Othello Sandhill Crane Festival
From March to early April, around 35,000 migrating sandhill cranes touch down in lakes and wetlands in Othello. Join fellow birders to take in the awe-inspiring sight.
Washington’s official state waterfall plunges 198 feet here—a stunning display amid the stark, high-desert landscape.
This 218-mile route rolls past undulating cropland and spectacular buttes (dotted with wildflowers in spring). Make sure to stop in Uniontown for the area’s most iconic shot: The Dahmen Barn (artisanbarn.org) with its fence of 1,000 soldered iron wheels.
Photo Safaris Shutter
Happy visitors race to capture the pastoral Palouse, from spotted horses to vintage vehicles to weathered pioneer barns. Visit in May or June for green and gold fields, or July to document the harvest.
Steptoe Butte State Park Heritage Site
The thimble-shaped peak near Colfax rises 3,612 feet above the flatlands, opening up glorious vistas of the Palouse’s farms and the Blue Mountains. Drive to the top to find outdoor displays detailing the region’s landscape.
On the Washington State University campus in Pullman, find an extensive collection focusing on the 20th and 21st centuries with 174 prints and photographs by Andy Warhol, along with Pacific Northwest glass art.
--Amanda Castleman
Photo Credit: Zach Mazur
