One of the most common misconceptions people have about our little corner of heaven up here is that we are constantly inundated with drenching rains.  When someone asks where I’m from, they inevitably answer, “Oh, it rains a lot there.”  I just roll my eyes and move on.  There is no use arguing with someone who is certain of their stereotype.

The fact is, the rainy part of the Pacific Northwest is actually relatively small compared to the whole.  West of the Cascades is where you’ll find the rain, but if you head over here, on the east side, you will find a lot of very dry land.  In the Tri-Cities of south central Washington, the average annual rainfall is just 7-8 inches.  In northeast Washington, we get about 20 inches per year, and most of that is in the form of snow.  Compared to Seattle at 36 inches, this half of the state looks like a desert!The same patterns apply in Oregon, too, where most of the rainfall is on the western side of the state.  Over in Boise, Idaho, the average is a mere 11 inches.

So if you are planning a vacation to the beautiful Pacific Northwest, don’t pull out the galoshes and inflatable raft just yet.  Try spending some time in the fertile green lushness of northeast Washington, or the apple country of central Washington, where sun is the norm and warm weather keeps us all outside for most of the year.  Winter, on the other hand, is another story…