As Will Smith used to say, where there's an air of love and happiness, that means it’s summertime! Whether you’re grilling at home, grabbing drinks on a patio or meeting friends at an outdoor concert, Yakima truly shines for the season.

This year is a special one, since summer will be starting off with the first ever Virgina Mason Memorial Downtown Yakima Mile on June 8th. Will you be running? Spectating? Either way, we can't wait to see all the Yaki-love at full sprint.  We’re also proud to be a sponsor of the Yakima Pride Festival, also happening this Saturday… 

To borrow a phrase from a friend, this is time when Yakima goes from "Kansas to Oz," and boy are we glad. This week, Jessica shares her favorite spring hike, tips to enjoy Spring Barrel away from the crowds, and the upcoming festival that you should not miss. Scroll to the bottom, and you'll be rewarded with a coupon code to register for the Downtown Yakima Mile, your #IHYinstacrush, and save-the-dates for ways to put those ever increasing daylight hours to work.