Goldendale’s 20-room Presby Mansion (127 W. Broadway, 509/773-4303, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Mon.–Thurs., 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Fri.–Sun. mid-Apr.–mid-Oct., $4.50 adults, $1 ages 6–12, free for children under age 6) is the home of Klickitat County Historical Museum. Built in 1902, this magnificent white-clapboard mansion is filled with pioneer furnishings, historic photos, farm equipment, and other artifacts. Be sure to check out the annual Christmas lighting party on the first Sunday of December.

Head a mile north of town and uphill through open ponderosa pine forests to Goldendale Observatory State Park (509/773-3141, www.parks.wa.gov), where you’ll find one of the nation’s largest telescopes open to public viewing as well as several smaller portable telescopes. Take a tour and enjoy free audiovisual programs, displays, and demonstrations 2–5 p.m. and 8–midnight Wed.–Sun. April–September, 2–5 p.m. and 7–10 p.m. Friday–Sunday in winter.

Camp at Brooks Memorial State Park (509/773-4611, www.parks.wa.gov), 15 miles north of Goldendale on Highway 97. Tent ($19) and full-utility RV ($27) sites on 700 forested acres are available year-round. Enjoy the nine miles of hiking trails through cool coniferous forests and good trout fishing in the Klickitat River. The park has great cross-country skiing in winter, too.