Hike Umptanum Creek Falls

By Heather Caro

With gas prices soaring, many families are canceling their vacation plans this year and opting instead to stay a little closer to home. Now is the perfect time to explore our Valley’s backyard with a “staycation” and a visit to Umptanum Creek Falls. This scenic two-mile round-trip hike is loaded with kid-friendly discoveries, such as animal life, creek crossings, and of course, the Falls themselves.

The well-traveled pathway follows Umptanum Creek, which is fairly easily negotiated but does include two crossings and a couple of steeper grades. However, our 6-year-old Madeline had no difficulty with the adventure and 2-year-old Teague enjoyed it as well, with a little help from Dad’s shoulders from time to time.

The trail ends at the top of a stunning panorama of the falls’ 40-foot drop into a basalt bowl. Though there are several paths down to the bottom of the falls where the views are more spectacular, less experienced hikers may wish to turn around here after enjoying the scenery.

• Heather Caro is an ICU nurse at Yakima Regional Hospital and a freelance journalist. With their two children, Heather and husband Chris recently moved back to the Yakima Valley after an extended leave.

How to Get There

From Selah: Head out of town on North Wenas Road and follow to the end of the pavement. From there, the well-marked trailhead and parking lot is an additional 8.5 miles on the right. The road is dirt and at times bumpy but should be no problem for the average car. Allow about 25 minutes for the drive.

From Naches: From Highway 12, turn north on Allan Road to the Naches-Wenas Road. Turn left on Longmire Lane. Turn left again on North Wenas Road. Follow above directions.

Celebrate Grandparents Day

Make a handmade card, pick up the phone or head over the hills to Grandmother’s house: National Grandparents Day is the first Sunday after Labor Day. (No, we didn’t make this up.)

Tthis holiday honoring grandparents was authorized by Congress and signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1978. It’s the perfect opportunity to set aside a few hours for family. Read more

ArtsVan (Friday)

Fridays (except July 4): 10 a.m. to noon at the Buena Nueva Community Center, 66 Highland Drive, Buena; 1-3 p.m. at CAD-LAC, 209 S. Wapato Ave., Wapato.

Enjoy free craft projects at the park this summer with the Allied Arts Summer ArtsVan. The van visits two locations each weekday, inviting children to stop by and make some art. This summer’s theme is “The Art Forecast.”

Weekly themes:
Sparkling Northern Lights, June 23-27
Tetrahedron Kites, June 30-July 3
Texture Rubbings, July 7-11
Wind Socks, July 14-18
Garden Stakes, July 21-25
Climate Zone Collage, July 28-Aug 1.

Toddler and Preschool Art Studio

TODDLER AND PRESCHOOL ART STUDIO. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Fridays. Drop-in open studio for children age 5 and under. Cost: $5 per child. Red Art Gallery, 30 N. Third St., Yakima. 469-2766.

Moxee Hop Festival

MOXEE HOP FESTIVAL. 5 p.m. to midnight. Children’s activities include pony rides, inflatable jumbers, rock climbing wall. Music and vendors. Fireworks at dusk. Free admission. 509-452-5632. evcea.org

Vintiques Northwest Nationals

34th ANNUAL VINTIQUES NORTHWEST NATIONALS. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Antique car show, games, vendors. Second largest annual event at Yakima’s State Fair Park, 1301 S. Fair Ave. Cost: $6 adults, $3 children ages 6-12; or $15 for two adults and four children. vintiques.com

Antique Farm Expo

ANTIQUE FARM EXPO AND FLEA MARKET. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Antique farm equipment parade, lawn mower pulls, children’s train, wheat threshing, blacksmith shop, music and food vendors. Cost: $5 adults, children under 12 are free. Central Washington Agricultural Museum in Fullbright Park, 4508 Main St., Union Gap. 673-1177 or 830-1219. centralwaagmuseum.org

Home Depot Kids Workshop

HOME DEPOT KIDS WORKSHOP. 9 a.m. to noon, first Saturdays. Free drop-in projects for kids 5-12. The Home Depot, 2115 S. First St., Yakima. 452-3016.

Moxee Hop Festival

MOXEE HOP FESTIVAL. 10 a.m. parade through downtown Moxee. Activities in Moxee City Park from 7 a.m. to midnight. Children’s activities include pony rides, inflatable jumbers, rock climbing wall. Music and vendors. Free admission and parking. 509-452-5632. evcea.org

Ace Kids Club

ACE KIDS CLUB. 10 a.m. to noon. Free drop-in projects  for kids ages 3-12. Hometown Ace Hardware, 3700 Tieton Drive, Yakima. 972-4400.

The Knack

THE KNACK. On first and third Saturdays, kids ages 5-12 can join 30-minute craft sessions at 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Today’s project: Summer Cookie Kit. Cost: $5 per child. Michaels store, 1729 S. First St., Yakima. 452-6484. michaels.com

Borders Story Time

BORDERS STORY TIME. 11 a.m. Saturdays. Free. Borders Books, 1700 E. Washington Ave., Union Gap. 248-4018.

Maryhill Family Fun Day

MARYHILL FAMILY FUN DAY. 1-4 p.m. All About Andy Warhol: Make your own self-portrait prints using Warhol’s “blotted line technique.” Maryhill Museum of Art, south of Goldendale on State Route 14. Cost: $7 adults; children younger than 17 free with paying adult. 509-773-3733. maryhillmuseum.org

Vintiques Northwest Nationals

34th ANNUAL VINTIQUES NORTHWEST NATIONALS. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Antique car show, games, vendors. Second largest annual event at Yakima’s State Fair Park, 1301 S. Fair Ave. Cost: $6 adults, $3 children ages 6-12; or $15 for two adults and four children. vintiques.com

Summer Campfire Program

SUMMER CAMPFIRE PROGRAM. 7 p.m. Ric Cole presents “Klondike Rick,” stories of the Yukon gold rush and other Western folklore. Yakima Sportsman State Park, 904 S. 33rd St. Free admission and parking. Bring chairs. Marshmallows provided. 575-2774.

Saturday Nite Live

SATURDAY NITE LIVE. 7-9:30 p.m. Free drop-in program open to youth ages 7-15, in partnership with Yakima Valley Young Life. Swimming, sports, games, Christian message. Yakima Family YMCA, 5 N. Naches Ave. 248-1202 or 961-9898.

Yakima Farmers Market

YAKIMA FARMERS MARKET. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 26. Street market featuring produce, crafts and concessions. Located in front of the Capitol Theatre at Third Street and Yakima Avenue. yakimafarmersmarket.org

Yakima Bears Baseball

YAKIMA BEARS. 5:35 p.m. Minor league baseball at Yakima County Stadium, 1301 S. Fair Ave. Tickets $4.50-$8.50. Latino baseball celebration with music and other activities. Family feast night: $1 hot dogs, soda, popcorn and ice cream. yakimabears.com

Yakima Bears Baseball

YAKIMA BEARS. 7:05 p.m. Minor league baseball at Yakima County Stadium, 1301 S. Fair Ave. Tickets $4.50-$8.50. Dave Edler Bobblehead Night.

Inklings Toddler Story Time

INKLINGS TODDLER STORY TIME. 10 a.m. Tuesdays. Inklings Bookshop in the Chalet Place shopping center, 5629 Summitview Ave., Yakima. 965-5830.

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