Monday, March 16, 2009

Tourism Matters!

Tourism Ambassador for South East Washington, from the Yakima Valley, is Martin Olsen of Olsen Estates Winery.

Martin says "People are just starting to learn about the Yakima Valley and its richness. What we've got here is something really special." The amount of growth and infrastructure here in the past five years is really measureable. I think that's all directly related to tourism....."

Come to the Yakima Valley for Spring Barrel Tasting April 24-26 and ask Martin "Why Tourism Matters!"

Spring Barrel Tasting,the last weekend in April is a great opportunity to learn about the growth of the wine industry in the Yakima Valley, take tours of the vineyards, talk to the winemakers, learn about food and wine pairing or just sample great wine, bask in the sunshine and listen to live music.

April 24-26: Come experience springtime in full bloom in the Yakima Valley! Meet Martin, his brother Leif and winemaker, Kyle Johnson at Olsen Estates for a guided tour of Olsen Brothers Ranches 2,600-acre Olsen farm started by his father 25 years ago. The Olsen family has a 100 years of interesting history in the Yakima Valley, maybe Martin will share more of his families saga. The tour will begin at Olsen Estates winery, where you board a bus and travel 15 minutes to the farm visit several vineyard sites, get an overview of the Olsen’s diversified crop production, which include cherries, apples, hops, and blueberries. The tour concludes at sunset among the vineyards atop Olsen Hill, with wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres. Package includes a photo keepsake to take home as a reminder of your Spring Barrel Tasting weekend! $50/person, 20 people max 3:00 - 6:00 PM

OR

April April 24-26: Kick off your Spring Barrel Tasting weekend with our Vine to Wine tour at Olsen Estates! On Friday from 3-6pm, the Olsen's are offering a guided tour of Olsen Brothers farm and vineyards, including wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres ($50/person). Then, relax on the patio where we’ll be featuring the smooth sounds of R&B guitarist, Wayman Chapman, on Friday and Saturday afternoons. Tapas available, as well as barrel samples and wines by the glass or bottle. $5 event fee (waived with Wine Yakima Valley premiere pass). 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Olsen Estates Winery.

Check the numerous events happening at over 60 wineries in the Yakima Valley during Spring Barrel Tasting Weekend.

There is something for every member of your family, Bike Rides, Dinosaurs, winemaker dinners, art and craft fairs,Fresh Asparagus,antique car show, fun, live music at wineries, wine tasting, dueling pianos, BBQ oysters, sunshine, evening wine tasting & live music, dancing in downtown Yakima at the Sportscenter and Taste of Washington and much more!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Discover Dinosaurs & Mammoths in the Yakima Valley!?!

After 65 Million Years They’re Back! Walking with Dinosaurs the arena spectacular is making a thundering comeback! Staggeringly realistic, a must see theatrical event for all ages. The terror of ancient terrain, 15 life size dinosaurs, and Tyrannosaurus Rex! Watch them walk! Hear them Roar! At the Yakima SunDome April 24-26.

Playing with Dinosaurs! Children in the Yakima Valley know that dinosaurs can be found in Granger, a city whose slogan is “Where Dinosaurs Roam!” These Dinosaurs are concrete over steel frames and wire mesh, placed in a playground setting. Building dinosaurs in Granger began in 1994. The first to be built was a Brontosaurus, then Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Triceratops, and Pterosaurs, which can be found in the middle of Grangers’ manmade pond. A dozen species of dinosaurs are now an attraction for families from all over the Yakima Valley and beyond. Children can climb on the dinosaurs, picnic, play, and imagine they hear a roar, all in the park like setting.

Yakima Valley Museum Miocene Forest Exhibits: This unique exhibit features a glimpse of prehistoric Yakima. The Miocene Forest exhibit in the Helen N. Jewett Basalt Gallery features 15-million-year-old-trees, unearthed from a ridge in the Yakima Valley and reconstructed inside the museum. A mural depicting Yakima during the Miocene era surrounds the trees and visitors can examine polished cross-sections of different types of petrified hardwoods.

When dinosaurs roamed the earth, Yakima was underwater, a bay of the Pacific Ocean. The Time Tunnel at the Yakima Valley Museum provides a glimpse of the Yakima Valley 10,000 to 25 million years ago, more recent than the era dinosaurs lived on the earth. This was when our present local landscape was formed in a drama of lava flows and great glacial floods. Fossils hidden beneath our feet help reveal the unique animals which lived in the Yakima Valley during those years; mastodons, mammoths, giant camels, tiny horses, huge bison, and even a giant ground sloth

Wenas Creek Mammoth Project- Did you know that the Yakima Valley is home to a fascinating mammoth dig. Central Washington University (CWU) is conducting a scientific investigation of mammoth bones found on private land in the Wenas Creek Valley near Selah, Washington. The investigation is interdisciplinary, using methods from paleontology, archaeology, and geography. The goal of the project is careful scientific recovery of bones and associated artifacts, while placing the finds into appropriate context of physical geography. The project includes summer excavations offered as field schools, public site tours, presentations, and volunteer opportunities.
The dig in Selah, WA is open for tours from July 14 to August 8 Tuesday – Saturday 9 am -2 pm last tour starts at 1:30 a live cam of the dig can be seen at the site.