Kennewick

United_States

Kennewick, is a city located in Benton county along the Columbia River Plateau region of Washington State. Along with the cities of Pasco and Richland, Kennewick is known for being the largest and most populous city within the area known as the "Tri-Cities" of Washington. The "Tri-Cities" area is the fourth most populous metropolitan area within Washington State; behind Seattle, Spokane and Tacoma.

The Cable Bridge extending across the Columbia River and connecting Kennewick to Pasco.

Kennewick and the greater Tri-Cities region draws a great deal of their cultural influence from having a past that was heavily enriched by the Cold War. In nearby Richland, the Hanford Nuclear Site is the home to many historical landmarks, as well as the world's first full-scale nuclear reactor. The atomic bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan in 1945 contained Hanford produced plutonium. Today, the nuclear site has changed its mission from plutonium enrichment to environmental clean up and restoration.

In modern times, agriculture has been a major factor in the area's economy. Wheat is the most widely grown crop in the region, as well as fruit such as apples, cherries, and grapes (the region is home to more than 160 wineries). This is due mainly to the high quality of the region's soil and the ease of irrigation made possible by three nearby rivers (Columbia, Snake and Yakima Rivers).

Kennewick is the commercial district for the Tri-Cities region. Residents from central and southeastern Washington state, as well as from northeastern Oregon, visit the city for its shopping resources and entertainment venues. There are 34 maintained public parks and facilities spread throughout the city with 855 total acres of which about 400 is green space, including Columbia Park, which is a 400-acre recreational area with nearly 5 miles of Columbia River shoreline.

The wine industry is prevalent in the Kennewick and Tri-Cities region, with over 160 wineries within an hour's drive. Due to the region's climate of long, warm summer days (an average of 300 days of sunshine per year), and crisp cool nights; combined with rich volcanic soils and controlled irrigation, make it a nearly perfect location to grow premium grapes. A wide variety are grown throughout the region including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Pinot Noir and others.

There has been significant population growth in Kennewick and the greater Tri-Cities region over the last decade as the region also harbors a large technological industry. A major employer of many residents in Kennewick is Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, which is one of the U.S. Department of Energy's major national laboratories. In the past, Forbes has named Kennewick the #2 area in the country for job growth. For over 12 years, Kennewick has been listed in Forbes Top 100 Best Places For Business & Career. Forbes listed Tri-Cities as "Top 10 Cities For Engineers."

More recently, Kiplinger has rated the Tri-Cities region as one of the top 10 places to live and raise a family. CNN/Money has ranked the Tri-Cities region as one of the top 10 best bets for gains in housing value, due to its relatively stable economic conditions since the early 2000s.

Benton County Fairgrounds and Sundowns Horse Race Track.

East Benton County Historical Museum, 205 Keewaydin Dr, +1 509 582-7704. T-Sa 12-1600. Not to be confused with Benton County Historical Museum in [[Prosser#See|Prosser]]. Has a cast of the skull of the famous Kennewick Man. $4/adult, $3/senior, $1/child.

Highlands Grange Demonstration Garden.

Three Rivers Convention Center, 7016 W. Grandridge Blvd. Free parking.

Audubon Nature Trail, Columbia Park (along the Columbia River.

  • The Playpen, 213 W Kennewick Ave, +1 509 585-1937. Is a night club featuring dance and music.
  • The Rock Reactor, 117 W Kennewick Ave, +1 509 619-0929. Is a nightclub and restaurant featuring live music from local, regional and low key national bands. It features a 300 square foot stage and main floor with two bars and seating in the restaurant.
  • Tri-Cities Toyota Center, 7000 W. Grandridge Blvd, +1 509 737-3700. A multi-purpose arena which has an approximate seating capacity of 7,715 event goers. It hosts nationally renowned shows such as Riverdance, Cats, and The Producers, as well as performances from acclaimed musicians ranging from B.B. King to Slipknot. In February 2016, The Harlem Globetrotters performed basketball tricks and theatrical physical comedy for Kennewick's cheering audience. Sports tickets to watch hockey teams, such as the Tri-City Americans, or football teams, such as the Tri-City Fever, are sometimes available. Pizza and drinks are available from vendors such as Papa John's Pizza. There are many single-user bathrooms for families with children and handicap accommodations. Tickets for events are available through Ticketmaster.

