Union Gap: Agriculture, Parks and Unique Experiences

Union Gap combines agricultural history with parks, trails and unusual hands-on experiences. A particularly prominent attraction is the Central Washington Agricultural Museum: It is considered the largest museum of its kind in the Pacific Northwest and is located in Fullbright Park at the foot of Ahtanum Ridge. Anyone looking for a mix of culture, activity and engaging discoveries for their trip will find several different options here for planning their day.

Agriculture as a Living Travel Experience

Admission to the Central Washington Agricultural Museum is free; donations are accepted. Guided tours are offered there every day year-round from sunrise to sunset. You can plan your tour within this time period.

One of the special areas is Keys Homestead. It is a replica furnished with many items from Margaret Keys' original home. The farmstead adds to this glimpse with a children's train, a train station, a windmill, a corncrib and numerous artifacts related to agriculture around the turn of the century. This allows you to encounter various forms of rural life and, together with children, discover historical working and everyday life through tangible objects.

Technological history is also part of the museum visit. The grounds feature a working sawmill from the 1930s, which is demonstrated during special events. For planning purposes, the difference between a regular tour and a visit during a special event is therefore worth noting: The general museum experience and a demonstration have different focuses.

Trails, Gardens and Green Spaces

In addition to the Agricultural Museum, there are covered picnic areas by the creek. Numerous hiking trails also lead from the museum grounds. Union Gap's park system includes Loudon Park, Cahalan Park, Fullbright Park and Youth Activities Park, as well as 1.5 miles of walking paths and several connected green spaces throughout the city. If you would like to alternate between a museum visit, time outdoors and a break, these different parks and trail options can influence how you plan your day.

At Ahtanum Youth Activities Park, the WSU Yakima County Master Gardeners operate the Demonstration Garden and the Heirloom Garden. Classes are held there in spring, summer and fall. Garden enthusiasts can use this as another thematic highlight and complement their visit with practical content related to plants and gardens.

Active and Unusual Excursions

Union Gap Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch offers a 12-acre corn maze, hayrides, apple cannons, a pumpkin launcher, a children's corn maze, a straw maze, straw slides and games. You can also pick pumpkins in the pumpkin patch or from the barn. The many individual activities make this a destination in its own right, where different interests within a travel group can be accommodated.

The Olde Yakima Letterpress Museum offers a different focus. It features hands-on activities in a working 1940s workshop. Visitors can also experience a letterpress machine from the 1900s. This expands Union Gap's range of attractions to include the history of artisanal printing and an experience where technology is not merely viewed.

Getting There and Choosing a Vacation Rental

To reach the Central Washington Agricultural Museum, take Exit 37B to Main Street Union Gap when traveling east on I-82. When traveling west, Exit 38 to Main Street is recommended. If you are looking for a vacation rental or vacation home in Union Gap, you can first consider which of the experiences described should be the focus of your stay: agricultural history, trails and parks, gardens, a corn maze or historical printing technology.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

To compare other destinations, you can also consider Yakima, Wapato, Toppenish, Sunnyside, Zillah, Outlook and Selah.

Back to the overarching travel overview: Yakima.