Soak in the end of summer, take one of these day trips within two hours of Tri-Cities

August comes with the realization that summer is fleeting. With each day, autumn draws closer, with less than a month before kids are back in school, weather will start to turn, and summer spots like pools and splash pads will close for the season.

This makes August a great time to go on day trips around eastern Washington. Whether you’re traveling with working adults, less mobile elders, toddlers or teenagers, there are day trip options for you within two hours of Tri-Cities.

Here are five day trips you should take before summer 2024 is over.

Day trips: Two-hour drive from Tri-Cities

▪ Bickleton

This tiny town northeast of Goldendale is packed full of charm, despite its small population. It’s one of the smallest towns in Washington, with about 90 residents, if you only count people, anyway. Thousands of bluebirds visit the town each year, which is a primary reason it’s considered the bluebird capital of the world, as formally recognized by the North American Bluebird Society .

There are bird houses all over the town, making it easy to spot one of the bright birds while they’re in town.

But there’s more to Bickleton than bluebirds. You can easily fill a day trip in the town, despite the small number of operating businesses.

The Bickleton Carousel Museum is open every Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., plus every Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

Market Street Cafe and Grocery is home to the highly-praised Bickleton burger. It offers a variety of food and drink options, with daily lunch specials and seasonal soups and salads. It’s also the town grocery store, should you need any necessities.

The cafe and grocery store is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Advance notice is requested for large groups.

More good food and drinks can be found at the Bluebird Inn, Washington’s oldest operating tavern. It was built as a drug store in 1887, becoming a saloon within a year, according to town history. While its occupants have varied over time, the Inn currently features a restaurant side and a bar side.

The bar side is complete with a Brunswick pool table that has been in the building for 120 years.

The Bluebird Inn is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. It’s also open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday and can be reserved for groups of at least eight on Wednesdays. The tavern only accepts cash and check payments.

The trip to Bickleton takes about one hour and 15 minutes, using I-82 through WA-22, on until Mabton, then turning onto Mabton-Bickleton Road and continuing for about half an hour.

▪ Maryhill

Another tiny town, Maryhill is a bit farther out at about one hour and 45 minutes from Tri-Cities. The unincorporated community sits right on the Washington-Oregon border and was home to 55 people at the last census.

It hosts a full-scale replica of Stonehenge, which was built by the area’s largely influential creator, Samuel Hill. It is said that he intended the piece to be a commentary on World War I, likening war to human sacrifice.

The Maryhill Stonehenge Memorial was dedicated in 1918 as the country’s first WWI memorial, honoring 14 Klickitat County servicemen who died during the war. You can visit for free between 7 a.m. and dusk (check) to experience the gorgeous Columbia River views and meaningful monument.

Just three miles away is the Maryhill Museum of Art , originally built by Hill to serve as a mansion, and later converted to a museum. Hill used his connections in the art world and European social circles to fill the museum, and it’s still in operation today.

The museum offers permanent exhibits like a collection of Queen Marie of Romania’s items, hundreds of unique chess pieces and the Théâtre de la Mode collection, which features small mannequins dressed in the hottest styles from post-WWII France. It also consistently has temporary exhibits for visitors to admire.

The museum is open between March and November 15, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. Tickets for youth ages 7 to 18 cost $5, adults $16. Seniors 65 and older can get in for $13, and college students with ID can get in for $10. Children six and under are free.

While in Maryhill, you can also visit one of the nearby wineries , stop by a state park in the vicinity, or check out Maryhill Loops Road , another work by Hill. The winding road was meant to prove the Northwest could support advanced road systems. Nowadays, it’s primarily used for pedestrians and bicyclists looking to challenge themselves.

The easiest way to get there is using I-82 toward Pendleton to connect with WA-14, and turning onto Maryhill Highway.

▪ Walla Walla

If you want a city feeling rather than a tiny town, consider heading down to Walla Walla. It’s smaller than Tri-Cities, but more developed than other small cities and towns. You could do multiple day trips to Walla Walla, with a different itinerary each time.

There are many restaurants, wineries and breweries around Walla Walla. The city is made up of five districts: downtown, eastside, southside, westside and the airport district. The Walla Walla Visitor’s Guide includes listings of businesses in each district.

There are several golf courses in Walla Walla, and multiple popular locations for biking. If you prefer watching sports, stop by a Walla Walla Sweets game.

More interested in arts and culture than athletics? There are numerous art galleries, museums and theaters operating in Walla Walla.

At the end of August, the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days offer fun at the fairgrounds between August 28 and September 1. Fair and Frontier Days features a demolition derby, rodeo, musical performances and your classic carnival, fair food and games.

The simplest way to get to Walla Walla is using WA-240 to US-395 and connect to US-12.

▪ Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (Naches Ranger District)

While the full Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest covers a large part of the state, the Naches Ranger District of the national forest is just under two hours from Tri-Cities. The district is a great day trip option for local nature lovers and adventure seekers.

Spend a day on the water before autumn hits at Rimrock , Bumping or Clear lake, all within the forest. There are areas for boating, fishing, swimming and water sports. Additionally, some hunting is permitted, but full area research should be done before hunting anywhere.

There are many, many breathtaking hikes within the forest, with varying difficulty levels and lengths. Biking and horseback riding are also welcome on many trails. All options come with gorgeous natural views.

A local favorite is Boulder Cave , which is a fairly easy, one and a half mile round-trip hike to a natural cave.

Picnicking is permitted at many locations in the national forest as well. Additionally, camping resorts along the water often have food for sale, like the Rimrock Lake Resort’s cafe.

Note: This district is impacted by nearby wildfires. Parts of Rimrock Lake and other areas are closed at this time, and fires are not permitted anywhere. Visit with caution, and check for updated conditions online before making a trip out.

The easiest way to the national forest’s Naches Ranger District is using WA-240 to get to I-182, then taking US-12 through the Naches area. The best forest entrance will depend on your desired recreation.

▪ Umatilla National Forest

You can also head the other direction to the Umatilla National Forest , which encompasses a vast wilderness area in Washington and Oregon. It is separated into four ranger districts, three of which are within two hours of Tri-Cities. Only the North Fork John Day Ranger District is farther than two hours, deeper into Oregon.

The closest district to Tri-Cities is the Walla Walla District , which stretches from Dayton to Meacham, Oregon north to south and Elgin to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian reservation east to west.

Within the district is the North Fork Umatilla Wilderness, which has many popular hikes and biking areas.

Try visiting the Whitman Route Interpretive Site , which includes an interpretive display on the route Marcus and Narcissa Whitman took to their mission near Walla Walla, accompanied by a panoramic view into the Meacham Creek Canyon.

The district is also a popular location for hunting and birdwatching. There are options for fishing and horse riding as well.

You can also visit Jubilee Lake for swimming and non-motorized boating and activities.

Note: Fire restrictions are in place. Visit with caution, and check for updated conditions online before making a trip out.

Recommended routes depend on your desired destination within the national forest, but a simple option is taking I-82 toward Pendleton and connecting with Summit Road to get to the Whitman Route Interpretive Site.