The home of Washington State University, this city offers museums, festivals and easy access to the beautiful wilderness of the Palouse.
The town of Pullman, hidden in the southeast corner of Washington, is dominated by Washington State University. Wander the sprawling campus and stroll around the town to visit events venues, gardens and museums. Head outside town to explore the Palouse, a fertile and scenic farming area made up of green rolling hills and arable land.
Pullman was settled at the end of the 19th century by homesteaders and incorporated in 1888. The town has since survived floods and fires, and boomed with the arrival of the university and the railroads.
Explore the university campus to experience its museums and other attractions. Locals love to sample the artisan gelati of Ferdinand’s Ice Cream Shoppe, while children enjoy watching the formidable creatures playing in the garden of the Bear Center.
Amble through the Museum of Art to see works by an array of international contemporary painters and sculptors. Other campus attractions include the Museum of Anthropology, which displays artifacts tracing the history of the northwestern American Indian nations. Learn about the region’s animals and birds in the Conner Natural History Museum.
Outside of campus, visit the Palouse Discovery Science Center. Interactive exhibits help visitors of all ages to engage with chemistry, biology and physics. Visit on a Saturday for a free day of family activities.
Drive around the Palouse Scenic Byway, a network of roads that run through the farmland around Pullman. Line up your camera for impressive shots of the Palouse Falls. This cascade plummets for almost 200 feet (60 meters) down a basalt gorge.
Rent a bike in Pullman to cycle amid the atmospheric landscape. Search through the hills for vineyards and go on a wine-tasting tour.
Flying to Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport from Seattle will take about an hour. Eastern Washington brings weather extremes with the seasons; visit in fall or spring for milder temperatures. Come in August for the niche delights of the National Lentil Festival, when you can enjoy cook-offs, demonstrations and outdoor performances.