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Are you looking for something fun for the family to enjoy this summer? Visit the Rocky Reach Dam!

For my weekly adventure, last week I visited the Rocky Reach Dam. The first thing I noticed when pulling into the visitor parking lot was the beautifully landscaped Rocky Reach Park. The park includes a playground, picnic areas, a turbine exhibit, and of course Petunia Island. Petunia Island consists of 8,000 colorful annuals carefully planted to form a design. This year, the design is a hot air balloon.

The first thing I did was head to the fish viewing room where you can see salmon and steelhead making their way through the fish ladder. There are thousands of chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and steelhead that travel the fish ladder every year, but they are seasonal so I only saw salmon during my visit.  I was amazed on the size of some of the fish that came through! The viewing room is evidently a popular place to be, with several people surrounding the five windows.

Then, I headed across the forebay deck to see the museum in the powerhouse. It seemed to be field trip day in the museum, as kids lined up to try a few hands on activities like turning a handle to see how much human energy it takes to power a light bulb. The Museum of the Columbia walks visitors through the history of the Columbia River; including geology, first people, and recent history. There are large windows throughout the powerhouse to allow visitors to view the powerhouse floor.

Afterward, I enjoyed a hamburger from the Rocky Reach Café.

The Rocky Reach Dam is a great place for people of all ages to tour. There is something for everyone to enjoy. If you have not visited the Rocky Reach Dam, I highly suggest it. Guided tours are available.

Pictures of my visit are available on our Facebook page: Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce.

~Celia~