Ellensburg, Washington

Come winter, you’ll find Ellensburg locals at the elk feeding station, where elk come up close to the Yakima River Canyon scenic route. When autumn comes, you’ll find Brigid Clift more in her element. As the archivist for the Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame, she can’t be faulted for holding a candle to the Labor Day rodeo, held since 1923 in this central Washington town, population 18,174. She calls it the “best weekend in town,” praising not only the rodeo, but also the Western