Writing about travel is, at its core, writing about new experiences. I have been discovered that I can investigate new places and write about these new experiences without traveling far. In fact, this week I visited a place right in my own home town that I had never been to before, a beautiful spot that I had been missing out on.
Located along the Yakima river is the Chamna Natural Preserve – a park of over 276 acres with miles of trails zig zagging their way through native plants and tunnels of trees. Walking through the River Path trail is like standing in the middle of a choir of birds. It’s a perfect way to ease into the weekend.
In the late afternoon, with the sun setting low in the sky, the beams shining through the leaves and onto the river provide the perfect backdrop – a place to rest and release all the stress of the day.
If you are ever in Richland, Washington and are looking for a short hike into nature check out this park. But there is a secret to this experience – you must follow the River Path trail – any other path will bring you through the middle of sagebrush and you’ll wonder why I ever suggested this hike! Follow the entrance closest to the river, then take a right at every fork on the trail. You won’t be disappointed!