The Playpen, 213 W Kennewick Ave, +1 509 585-1937. Is a night club featuring dance and music.

The Rock Reactor, 117 W Kennewick Ave, +1 509 619-0929. Is a nightclub and restaurant featuring live music from local, regional and low key national bands. It features a 300 square foot stage and main floor with two bars and seating in the restaurant.

Tri-Cities Toyota Center, 7000 W. Grandridge Blvd, +1 509 737-3700. A multi-purpose arena which has an approximate seating capacity of 7,715 event goers. It hosts nationally renowned shows such as Riverdance, Cats, and The Producers, as well as performances from acclaimed musicians ranging from B.B. King to Slipknot. In February 2016, The Harlem Globetrotters performed basketball tricks and theatrical physical comedy for Kennewick's cheering audience. Sports tickets to watch hockey teams, such as the Tri-City Americans, or football teams, such as the Tri-City Fever, are sometimes available. Pizza and drinks are available from vendors such as Papa John's Pizza. There are many single-user bathrooms for families with children and handicap accommodations. Tickets for events are available through Ticketmaster.

  • The Chamna Natural Preserve. A new parkland near the confluence of the Yakima and Columbia Rivers. It offers hiking through a multitude of habitats ranging from grasslands to riparian wooded areas.
  • The Sacagawea Heritage Trail. A recreational and educational trail along twenty-three miles of beautiful Columbia River shoreline in Tri-Cities, Washington. It is a bi-modal trail and all trail amenities enable all outdoor enthusiasts to experience an environmentally sound and unique shrub-steppe habitat.
  • Twin Sisters Rock. Consists of two basalt pillars that extend from the cliffs along Wallula Gap, overlooking the Columbia River.

The Chamna Natural Preserve. A new parkland near the confluence of the Yakima and Columbia Rivers. It offers hiking through a multitude of habitats ranging from grasslands to riparian wooded areas.

The Sacagawea Heritage Trail. A recreational and educational trail along twenty-three miles of beautiful Columbia River shoreline in Tri-Cities, Washington. It is a bi-modal trail and all trail amenities enable all outdoor enthusiasts to experience an environmentally sound and unique shrub-steppe habitat.

Twin Sisters Rock. Consists of two basalt pillars that extend from the cliffs along Wallula Gap, overlooking the Columbia River.

Kennewick has a plethora of local wines because there are over 160 hundred nearby wineries. Many of these wineries offer wine tasting and tours.

  • Anelare Winery. Is a private and limited bottling winery that offers premium wines to club members and selected varietals to the public. It is open to the public for tasting or you may reserve private tasting rooms for personal or business functions.
  • Badger Mountain Vineyard. Organic vineyard with a solar-powered tasting room. Powers Cabernet Sauvignon is their bestselling wine and was featured on CNN. Some bottles are sealed with screw lids with an inner coating to prevent the wine reduction that often occurs with corked bottles.
  • Canyon's Edge Winery. Is open daily and offer informative wine tasting and purchase of wine by the glass, bottle or case.
  • Pacific Rim Winery. Specializes in Rieslings. It is in West Richland.
  • Thomas O'Neil Cellars. Opened in the spring of 2011. It is in Richland.

Anelare Winery. Is a private and limited bottling winery that offers premium wines to club members and selected varietals to the public. It is open to the public for tasting or you may reserve private tasting rooms for personal or business functions.

Badger Mountain Vineyard. Organic vineyard with a solar-powered tasting room. Powers Cabernet Sauvignon is their bestselling wine and was featured on CNN. Some bottles are sealed with screw lids with an inner coating to prevent the wine reduction that often occurs with corked bottles.

Canyon's Edge Winery. Is open daily and offer informative wine tasting and purchase of wine by the glass, bottle or case.

Pacific Rim Winery. Specializes in Rieslings. It is in West Richland.

