School’s out, but parents don’t panic, we have you covered for summer fun in Grant County, wa.
Free Daytime Kid’s Adventure for residents in Grant County, WA
We have your perfect picnic day trip adventure planned with your littles. Start out your summer right with a short drive to the Wanapum Dam Turbine Park. Begin your adventure at the Grant PUD Visitor Center, open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., 7 days a week (May-Sept.). Let the kids explore the hands-on displays. They will learn about the building of the dams, hydropower, fish of the Columbia River Basin, and the ecosystem. While they’re mesmerized by the up-close views of the Wanapum Dam, you can finally enjoy a moment of peace—just don’t get too excited and accidentally leave one behind. Remember to keep safety in mind as they take in the views. Don’t leave them unattended, and don’t forget the water to keep everyone hydrated amidst all that summer fun you’re having!
Picnic at Wanapum Dam Turbine Park
Relax in the shade, let the kids play in the grass, and take in some interesting history
After they’ve worked up an appetite (and you’ve recovered from the morning’s chaos) time for your summer picnic! Head over to the Wanapum Dam Turbine Park where you can relax in the shaded picnic areas and enjoy lunch. (If you prefer someone else to do the cooking, Mattawa is close by with some yummy lunch options.) Take a stroll on the easy short walking trails to work off your lunch and learn more about the Wanapum Heritage Center, the Wanapum people, the Ice Age floods that formed the Sentinel Gap, and the fish spillway. Your children will be impressed that 15,000 to 18,000 years ago, all of that area would have been covered in water—just like your bathroom after bathtime.
You won’t miss the giant life-size turbine that gives this park its name. You can walk around the bottom of the turbine, walk up the stairs, or take the ADA-friendly ramp to the top of the display and read more about the turbines. The kids will love to run up and down the grassy hills that surround the turbine. Don’t forget to take a picture to remember this moment, because if you didn’t take a picture, did it even happen?
Amenities to Accommodate Your Summer Fun
You will be glad to find the park offers clean bathrooms and drinking fountains, which is a huge plus when traveling with kids. You will be surprised how much this short trip has to offer. You’ll be even more surprised at how many questions one child can ask about turbines. Enjoy the adventure and remember- you’re making memories, not just counting down the days until school starts again!
