Every year, I set a goal to try something new or learn a new skill. This year, I decided to focus on mastering astrophotography. I had attempted it a few times before, during trips to Bruneau Dunes State Park in Idaho, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Bryce Canyon National Park, but the photos never quite captured what we saw with our naked eyes.
So, a friend and I decided to take this as a challenge and make the most of the gear we already have by giving astrophotography a serious try. If you’re looking for a detailed guide to the basics of astrophotography, I recommend checking out this article. And if you’d like to see how our adventure went, you can watch my weekend vlog on YouTube.
This blog post focuses on everything we explored along the way during this 2-day road trip. Central Washington stretches from the Cascade Mountains to the Columbia River and is a booming wine region in the state. It’s also home to some of Washington’s darkest skies, making it perfect for photography enthusiasts.
The weather here is quite different from Western Washington, and the landscape changes dramatically too; it almost feels like you’ve entered a different state. Snoqualmie Pass acts as the gateway to the other side and makes for an easy weekend getaway if you’re looking for something close to Seattle.
On this trip, we explored three cities: Yakima, Ellensburg, and Goldendale. In this post, I’ll share the best things to do, top restaurants to try, and where to stay. Each of these cities can be a trip on its own or part of a combined road trip like we did.
Yakima
Yakima was the first city we stopped at on this road trip. Located in the heart of the Yakima Valley, it’s often referred to as the “Palm Springs of Washington.” The Yakima Valley is one of the key wine regions in the state, so you’ll find a plethora of wineries around. If you’re staying overnight, wine hopping is one of the top activities I’d recommend. The downtown area also has plenty of tasting rooms to explore.
We were just passing through, so we made a quick stop downtown to check out a few local stores. We had lunch at a no-frills Honduran restaurant called Los Catrachos, where I had some of the best salsa of my life. There’s something unique about their salsa, and the food was absolutely delicious. I highly recommend adding this to your list.
We also stopped by the Yakima Area Arboretum for a short stroll after lunch. The arboretum is huge, with several trails, including a few that lead to the Yakima River. The views were stunning, and the area felt incredibly peaceful.
If you want to dive deeper into Yakima’s history and culture, I recommend visiting the Yakima Valley Museum. For more outdoor recreation, head to Yakima River Canyon.
Other spots worth stopping by:
- Teapot Dome Historical Site – a quirky spot worth the detour on the way to Goldendale
- Fred G. Redmond Memorial Bridge Viewpoint and nearby viewpoints around Selah with views of Mt. Adams, Mt. Rainier, and more
Goldendale
Goldendale was our base for this road trip, a tiny town to the north of Columbia River Godge known for one of the darkest skies in Washington. Stonehenge Memorial near Maryhill, and the Goldendale Observatory are two main attractions in the city but if you have time and want to dive deeper into the history, I recommend visiting the Maryhill Museum of Art.
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While scouting locations for our astrophography, we explored a few scenic lookouts and roadside pulouts with amazing views. Each of them showed us a unique side of the area, from windmills, to rolling hills to river bends. Here are some must-stop points in Goldendale
- Goldendale Mountain Identifier – a historic landmark that offers view of four major peaks in Washington and Oregon on a clear day, inncluding Mount Hood, Adams, St. Helens and Rainier.
- Goldendale Scenic Outlook – miles of beautiful rolling hills and windmills
- Columbia River Vista Point – gorgeous view of Columbia River and Biggs Junction.
- Cliffside Launch – stunning view of John Day Dam and COlumbia River Gorge
Goldendale Observatory State Park
Goldendale Observatory State Park is a heritage site known for its large public telescope and knowlegable education programs. They offer both day and night programs that you can attend. We attended the night one and were so impressed by the amount of knowledge we gained in just a few hours. The staff is very knowlegable and friendly and do their best to give us a great experience.
On the day of our visit it was cloudy so we didn;t get a chance to see any celestial obkjects but we did end up learning so much about the space. Highly recommended visiting this place for stargazing.
Special mention: There are a few late-night eateries in Goldendale that are great for people out exploring the night skies. We dined at one of them, called Simcoe, a hole-in-the-wall, pub-style diner that serves finger food and drinks at night. The food was a bit salty, but the dips helped balance out the flavors.
Maryhill Stonehenge Memorial
The Maryhill Stonehenge Memorial is a concrete replica of England’s Stonehenge, commissioned by entrepreneur Samuel Hill. This was the first monument in the United States to honor the fallen soldiers of World War I and was commemorated on July 4, 1918. You can walk around and read about the soldiers and also admire the stunning views from the monument.
The monument is free to the public and makes a great spot to explore the night sky. This was our subject for the night and here are some nighsky photos I took on my visit.
Our hotel in Goldendale: Ponderosa Motel
We stayed at Ponderosa Motel in Goldendale, a family-owned stay just 3 minutes from the Goldendale Observatory. The motel is quite popular and known for its clean, comfortable rooms and convenient location near nearby attractions. We paid $180 for one night, which felt a little high for a motel, but there weren’t many other options available. Overall, it was a comfortable stay, and the complimentary hot breakfast was a nice bonus.
Ellensburg
Ellensburg is a university town that gives off major small-town charm. The city is very walkable and features unique architecture, especially the historic Davidson Building, which dates back to 1890. There’s so much to do here that passing through barely does it justice, and I’m definitely planning to come back to explore more of its quirky side.
Spots like Dick and Jane’s Spot, a vibrant outdoor art installation, are incredibly inspiring. You can also visit the Kittitas County Historical Museum to learn more about the region’s history and character.
We made Ellensburg our lunch stop and chose Sugar Thai. The restaurant is spacious, with a large fish tank at the center. We tried a couple of their signature dishes and were highly impressed by the taste, quality, and portion sizes. After lunch, we spent some time strolling through downtown, exploring local shops before heading back to Seattle.
Special Coffee Shop Mentions
Coffee is essential on any road trip, and we ended up trying two spots on this one (while trying not to overdo the caffeine).
Ducth Bros
The first is the beloved Oregon-based coffee chain, Dutch Bros. You know you’re getting closer to Oregon when you start seeing one at every corner, so we had to give it a try. They have a fun and extensive menu, and we ended up ordering from their Dutch Faves.
I went with the Kicker®, which is essentially espresso with Irish cream breve, and my friend chose the Annihilator®, made with espresso and chocolate macadamia nut breve.
Wild Huckleberry Coffee
On our second day, we found this coffee shop with very high ratings on Google, located close to our hotel. Wild Huckleberry Coffee offers a unique range of drinks. I tried the “I’m Your Huckleberry,” made with white chocolate sauce, huckleberry, whipped cream, and a white chocolate drizzle. It was extremely sweet, so I wouldn’t recommend it unless you really enjoy sugary drinks.
The “Huck Finn,” on the other hand, was much more balanced, with flavors of huckleberry, cheesecake, whipped cream, and graham cracker.
Final Thoughts
Central Washington will definitely surprise you, in the best way. The landscapes reminded me of the Dakotas and parts of Idaho, which feel very different from Western Washington.
If you’re looking for a quick and budget-friendly getaway, these cities make for a perfect trip. I’m planning to explore more of Washington and Oregon this year, so stay tuned for more recommendations, and don’t forget to sign up for email updates (link in the footer).
