On day 111 of “The Ultimate USA Road Trip” we drive from Spokane to Ellensburg. We have to travel a long distance through Washington. The landscape is hilly with much agricultural land and little forestation. This part of Washington is surrounded by mountain ranges that run through the state from north to south: the Pacific Coast Range and the Cascade Range.

We have to drive long distances, so make sure you fill up regularly and take something to drink and snacks with you for the road. There are opportunities to stop along the way for something to drink and eat.

There are a number of interesting sights that we visit. The first stop is at the LIGO, which stands for “Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory”. This observatory is a large physics experiment in which direct gravitational waves can be detected.
LIGO consists of two identical detectors, this one in Hanford, Washington and the other in Livingston, Louisiana, that work together to detect gravitational waves. They are designed to explore the field of gravitational wave astrophysics, through the detection of gravitational waves, as predicted by Einstein's general theory of relativity.
LIGO's gravitational wave detectors use laser interferometry (detectors) to measure the tiny ripples in spacetime caused by passing gravitational waves from cosmic events such as colliding neutron stars, black holes, or by supernovae.

The next stop is the nearby “Hanford Nuclear Reservation” at the Hanford Site, an American nuclear complex, covering approximately 1,500 km². The Hanford site was established in 1943, during World War II, as part of the Manhattan Project to supply the plutonium needed to produce the first nuclear weapons. The Manhattan Project was the name of the top secret operation (from 1942 to 1946) led by the United States, with the help of Canada and the United Kingdom. This project allowed the United States to develop the atomic bomb during World War II.
The Hanford Site was codenamed Site W as part of the Manhattan Project. The plutonium produced at the Hanford site was used for the first atomic bomb. It was also used in the Fat Man, the atomic bomb dropped over Nagasaki, Japan.

At the Hanford Site you can visit the “National Historical Park B-Reactor” located on the Columbia River. This Reactor is a National Historic Landmark and is the world's first large-scale plutonium production reactor. It is managed by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Park Service. You can take a guided tour and learn a lot about the people, events, science and technology that led to the creation of the atomic bombs that helped end World War II. The U.S. Department of Energy offers free public tours, check the website at the links in this review for more information about the Hanford Site.

We cross the river and drive along the banks to Mattawa where we visit the “Wanapum Heritage Center”, located next to the ancestral village of Wanapum and the Priest Rapids Dam. This 50,000 square meter building will play an important role in perpetuating the importance of the culture, traditions and beliefs of the Wanapum for years to come. It is located on the Columbia River, which was formerly called Chiawana.
The Wanapum, meaning the River People, are part of the river and the land it flows through. They honor the spirit of the river and are the stewards responsible for the land and for passing on the teachings of the natural world to the next generation. Completed in 2015, the Wanapum Heritage Center is important for preserving the heritage of the Wanapum.

We continue the drive along the Columbia River to the day's end in Ellensburg, a unique and charming destination in Washington with numerous attractions, and best known for the Ellensburg Rodeo. But you can also enjoy a glass of wine at one of the vineyards in the Yakima River Canyon. Visit Ellensburg's unique wineries and wine bars to taste several Washington wines and enjoy delicious small bites in a beautiful setting. There are many shops, boutiques, markets and other shopping options. Ellensburg's nightlife offers everything you need for a fun night out.