If you are interested in having fun, Kennewick is the place for you! Kennewick, the Tri-Cities’ largest community, with a population of over 66,000 and covering more than 25 square miles, is one of the fastest growing cities in Washington. As the retail hub of southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon, shopping opportunities abound in west Kennewick in the area of Columbia Center mall, and in east Kennewick in the Historic Downtown Shopping District. The Vista Entertainment District is home to the Toyota Center, Toyota Arena, and Three Rivers Convention Center. Sporting events held in the Arena and Center are fast, furious, and full of family fun; whether you attend the ultra-exciting Arena Football II League Tri-Cities Fever games, or the Western Hockey League Tri-City Americans matches. Along with sporting events, Broadway musicals, big name entertainers, the ringling Brothers Circus, and ice skating shows are also showcased throughout the year. The 75,000 sq. ft. Three Rivers Convention Center is home to the Mid-Columbia Symphony.
Recreational activities are available year-round in Kennewick, which is a Native American word meaning “Winter Paradise.” Outdoor enthusiasts can spend over 300 days a year in sunshine, enjoying their favorite sport or activity. Experience boating and fishing on the Columbia, Yakima, and Snake rivers, or if you prefer, hiking or biking the 23-mile Sacagawea Heritage Trail along the banks of the Columbia River. If your tastes run more towards a round of golf, Canyon Lakes Golf Course is just one of three public courses located within Kennewick, and is rated as one of the premier courses in the Pacific Northwest.
Enjoy family fun by spending a day in one of Kennewick’s 27 beautifully maintained parks. Columbia Park has 360 acres of river frontage that has something to offer everyone. Youngsters flock to the Playground of Dreams and the seasonal Aquatic Splash Park. Weekends and warm weather bring out the JS Dreamland Express, an open-air, multi-car, train ride that can be enjoyed by the entire family. Warm summer nights feature “Movies on the River”, a no-cost, family-appropriate treat. During fishing season, children are invited to drop a hook into the Family Fishing Pond. Other activities include the sights and sounds of nature along the Audubon Nature Trail, a visit to the duck pond, or walking and bicycling along miles of paths. Don’t foget to play the challenging 18-hole Frisbee Golf Course, home of the annual Windy River Open Tournament.
Columbia Park is fast becoming the premier event location of the the area hosting over 60 special events each year including the July 4th River of Fire and the Seahawks Blue Tour. The Water Follies Columbia Cuo Unlimited Hydroplane Race has been a staple of the Tri-Cities for over 40 years, attracting tens of thousands of spectators that line the shore the last full weekend of July to watch the hydros fly by on the water while the air show flies overhead between each hydro race.
No matter what your interest, there is something for everyone in Kennewick. Come join the fun!
Source: Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Center Official Welcome Guide