Hermiston

A midsize town nestled in the heart of the Columbia Basin, Hermiston has long been a stopover for travelers.

The Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery passed the distinctive outcropping of Hat Rock, now a state park, and wrote about it in their journals. The town site in the 1860s was known as an overnight spot for horseback travelers who frequented an Old West hotel and bar here. Hermiston saw an agricultural boom in the 1970s, which was the start of its now famous watermelon farming. Don't miss the annual walleye tournament, Cinco de Mayo celebration and Farm-City Pro Rodeo.