Discover Richland

Richland offers a range of ways to shape your stay: history connected to the Manhattan Project, outdoor trails and parks, and water activities. If you’re looking for a hotel in Richland, these themes can help you choose the focus of your trip. Would you like to learn about historical connections, spend time on trails, or explore different options by the water? The examples below give you a practical overview.

Richland’s history connected to the Manhattan Project

The Alphabet Homes, often also called ABC Homes, were built starting in 1943 to house workers and families who supported the Hanford Manhattan Project during World War II. Their construction connects the city’s history with the daily lives of the people for whom housing was provided at the time. The name therefore represents not just a type of house, but also the importance of the work connected to the project at the time.

Another historical trace is The Greenway, now called Richland Parkway. During the Manhattan Project, The Greenway was Richland’s social and commercial center. Today, visitors can enjoy art, entertainment, recreation, and shopping at Richland Parkway; individual offerings may change. Its historical role and present-day visitor options can be considered separately while keeping the Parkway’s connection to history in view.

Trails, river views, and natural areas

The outdoor area of the REACH Museum includes gardens with native plants, sculptures by local artists, and sweeping views of the Columbia River. The plants, art, and river views offer different ways to enjoy time outdoors. The Amon Creek Natural Preserve encompasses 75 acres of riparian habitat along Amon Creek. It has 3 to 4 miles of gravel and unpaved trails for hiking and biking. The acreage describes the habitat, while the trail information provides specific details about surfaces and activities.

For an overview of hiking and biking trails in Richland, the city’s GIS resource indicates more than 170 miles. In addition, a paved trail runs as a loop on both sides of the Columbia River. These details answer different questions for planning: the GIS resource gives an overview of the extent of the trail network, while the loop description specifies a trail’s surface and route. This lets you distinguish between an overview of the trail network and a specific trail format.

What water activities are available?

Water activities in Richland vary in type. George Prout Pool has swimming lanes and diving boards, while Badger Mountain Spray Park has interactive spray features. Howard Amon Park has a splash pad; water activities in Richland also include river swimming areas. To compare the options, you can first ask yourself what kind of water activity you’re looking for: swimming lanes and diving boards, interactive spray features, a splash pad, or a river swimming area. These differences help distinguish the options rather than treating them as interchangeable.

The historical and natural features also offer different points of interest: the Alphabet Homes and The Greenway provide insight into Richland’s history during the Manhattan Project. Gardens, river views, riparian habitat, and trails, by contrast, put nature and outdoor activities in the foreground. When choosing your hotel in Richland, you can consider which of these aspects of the city matter most for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Prosser, Kennewick.

Go to the regional travel overview: Benton.