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Rolling hills of wheat, peas and lentils surround Pullman, a college town in the Palouse of southeastern Washington whose landscape of soft green and golden dunes of farmland looks almost painted. Founded in the 1880s and named after the railroad car magnate George Pullman, the town changed for good when the state's land-grant college opened here in 1892; it grew into Washington State University.
Campus life dominates the town and supplies most of its sights: the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, the Conner Museum's bird and mammal collections, a bear research center where grizzlies can be watched from a viewing area in summer, and Ferdinand's, the creamery shop famous for ice cream and Cougar Gold cheese sold in a can. Football Saturdays at Martin Stadium fill every hotel for miles.
Beyond town, the Bill Chipman Palouse Trail rolls to Moscow, Idaho, and the summits of Kamiak Butte and Steptoe Butte offer sweeping views over the patchwork hills. August brings the National Lentil Festival, a nod to the crop that thrives here.
The Washington State University creamery store, serving ice cream made on campus and selling Cougar Gold, a sharp white cheddar aged and sold in a tin can since the mid-twentieth century. Order a cone, then take home a can of Cougar Gold, which travels well.
Washington State University's art museum, housed in a striking modern building called the Crimson Cube near the center of campus. It shows changing exhibitions of contemporary and historic art, Northwest artists and works from the university collection. Admission is free; parking on campus requires a permit or pay station.
A free natural history museum on the WSU campus with one of the largest collections of birds and mammals in the Pacific Northwest. Display cases hold mounted animals from the Palouse and around the world, and it is a favorite with children. Hours follow the academic calendar, so check before visiting.
A research facility on the edge of the WSU campus that studies grizzly bears. From late spring to early fall a public viewing area lets visitors watch the bears outdoors in their enclosures, and staff sometimes answer questions. Visit in the morning, when bears tend to be active, and stay behind the marked lines.
A paved rail trail of about seven miles that links Pullman with Moscow, Idaho, following an old railroad grade through farmland along Paradise Creek. It is gently graded and popular with cyclists, runners and walkers, with benches and interpretive signs. Bike there and back, or arrange a pickup in Moscow.
A forested butte rising above the wheat fields about 12 miles north of Pullman, with a loop trail of around three and a half miles that climbs through pines to a ridge with views over the Palouse. The park also has a small campground and picnic area. Wildflowers bloom in spring; the trail can be icy in winter.
A quartzite butte rising more than 1,000 feet above the surrounding farmland, about an hour north of Pullman. A road spirals to the summit, where the view takes in miles of rolling Palouse hills. Photographers come at sunrise and sunset for long shadows on the fields; bring a jacket for the wind.
A city-run formal garden on a hill in Pullman with rose beds, dahlias, perennial borders, lawns, a pavilion and paths with views of the town. It is free and peaceful, popular for weddings and graduation photos. Visit from late spring through summer, when the roses and dahlias are in flower.
Each August downtown Pullman celebrates the lentils grown across the Palouse with a parade, a fun run, live music, a beer garden, cooking demonstrations and a huge pot of free lentil chili. It is a friendly small-town festival that fills the streets for the weekend. Parking downtown is limited, so walk if you can.
The main WSU campus spreads across the hills above downtown, with the brick Bryan Hall clock tower, landscaped malls, Martin Stadium and many of Pullman's museums. Campus is pleasant to walk outside football weekends, when traffic and hotel prices peak. Visitor parking is available at pay stations and garages.
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Washington, United States
Washington, United States
Washington, United States
Washington, United States
Washington, United States
Washington, United States
Washington, United States
Washington, United States
Photo: David Dugan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Dugan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Dsdugan, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Dsdugan, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Gleb Tarro, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: David Dugan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: David Dugan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: David Dugan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: David Dugan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Dugan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jeremy Segrott from Cardiff, Wales, UK, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Jeremy Segrott from Cardiff, Wales, UK, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Richardmouser, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jeremy Segrott from Cardiff, Wales, UK, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
