The Richland center is approximately the area of Columbia Generating Station and the area of Downtown Richland.
Surprisingly, Richland is in a semi-arid desert climate, resulting in warm summers and cold winters. However, this lends itself to ideal outdoor conditions with limited rainfall or snow in comparison to the rest of the state. That being said, the best time to visit is in the summer when temperatures range from 90 degrees to 60 degrees. During this time, the rivers provide a playground for sports fanatics. This includes activities such as waterskiing, boating, fishing, windsurfing, swimming, and tubing. At this time of the year, hotels tend to fill up faster than any other season, resulting in low supply and higher prices.
The spring and fall are the least popular months in the Richland area as temperatures plummet. In addition, the surrounding vegetation is basically shrubs and steppe, so there isn't much change in the scenery during those seasons. However, this does give you the unique opportunity to get a hotel room for a fraction of the price.
Richland and the Tri-Cities may not have their own mountain ranges, but there are several within close proximity that make the winter an ideal time to visit. Bluewood Ski Resort and White Pass Ski Area both offer world-class skiing, as well as areas for intermediate and novice skiers and snowboarders. Prices in Richland don't tend to fluctuate too much during this time as locals usually take day trips and tourists use the hotels closer to the ski areas.
If you're looking to save some money to spend on souvenirs, dining experiences, or just put in the bank, it's to your advantage to look at some of the discounts offered by many of the hotels around Richland.
The Fairfield Inn by Marriott is just five miles from the business district of Richland, and it offers AAA members, AARP members, and senior citizen discounts throughout the year. Not only will you put money in your pocket, but you'll also enjoy some great features of the hotel including an indoor pool, a fitness facility, complimentary breakfast, a fireplace in the lobby, and a spa tub. Rooms come with options for a king bed, two queen beds, or one queen bed.
The Quality Inn is another superb hotel that offers stellar discounts for members of AAA, AARP, and military personnel. Once you've checked in, go ahead and check out the Toyota Center for sporting events or concerts, the Badger Mountain Vineyard, the Columbia Center Mall, and the Three Rivers Convention Center. On-site, guests will find concierge services, complimentary internet access, an indoor pool, a spa tub, a complimentary buffet breakfast, and a cozy fireplace.
Aside from luxury and budget options, Richland also offers several mid-range value options that provide a perfect balance of features and proximity to local landmarks. The first mid-range choice is the Hampton Inn at Southridge. Located just 8.5 miles out of the town, the Hampton Inn is located next to the Toyota Center where you can see hockey, arena football, and concerts. Amenities within the hotel include complimentary internet access, a 42-inch flat screen television, refrigerators, microwaves, and a roundtrip shuttle to the airport.
Another mid-range option is the Towneplace Suites. Here, you'll have a short journey to the Columbia Point Golf Course, the Tagaris Winery, and the Barnard Griffin Winery. With these places nearby, you'll have the opportunity to get out into the great outdoors and enjoy some of the finer things in life. Some of the things you'll enjoy at the Towneplace Suites include free Wi-Fi, an indoor pool, a spa tub, a fitness center, and a picnic area. Choose from room arrangements such as one king bed, one queen bed, two queen beds, or two king beds with a sofa bed.
With so many things to do in the Richland area, your hardest decision will be deciding which activities to put at the top of your list. If you head on down to the Toyota Center, you can check out the Tri-City Americans, which is one of the top teams in the U.S. junior hockey circuit. In addition, the venue has hosted many famous musical acts such as Shinedown, KISS, Alice Cooper, and Rob Zombie.
If you love wine, the 200 local wineries are a testament to the fact that Richland has been called "The Heart of Washington Wine Country." These wineries create internationally recognized blends, whether they produce it in a basement like the Klona Vineyards, or are a major producer such as the Hogue Winery, which ships over 460,000 cases of wine worldwide each year.
For the educational experience, Richland has some great museums such as the Columbia River Exhibition of History and the Science and Technology Museum.
Regardless of what you love to do when you're on vacation or just unwinding after a long day of meetings, Richland has everything you need to have a super time. The only thing that adds to it is finding the best hotel to fit your needs.
Below are reviews of the city of Richland, WA from an actual visitor's perspective.
Restaurant choices and friendly people!
Great!
Affordable hotel right next to freeway.
It is a nice area. Beautiful river too!
Very pretty city. The area around The Lodge on the river was very peaceful.
Lots of sushi options for dinner. I was surprised!
Central location.
Very clean, comfortable room and bed. Friendly staff. Very nice people.
A lot to do and everything is close.
Hotel is located in proximity to LIGO and it's interpretive center. The birding in the parks along the river is great and they are so scenic. Looks like there are many interesting other attractions according to the visitors book, like the antique bookstore, many Latino oriented festivals, apparently even food truck hubs. The college has an observatory and planetarium!
Clean room and great front desk concierge.
People were very friendly and the pace of the city is more relaxing and not so fast paced.
The morning mist on the Columbia River with geese calling is just so amazing!
Beautiful wedding venue!
Beautiful and easy to navigate city!
Everything is within walking distance!
I love how some of the stores look like they are from the 60's. Love the bookstore!
Heart of the Red Mountain wine country.
Very nice.
Hotel was nice and cozy.The hotel was near the river front is beautiful and Anthony's restaurant was a great venue to hold our session at during our stay/meeting.
Cool desert nights and beauty of the Columbia River