Long before the Tri-Cities became known for its wineries, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers picked this shrub steppe landscape to build the world’s first full-scale nuclear reactor as part of the Manhattan Project, kicking off an age of innovation for the region.
Today, the Tri-Cities — Richland, Pasco, and Kennewick collectively — offer many STEM-related attractions for all ages. From learning about gravitational waves to exploring part of a Cold War-era submarine, there are plenty of things to do in Tri-Cities with kids who love STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Thanks to free or low-cost tours and museums, it’s easy to get up close to breakthrough technologies and cutting-edge science.
Things to do With Kids in Tri-Cities: STEM Edition
Pasco Aviation Museum
Did you know the first commercial U.S. airmail flight took off from Pasco in 1926? The Pasco Aviation Museum, opened in 2018, is located in the 1940s Naval Air Station Pasco Control Tower and is run nearly entirely by volunteers.
Kids can get their energy out in a play area with costumes and LEGOs before admiring model airplanes and other artifacts. Also on display are practice bombshells, which farmers still find in their fields.
Upstairs, the fourth-floor observation deck provides a view of the surrounding airfields. Imagine the place during World War II, filled with Navy pilots flying Boeing Stearman primary trainers. There’s even a restored 1943 Stearman biplane in the museum’s collection.
Why it’s here: During World War II, the Navy sought an inland location to train pilots.
Also See: 3-Day Tri-Cities Itinerary
LIGO Exploration Center
The free LIGO Exploration Center boasts 5,000-square-feet of fun and hands-on science exhibits related to gravitational waves. Head to the activity room for a few hours of air-conditioned bliss while playing with light waves, sound waves, pendulums, a marble well, and a giant slinky.
The center offers free public tours on the second Saturday of the month. Register online in advance. You’ll get to visit the interferometer’s control room and see both of its 2.5-mile-long arms.
LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) Hanford is the world’s most sensitive measuring device, and it’s used to detect gravitational waves. Gravitational waves are caused when objects with mass speed up, slow down, or change directions. Fun fact: Some of these gravitational waves have been traveling since the Big Bang.
Albert Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves in his general theory of relativity in 1916, but he didn’t have the tools to detect them. It wasn’t until 2015 when LIGO scientists heard gravitational waves caused by black holes colliding — and won the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics for their work.
Why it’s here: The Department of Energy owns the land and Hanford is geographically far away from the other LIGO location in Louisiana.
Also See: 10+ Ideas for a Family Vacation in Washington
USS Triton Sail Park
The USS Triton made history in 1960 as the first submarine to circle the Earth underwater. The body of this Cold War-era submarine was scrapped in the Bremerton Naval Yard, but its sail and conning tower were saved and installed in Richland.
The sail is now located in a public park. To get a peek at the conning tower inside, fill out an online request form with the Port of Benton. On a sail tour, duck your head to step through the gnome-sized doorway and climb down a metal ladder. Sit at the submarine’s steering wheel and imagine yourself cruising miles underwater.
The decommissioned conning tower is essentially a giant toddler busy board, making it one of the best things to do with kids in Tri-Cities. The walls are covered with buttons, switches, and phone receivers that you can touch — just don’t launch any torpedoes!
Why it’s here: Because of the area’s connection to nuclear history. Triton was the first and only U.S. submarine with two nuclear reactors.
REACH Museum
Learn about the natural and human history of the Tri-Cities at the REACH Museum. The museum is split into two galleries: one side tells the story of the Manhattan Project and plutonium production through the Cold War. The other side covers the geology, plants, and animals of the Hanford Reach National Monument. This sagebrush-dotted land originally served as a security buffer around the nuclear reactors and is now set aside as a wildlife refuge.
Look for a mammoth tusk on display in the natural history side of the museum. The tusk was found by Richland homeowners during a landscaping project. They initially thought it was a rock, but it turned out to be a 13,000-year-old bone.
Why it’s here: The REACH Museum, which marked its 10th anniversary in 2024, replaced the now-closed Columbia River Exhibition of History, Science, and Technology.
Also See: Discover Kid-Friendly Museums
Manhattan Project National Historical Park
Closure Notice: Following the 2024 tour season, B Reactor tours will pause for two years for building maintenance. Check the Hanford tour website for official closure dates and tour updates.
The National Park Service offers free tours of B Reactor, the world’s first full-scale nuclear reactor. While visitors of all ages are welcome, minors need a signed consent form.
Tours depart from the Visitor Center, where you’ll hop on a bus to B Reactor. Along the way, knowledgeable docents describe the people, science, and engineering involved in this top-secret project.
Visiting the site is like stepping back in time. The B Reactor, built in 1944, was the first reactor at Hanford. It refined the plutonium used in the atomic bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, and continued to produce weapons-grade plutonium for the Cold War. While the Hanford nuclear site continues to drive the local economy and draw scientists and engineers to the region, plutonium production ceased in 1987, and environmental cleanup will continue for decades to come.
Plan on four hours for the B Reactor tour. Afterward, head next door to the Bombing Range Brewing Company for excellent house-made pizza. Kids are welcome on the restaurant side.
Why it’s here: This location was selected for a nuclear reactor because it had lots of space, few people, and access to cold water from the nearby Columbia River.
CPCCo Planetarium
The newly renovated CPCCo Planetarium at Columbia Basin College got a huge upgrade in 2023, including a high-resolution projection system, LED theater lighting system, and lobby exhibits.
The planetarium is open to the public on alternating Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons. Each hour-long show starts with a live presentation of the night sky, followed by a movie projected on the 36-foot panoramic viewing dome. The curved screen can simulate a 3D effect without 3D glasses.
The movie line-up includes lots of family-friendly titles, covering STEM topics such as the solar system, the cells in your body, black holes, ancient Egypt, and telescopes. They range from preschool-appropriate to middle school and up. New this year, there’s also a Spanish-language show on the first Saturday of each month.
Make sure to buy tickets in advance online, because tickets aren’t sold at the door.
Why it’s here: The planetarium is part of the college’s Pasco campus and is named for Hanford contractor Central Plateau Cleanup Co.
Other Fun Things to do with Kids in Tri-Cities
For outdoor activities, head to Columbia Point Marina Park in Richland, where kids can enjoy a playground and a beach. Nearby, Howard Amon Park is another beautiful option with greenspace that runs along the water. The kids’ area includes two playgrounds, climbing boulders and musical toys. The park has lots of trees for shade, as well as a paved path and swinging benches where you can take in views of the water. Pick up yummy sandwiches at Endive Eatery for a perfect picnic.
In nearby Kennewick, don’t miss the Gesa Carousel of Dreams, an antique indoor carousel more than 100 years old. You’ll be surprised how much fun kids (and kids at heart) will have reaching for a brass ring.
Where to Stay in Tri-Cities With Kids
Traveling with kids is all about convenience. The Lodge at Columbia Point is right on the water, and you can check out complimentary bikes to ride on the riverfront trail. The other side of the Lodge offers easy access to four terrific restaurants, all in the same parking lot. Best of all, there’s a covered outdoor pool to cool off in after a day under the desert sun.
About the Author
JiaYing Grygiel is a photographer and writer who covers food, travel and design. She earned journalism degrees from Syracuse University, then promptly moved to Seattle because you don’t have to shovel the rain. Her work appears in The Seattle Times, Seattle’s Child, ParentMap and more.