The Yakima Valley climate is mild and dry, having characteristics of both maritime and continental climates modified by the Cascade and Rocky Mountains. The summers are dry and hot, and the winters are cool with light snowfalls. The fall and spring are mild and dry, as the valley receives an average of 290 days of sunshine each year. On a clear day, the majestic Washington mountains, Mount Adams and Mount Rainier, are visible on the skyline.
Housing
Here you can find lakeside homes, condominiums, rental homes and apartments, strong healthy neighborhoods, large parcel ranches, and turn-of-the-century historic homes. The median price of a house in Yakima County in 2010 was $151,300.
Restaurants
Yakima's downtown district is home to a burgeoning mecca of fine restaurants and eateries. Most are locally owned, so you know each recipe has all the attention to detail you could want from a dinner out on the town or even a lunch with friends and family.
Entertainment
Minor league baseball and soccer provide a sports fix for those in the Yakima Valley. There are plenty of museums and theaters for those who prefer the arts. Each fall, Yakima hosts the Central Washington State Fair. On Sundays, beginning with the first harvests and continuing through late fall, the Yakima Farmers Market offers a small-town experience second to none. The Yakima Valley is also the second largest premium wine producer in the United States, with hundreds of wineries located throughout the valley. There is sure to be a great wine you haven't tasted at any one of the local tasting rooms.
Recreation
The Yakima Valley’s excellent weather makes it a wonderful location for outdoor activities. The Yakima River Canyon, a designated state scenic route connecting interstates 90 and 82, offers excellent wildlife viewing, world-class fly-fishing, river rafting, and camping. A 40-minute drive from Yakima will take you to the foot of two spectacular mountain passes, White Pass and Chinook Pass. Skiing, water sports, mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, and a myriad of other activities are all within an hour's drive of Yakima.