Pullman

In Pullman, the liveliness of a college town complements the unparalleled pastoral beauty of southeastern Washington. The city is home to Washington State University and a major hub of Palouse, a region that encompasses areas of Washington, Idaho and Oregon characterized by picturesque farms and rolling wheat fields.

Take a tour of the university, where a visit to Ferdinand’s Ice Cream Shoppe is a must. The establishment’s ice cream and iconic canned cheese have satisfied patrons since 1948. If you’re visiting between April and October, stop by the Bear Center to catch a glimpse of WSU’s prized mammals, who can often be seen from the parking-lot viewing area.

Pullman also has 14 parks and a 7-mile Riverwalk for hiking and biking. Reaney Park hosts a summer concert series and is the headquarters of the annual National Lentil Festival, celebrating one of the area’s most popular crops, in August.

Shutterbugs should consider hopping on the Palouse Scenic Byway, which traverses more than 200 miles of photogenic hills and welcoming rural towns.