Thomas O'Neil Cellars. Opened in the spring of 2011. It is in [[Richland]].

  • The Country Gentleman, 9221 W Clearwater Ave #A, +1 509 783-0128.
  • El Fat Cat Grill, 539 N Edison St, +1 509 546-1413. M - F 9AM - 5PM. Down-home Mexican food & all-day lunch specials served from a family-owned food truck. An often-overlooked culinary gem.
  • Sterling's Restaurant, 3200 West Clearwater Ave. This is the local branch of a 3-restaurant chain that started in Richland. There is an all-you-can-eat or single trip salad bar, several soups prepared daily, and a wide and impressive menu featuring appetizers, fresh omelets (breakfast and dinner), steak, seafood, chicken, pasta, salads, burgers, and a kid's menu with shrimp, chicken fingers, french fries and fruit. Beer, wine, and spirits are on the drink menu.

The Country Gentleman, 9221 W Clearwater Ave #A, +1 509 783-0128.

El Fat Cat Grill, 539 N Edison St, +1 509 546-1413. M - F 9AM - 5PM. Down-home Mexican food & all-day lunch specials served from a family-owned food truck. An often-overlooked culinary gem.

Sterling's Restaurant, 3200 West Clearwater Ave. This is the local branch of a 3-restaurant chain that started in [[Richland]]. There is an all-you-can-eat or single trip salad bar, several soups prepared daily, and a wide and impressive menu featuring appetizers, fresh omelets (breakfast and dinner), steak, seafood, chicken, pasta, salads, burgers, and a kid's menu with shrimp, chicken fingers, french fries and fruit. Beer, wine, and spirits are on the drink menu.

Dutch Brothers Coffee, 4305 W. Clearwater AVe, +1 509 783-2414. Wonderful double chocolate mochas

  • Atomic Ale Brew Pub, 1015 Lee Blvd, Richland, WA, +1 509 946-5465. Is a microbrewery and eatery featuring such locally famous brews as Half-Life Hefeweizen, Atomic Amber and Plutonium Porter. The eatery features gourmet wood-fired pizzas.
  • Ice Harbor Brewing Co, 206 N Benton St, +1 509 582-5340. M-Th 11-22:00, F-Sa 11-23:00, Su 11-20:00. The only brewery in Kennewick, they have a second location at the marina.

Atomic Ale Brew Pub, 1015 Lee Blvd, Richland, WA, +1 509 946-5465. Is a microbrewery and eatery featuring such locally famous brews as Half-Life Hefeweizen, Atomic Amber and Plutonium Porter. The eatery features gourmet wood-fired pizzas.

Ice Harbor Brewing Co, 206 N Benton St, +1 509 582-5340. M-Th 11-22:00, F-Sa 11-23:00, Su 11-20:00. The only brewery in Kennewick, they have a second location at the marina.

During the summer months, the temperature in Kennewick and the greater Tri-Cities region often exceeds 100 °F. If you plan on being outside for long periods of time, be sure to drink plenty of WATER and limit the intake of alcohol and caffeine to prevent dehydration and heat stroke.

Kennewick and the greater Tri-Cities region are extremely safe areas for travelers. The city enjoys a crime rate that is well below the national average; violent crime is almost none existent. The most widely reported crime in the city is theft. As with any travel destination, if you take the proper precautions to keep your possessions safe, you should have no problems at all during your stay.

  • Idaho - the Idaho state line is a little over 2 hours away.
  • Oregon - the Oregon state line is only about a 1/2 hour away.
  • Spokane - the city of Spokane is about 2 hours away.
  • Seattle - the city of Seattle is about 3 1/2 hours away.
  • Portland - the city of Portland is slightly closer than Seattle.

[[Idaho]] - the Idaho state line is a little over 2 hours away.

[[Oregon]] - the Oregon state line is only about a 1/2 hour away.

[[Spokane]] - the city of Spokane is about 2 hours away.

[[Seattle]] - the city of Seattle is about 3 1/2 hours away.

[[Portland (Oregon)|Portland]] - the city of Portland is slightly closer than Seattle.