Ellensburg has all the things you look for in a Washington small town – very walkable, a unique stay, fantastic food, wine, beer, lots of history, and day trip activities.
You might know Ellensburg for its popular annual rodeo on Labor Day weekend. But it’s a lot more than that! What you might not know is that there are a lot more cool things to do in Ellensburg, WA than first come to mind.
Ellensburg has free museums, a city park next to the Yakima River, art, murals, historic buildings, and a wind farm. If you are planning a getaway to Ellensburg or need a short break on a cross-the-state trip, here are some of the best things to do in Ellensburg, WA. As a bonus, most of them are free!
Cool Things to do in Ellensburg, WA
Walk around historic downtown
Historic Downtown Ellensburg has a very walkable center. Some other notable buildings are the Cadwell Building, which was built with one million bricks, the Elmira Block, and Farmer’s Bank, and New York Cafe.
If you get hungry or thirsty while walking around there are plenty of places to tempt you like Ellensburg Pasta Company, Valley Cafe, Palace Cafe, Starlight Lounge, Brix Elevage Wine Co., Gard Vintners, and Iron Horse Brewery.
Check out the murals and street art
One of the coolest things about Ellensburg, Washington is that this small town is jam-packed with lots of street art and murals, many of which are old advertisements.
Taking an art-focused walk around the city is one of the best free things to do in Ellensburg and should be first up on your Ellensburg itinerary.
Its most famous mural is Phoenix Rising by Lynne McCowin on the Davidson Building. The mural depicts the rebirth of the town after the Great Ellensburg Fire in 1889.
Check out the art scene at the Clymer Museum of Art.
Yet another free museum in Ellensburg, you shouldn’t miss this museum if you’re a fan of checking out art while you travel! The Clymer Museum of Art is dedicated to local western artist John Clymer. Most people are familiar with Clymer’s Saturday Evening Post covers.
He is also recognized worldwide and was awarded the Prix de West, Cowboy Hall of Fame and a Rungius Medal. The museum is small but has interesting items and stories from his life, posters, magazine covers, and a few paintings.
Take a photo with the Ellensburg Bull
The Ellensburg Bull by Rich Beyer is in Rotary Pavillion, which is right across the street from Phoenix Rising and the Davidson Building. Snapping a photo with this bull is a must while visiting Ellensburg!
