Seemingly a world away from Seattle and Northern Cascades National Park lies Richland, Washington.  We found ourselves here for a friends’ wedding where we proceeded to have a great time.  Unlike the lush, cool evergreen filled western portion of the State, Richland is a desert landscape with temperatures in the summer that can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

We didn’t have much time to explore the area but we did get to enjoy a bit of the Riverfront Trail.  Richland is located on the Columbia River and the city has taken advantage by creating a 7 mile trail that stretches from the USS Triton Submarine Memorial Park down to the Columbia Point Marina Park.  There are great old trees along the way to provide a shady escape from the heat, a few different parks, playgrounds, and jet ski rentals.

All in all I don’t know that this is a city you would want as your final destination unless you have family or friends to visit, but it would be a nice change of pace (or view!) for a day or two if you happen to be in Washington or Oregon.