the 2008 grape harvest with wine tasting, food sampling, tours, art displays, live music and – of course – grape stomping.

The annual Catch the Crush event runs this weekend, Sept 27-28, and involves 16 wineries in and near the Tri-Cities and Benton City area.

The wineries are generally open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

During the busy Catch the Crush there’s no time for washing glasses so take one along. There is no charge for regular admittance to the wineries. However, some wineries will be charging a tasting fee.

For more information on Catch the Crush or directions to the wineries visit the Catch the Crush website www.columbiavalleywine.com/catchthecrush.htm of call toll-free 866-360-6611.