Lake Chelan - what the locals know

As I mentioned in an earlier post for Lake Chelan, I took a trip up the Lake to Stehekin. This town is only accessible by boat or seaplane and is located at the top of Lake Chelan. It's very rustic and beautiful, if you have time for a day trip - definitely put Stehekin on your list. Locals know that upon arrival you can rent bicycles to explore the area, including an incredible waterfall called Rainbow Falls. On the journey to the Falls, you pass the old one-room school that's still set-up with desks and drawings from the students around the room. It's fascinating to see what things used to be like for the small population of students who live here. On the way back from the Falls, we made a quick stop for drinks and ice cream before getting back to the dock where the boat was.

If you don't want to take your own boat all the way up to Stehekin (it's a pretty long drive and usually pretty choppy waters), you can also take a more comfortable trip on the Lady of the Lake. There are two options currently based on budget and time, you can take the Lady II for $39 with a 4 hour trip or the Lady Express (or what we call, The Little Lady) for $59 with a little over 2 hour trip.

If you are looking for a view from above, seaplanes are a great way to see the beauty of the Lake from above and get to Stehekin quickly. Chelan Airways offers trips to Stehekin at $149 roundtrip or $89 for one way. They offer a variety of other flights as well that are great ways to experience all that the scenery has to offer.

Lake Chelan - eat it up!

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I'm a sucker for a good breakfast. So first off, I'll have to share my favorite breakfast spot - Blueberry Hills. Mentioned in my activities post, they also offer one of the most delicious breakfasts in the area. Ranging from blintzs and scrambles to their new cowboy breakfast and my personal favorite, waffles! Be sure to order bacon if you like it, theirs is super good! PS - they serve breakfast all day and also serve lunch.
A trip to Chelan wouldn't be complete without a delicious meal at Campbell's. We prefer the second floor pub and veranda. It's the perfect place to sit outside and enjoy the view of the town below. Campbell's is located at the start of the main drag providing a bird's eye view. The choices on the menu are pretty standard but they are done well and Campbell's is an institution in Chelan and is one that can't be missed!
For something sweet, I have a couple of ideas. Offering great shakes, malts and frosties is Lakeview Drive In. This charming little spot is right off of the Lake and is the perfect small town dessert stop. 2007 marks their 50th Anniversary and proves how legendary it is among locals and visitors. They also offer lunch/dinner but it's a no-brainer for dessert. The other fun dessert stop offers something a bit lighter - Hawaiian Ice. There are a few of these around town so just keep an eye out for the building, it's pretty hard to miss!

Lake Chelan - so much to do, so little time

While in Chelan, there are a variety of activities to keep you busy. While I am there, I always stay in Manson, which is about 7 miles east of Chelan on the Lake. Whether you are right in Chelan or in one of the smaller towns around the Lake, there are plenty of things to entertain you while you're there.

First off, I have to mention the water activities. When you go, I HIGHLY recommend renting a boat. The Lake is so fun to explore and is so vast that without a boat you'll never get the full experience. My personal favorite is to motor out to a nice sunny spot in the middle of the Lake and park - then you can lay out, swim, play games, drink, eat, you get the idea. Aside from my lazy days, you can also wakeboard/water ski, tube, parasail, rent jet skis, go fishing, the list goes on. And before I move on from water activities, I have to mention the areas near Chelan that have fun amusement parks on the water - they are giant blow-up toys that live on the Lake and look like they could be a blast for the younger kids in your group. There is also a waterpark called Slidewaters that has a variety of fun activities for a family-style trip.

Aside from all of the fun you can have on the water, my next pick would be to check out some of the wineries. Over the years, Chelan has grown to be quite the wine country and my favorite is Wapato Point Cellars. On this visit, I had the pleasure of meeting Mama Carol and she was just as sweet as she could be. If you go, definitely ask for her. :) The winery does tastings starting at noon daily and they are complimentary. The bottles are pretty reasonable ranging from around $15-$30 and glasses starting at only $5. They also have a great little restaurant (Winemaker's Grill) on the property and during our tasting I discovered that if you buy a case, you receive a free dinner for two! Dinner begins serving at 5 p.m. If you'd like to check out the rest of the wineries in the area, click HERE

If you are still looking for something different than what is mentioned above, maybe you would be interested in exploring the orchards. Chelan is known for it's soil and all of the wonderful food that is able to be grown there. I will come back to this spot when I go over places to eat but for now, let's talk about their berry farm. Blueberry Hills is a fantastic little family homestead that has a restaurant and also a u-pick berry farm. You can choose from blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. They are all delicious and it's the kind of experience that is only found in small towns - which I personally don't get to enjoy often enough. So do me a favor and check this place out while you're there! :)

Lake Chelan - the lay of the land

I always stay at the home of my boyfriend's parents but if you aren't able to rent a house on the lake, I have a few options that may work. First off, Campbell's is probably the most popular spot in town. The resort offers excellent views of the Lake, a full-service spa, sandy beach, pools, rentals for the Lake, etc. They also have rooms that are equipped with a full kitchen, cozy fireplaces and soaking tubs.

For a more intimate stay, check out Watson's Harverene Resort on the south shore of the Lake. It's been in the same family for 4 generations and is definitely a more low-key location than some of the others on the Lake. The Resort has a heated pool and hot tub, as well as its own beach. You can choose from family cottages or poolside units - all have a kitchen and one unit is large enough to sleep up to 10 people. The best part about this spot is that the resort offers guests a short sightseeing trip on their yacht for free! They also offer rentals for the Lake and have been known to have many repeat guests throughout the years. PS - this is also one of the spots on the Lake that has a gas pump so it's always good to know where it is in case you're running low!

For a comparison, the other spot on the Lake that I would recommend checking out is Wapato Point on the north shore. This location has many different resorts and hotels (and homes) and is very popular with visitors. If you're interested, click here to start the search.

Lake Chelan - can this be real?

Thank you to everyone for your inquiries, I should have posted that I would be out exploring my August destination and wouldn't be back until now. Thanks for hanging in there...without further ado, I am thrilled to share with you - Lake Chelan, Washington!

Undiscovered by many, Lake Chelan (pron. Shell-Ann) is one of the most pristine and awe-inspiring places I've ever traveled. I've had the pleasure of visiting a few times (thanks to my boyfriend's family who has a summer home there) and I must confess that I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to experience this place. It's located on the eastern side of Washington state and is about a 3-hour drive (depending on how fast you go) from Seattle.

The lake is glacier fed which explains why it's so crystal clear and refreshing. It's also one of the deepest in the nation, third to be exact. The lake itself is about 50 miles long and I'll expand more on my trip up the lake to Stehekin in a later post, but trust me, it's a looong drive. :) Offering a variety of water sports, delicious local produce (blueberries and blackberries are especially popular), fun souvenir shops and fabulous wineries, Chelan has more than enough to entertain anyone's taste. More to come!!