Discover Walla Walla

When I first came to the Walla Walla valley, I was just starting college and had moved from the “big city” (it depends on who you ask, but I consider Boise to be big). At eighteen, I couldn’t believe I’d given up 24-hour entertainment for a farming town with one cinema and a “mall” with only three food options. I was constantly asking the locals what they did for fun. How did they entertain themselves?

Within a year, I’d answered my own questions. I was surprised to learn that Walla Walla actually had a lot to offer, and I found that on the weekends I didn’t really have trouble finding things to do.

My favourite part of this area is the scenery. True, it took a bit of adjusting to get used to seeing mile after mile of hills and fields, but once I accepted it as my “home away from home,” I started to see past the dirt and crops to what was really there: beauty.

As a wannabe photographer, I find the Walla Walla valley to be a wonderful place to practice landscape shots. Rooks Park, east of Walla Walla, offers a tree-lined creek, small, silent meadows, riverside pathways, deer sightings, wheat fields, and lakeside scenery. Not only is it a beautiful area to photograph, but it’s a fantastic place to spend a Saturday afternoon. It even has space for the kids and Fido to run around and play on both grass and playground.

Pioneer Park, east of downtown, boasts a fabulous aviary, which is also a fun place to practice photography…if your camera can zoom past the fences and netting. If you’d rather shoot birds in a more natural setting, there are always plenty of ducks, geese, and swans meandering around the large man-made pond. And again, there is plenty of space for throwing a football or Frisbee around, not to mention dozens of perfect picnic spots. And it’s all mere blocks from the city center.

Wherever you go in Walla Walla (or around it!), be sure to take your camera. Even if you don’t expect to see anything, chances are you’ll notice something beautiful you just need to capture. And if you’re looking for inspiration, spend a few hours at Rooks or Pioneer Parks. They never disappoint.