Copyright The Boston Globe
THERE Wineries, museums, and more on Washington’s sunny side Washington state gets a bad rap for its rainfall, but drive two hours east of Seattle to Central Washington and enjoy a high-desert region that gets more than 300 days of sunshine a year. Watch the sun illuminate Yakima Valley’s rolling hills, many vineyards (you’ll find more than 90 wineries in the area), and hops farms (locals say the region produces more than 70 percent of the nation’s hops). Go wine tasting and take a brewery tour (pick up a local Craft Beverage Map when you arrive), take a drive along two scenic byways (White Pass and Chinook Pass), choose from 300 miles of hiking trails, or explore the area’s museums. Find out about the region’s fruit industry and see old horse-drawn vehicles at the Yakima Valley Museum and visit the Yakama Nation Cultural Center and Museum in nearby Toppenish to learn about the local Yakama Nation people (also, don’t miss a self-guided tour of Toppenish, known for the many fabulous painted murals on buildings throughout town — pick up a map at the American Hops Museum). For a place to stay, consider Yakima’s vibrant new Tru by Hilton Yakima Airport, within walking distance to plenty of restaurants (try the Gyro House, a simple, hole-in-the-wall spot with amazing gyro platters) and just a five-minute drive from the Yakima Valley Museum and 10-minute drive from downtown. The hotel, with its fun contemporary design, has spacious rooms, an outdoor area with couches and two propane grills, a colorful lobby with a pool table and a variety of seating areas (including cozy individual nooks), and a free continental breakfast (rates start at $125, based on double occupancy). www.visityakima.com EVERYWHERE Haul gear in these smartly designed roof boxes The latest roof boxes by Yakima — the outdoor gear company — offer new and updated features and a variety of size options so you can find one that fits your car and needs. The Yakima SkyBox NX has a sleek aerodynamic design (with a textured surface that will still firmly hold all your stickers); a new flat-bottom interior that creates more usable space; built-in, tie-down straps; and a wide adjustment range when installing to provide great hatchback clearance. One of its top features (which you’ll appreciate if you’ve had an older model Yakima roof box): it’s smooth-operating metal handle and latches that make it a breeze to open and close. The cargo box is super easy to install and has universal mounting clamps that work with the company’s latest StreamLine crossbars and most factory-installed or aerodynamic crossbars (made by Yakima or other companies). Use the included torque-based installation knob to crank down the bolts without overtightening during installation. The cargo box opens on either side, and each handle comes with a built-in lock for security. Sizes range from 12 to 22 cubic feet, with an NX Skinny version (84-by-26.5-by-15 inches long, wide, and high) to an NX XXL (90.5-by-36-by-19 inches). All but the NX L can easily accommodate skis and snowboards. $749-$899. https://yakima.com KARI BODNARCHUK
