During summertime in Pullman, many of the students at Washington State University leave the area, and there are a lot less people within normal city limits. This is a time where the weather can get very hot, and you will see a lot of construction work out on the streets of Pullman, Washington.
It is a time where farmers prepare for harvest as the wheat fields turn a golden color, with much of the businesses preparing for the bulk of the WSU students to return in the fall. It is also a time where you and your family won’t be content to stay at home, and will want to enjoy all the nice weather in Pullman, Washington, as well as all the activities within and outside of the city limits.
Parks in Pullman, Washington
This is the perfect time for you and your family to visit a city park, as they will be completely green in the warmer climate of the Pullman summer. For example, you should really go enjoy Lawson Gardens, which has a vast array of flowers in full bloom.
If you have younger kids, then take advantage of the weather to enjoy the amenities of these city parks, including:
And much more, both inside and outside of Pullman’s nearby city limits, including places that have many trails.
Trails in Pullman, Washington
Pullman, Washington has many great trails in its parks, and one of the longest is the Bill Chipman Trail, which allows you to bike a level path to Moscow, ID on bike or on foot.
There are also trails at nearby places such as:
Photography in Pullman, Washington
Summer time in Pullman, Washington is a great time for doing photography, as Pullman and the surrounding Palouse area is beginning to bloom. The Palouse Scenic Byway is full of spots like this, such as Kamiak and Steptoe Butte, and you will see how beautiful the Inland Northwest can be at all times of the day and night (particularly the sunset). Also highly recommended is Palouse Falls, which is a 200 foot drop and possibly a rainbow on a good day.
Golf Courses in Pullman, Washington
If golf is what you want to do, and the weather permits it, then head to one of the many golf courses that are near to Pullman:
Places to Swim in Pullman, Washington
Perhaps you and your family want to get into the water. Fortunately, there is Reaney Park Pool, an outdoor pool, as well as the Pullman Aquatic and Fitness Center, an indoor pool. If the weather is really good for the weekend, then drive over to Moscow to the Hamilton-Lowe Aquatics Center, a fully outdoor aquatic theme park, complete with waterslides that the kids will love. If you are looking for some place with natural waters for a swim, then head down to Wawawai County Park by the Snake River, or Hells Gate State Park in Lewiston, ID. Both places have a sandy beach setting and boat docks.
If it is fishing that you enjoy, head on over to Rock Lake. Not only is there some terrific fishing there, but the site is the home to a regional mystery as there are boxcars and Model T Fords at the bottom of the largest natural lake in Eastern Washington.
WSU Attractions in Pullman, Washington
With most of the students gone, take a self-guided tour up at WSU to see what you can see! It is a good time to wander around the campus outdoors, and there are many museums, exhibits, and landmarks that you can see inside. Like Ferdinand’s Ice Cream Shoppe for a cold treat on a hot day, and pick up a can (that’s right, a can) of WSU’s own unique Cougar Gold cheese!
Other places to visit on the WSU campus include:
• Brelford WSU Visitor Center
• Elson S. Floyd Cultural Center at WSU
• The Spark: Academic Innovation Hub at WSU
• Bryan Clock Tower/Hello Walk WSU
• Compton Union Building (CUB)/Students Book Corporation (SBC/Bookie)
• Holland and Terrell Library
• Gesa Field and Cougar Pride Statue
• Lewis Alumni Centre
• Charles R. Conner Museum
• Culver Study Memorial Museum
• Jacklin Collection of Silicified Wood and Minerals
• S. Elroy McCaw Fluorescent Mineral Display Museum
• Museum of Anthropology
• Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
• Worthman-Johnson Veterinary Anatomy Teaching Museum
• WSU Welcome Arch
• WSU Bear Center
Cultural Events and Museums in Pullman, Washington
Of course, if it is too hot outside, you and your family can always head to cooler indoor places in Pullman and its neighboring cities, such as:
There are even more activities with Pullman Parks and Recreation, especially when it comes to kids activities with the Discovery Zone as well as RAD (Recreational Advanced Dance). For the older kids, the teens/tweens, there are all kinds of break-a-way programs to attend. There are also activities for adults, and if you are an older adult, then you should check out the Pullman Senior Center at the Pullman Recreation Center, which has so many events happening this summer as well.
Monthly Events of Summer in Pullman, Washington
May
As Spring comes to a close, the Pullman Farmer’s Market runs from Late Spring to Early Fall. The Pullman Farmers Market is made to provide a place for the community to find high-quality, locally grown food and products. This Pullman Farmer’s Market operates every Wednesday from 3:30-6:00 PM at the Brelsford WSU Visitor Center.
There is also another Farmer’s Market that occurs from May to October in Moscow ID. The Moscow Farmers Market operates from Saturdays from 8 AM to 1 PM.
Later on in the summertime, just shortly after WSU and U of I graduation, is a relatively new festival of Pullman, Washington that plans to be an annual event. This is the 3 Forks River and Arts Festival.
The 3 Forks River and Arts Festival is a chance for local artists to bring out their work for all to see, and much of their works will be on display at local businesses. There is also an Art Walk which has several places for vendors, experience stations, and there is also a beer garden.
In addition to these events, this is a duck race. Visitors can purchase a toy duck and then float it down Paradise Creek with many others.
June
If you have kids ages 5-12, then you should take them to Cougar Kids Camp. Cougar Kids Camp is a daily camp that runs from late June to all of July, and covers physical activities, educational opportunities, as well as other leisure pursuits.
Another great time is Music on Main, which occurs during the months of June through September. Music on Main happens at Pine Street Plaza in Pullman Washington, with live performances by local musicians each Thursday evening.
Music on Main is dependent on weather, which is usually very good on a summer day. The local artists include Ray Wallace, Jill Freuden, Eric Jessup, Leslie Sena, Mozi Jones, Dan Maher, Eric E., Auf Gehts, and Ally Fraser-Robinson. Local groups include the Jon and Rand Band, the Morgan Brothers Band, Solid Ghost, The Cherry Sisters, Soulstice, Smith and Reilly, and Paradox. These singers and bands may not be household names now, but one day, you can say that they got their start at Music in Main in Pullman, Washington.
Your family can also enjoy the Moscow Artwalk and Street Fair, which occurs in Moscow, Idaho with various visual, literary, performing, and culinary arts offerings at businesses and non-profit locations throughout the community on the 3rd Thursday of each month from October to May. There is a Season Finale in June which has artist and host location offerings with music, food, and performances on Main Street.
July
If you are here on the Fourth of July, it is recommended that you attend the Fourth of July Celebration at Sunnyside Park. There are also several parades on the 4th of July like in Johnson, WA and also one in Albion as well.
The WSU School of Music recently announced a new outdoor summer music series called Fridays at the Clock, located between Bryan Hall and Holland Library, taking place every Friday in July at 6:30 PM.
Speaking of music, there are also Concerts in the Park, at Reaney Park in Late July.
August
Considering that summer is when all the big movies come out, why not take some time and watch a movie outdoors? Pullman Parks and Recreation and Resonate Church present Movies in the Park at Reaney Park in July and August, where family films are projected on a big screen.
Also, there is a big event on the first Tuesday in August known as National Night Out, which promotes police-community partnerships. This happens at Reaney Park, and it features food, fun, and a chance to get to known the local Pullman Police.
No matter what you plan to do this summer, Pullman and its neighboring cities have many activities for you to enjoy. It really is a matter of choosing the ones that you want to do with the three months of summer. For Pullman, summer usually is considered over in late August, when the students from WSU begin to return, and has a quick start into Fall, which has more activities ready to go.