In the very heart of Washington state is Chelan County, housing the powerhouse summer destination for water-skiing, parasailing, fishing, wine-tasting, and relaxing by the lake. I spent a couple of days here, visiting the towns of Leavenworth, Entiat and Chelan.
Of the people that have heard of Chelan, most people know of the lake. Lake Chelan is listed as the largest natural lake in the state of Washington, measuring in at slightly over 50 miles in length. It is the third deepest lake in the United States. As I said, it is a popular location for recreational water sports, fishing and hunting in the surrounding hills.
This area in Central Washington is noted for it's dry summer weather, and as a result of this, it is often an area where wildfire originates on an annual basis. Many of the towns and cities lie in the valleys as the mountains are steep, rocky and not always secure. As this area is a major producer of fresh fruit (cherries, apples, grapes), the lake and surrounding rivers provide life to crops and orchards.
Entiat, Washington.
Since my main squeeze, Wade, is a wildland firefighter, it seemed only fitting that I be put to the test with one of the Entiat hikes frequented during training by wildland firefighters: Deer Pit. Now, the trail's name seems to imply that there will, at some point during the hike, be some sort of pit/hole. This is not the case, and if anything, it is the opposite. Hikers on this trail gain over 1000 feet of elevation over a course of less than a mile. Furthermore, I had the luxury of listening to tales of the rigorous training endeavors that these firefighters go through during the fire season throughout the course of the hike. Let's just say that I declined to participate in similar training simulations.
Important Note: this hike is not an easy one. While it is shorter in length, it is very steep and is not recommended following heavy rains or during icy conditions. Even during summer months, the dirt is very dry and it can be difficult to get secure footing.
Even though I required many rest breaks during the hike, the view from the top is spectacular. One of my other favorite things about this trail is that hikers have a view of the Columbia River and the surrounding hills during the entire hike. If you think it doesn't look like too big of a hike, check out the highway and the size of the cars towards the bottom of the photo.
Wade says that this sign is the point of dropping from exhaustion during training. I didn't 'drop' but I sure was happy to reach this marker. The sign has a box on it to leave notes, reminding hikers why they are training or working towards these personal goals. I think it's important to have these reminders when we are at our lowest point, or wanting to give up.
When hiking in June, the valley is blooming with wildflowers and is still desperately clutching the last of the moisture and greenery in the plantlife. Many wishes can be made on some mega poofy dandelions.
Leavenworth, Washington.
You may remember, I visited this festive Bavarian town in December when it's extra cheerful for the holiday season. (see that post here)
Pretty much every morning, and all year long, I am on the constant search for the best places to find an acai bowl. Cue: The Hunter's Wife. With locations in Wenatchee and Leavenworth, they dish up the best of the best to both of these towns. One of my favorite things about this eatery is it's dedication to serving some of the freshest and most nutritious foods to the community without sacrificing taste. Their motto is:"Feel Great. Be Great". While they hope that you enjoy what they're serving from their kitchen, they also have the goal of encouraging a daily sense of happiness and empowerment to seek a higher state of health and balance in all aspects of life.
With my extensive list of food intolerances, it can be a challenge to eat at restaurants without customizing and making some major substitutions, often not being met kindly by servers and staff. This is NOT the case at the Hunter's Wife. The ladies here were some of the sweetest people I have met and was overall the best restaurant experience I have had in a long time. They were happy to answer my questions about ingredients relating to my intolerances and were just as pleased as I was that I found a place to eat where my order didn't have to be different than everyone else's. Don't get me wrong, standing out and being unique can be great, but when it comes to food, it can get old pretty quickly and sometimes it feels nice to fit in.
Their menu includes both sweet and savory power bowls: rich and icy acai bowls or those with spiralized veggies and dressing for a balanced lunch. Now, the best part about this place? They serve WAFFLES. These waffles are gluten, dairy, egg, and nut-free. Those with nut allergies know that this is very exciting! All their recipes are nut-free and vegan, including their granola, which they sell by the bag at the Saturday market.
Wade and I purchased some goodies and headed down to the river trail system in Leavenworth to find a nice rock where we could gorge on our grub. I enjoyed a Hope Bowl- infused with lots of healing ginger and topped with crunchy granola; and I couldn't stop there. I pretty much inhaled a sweet potato waffle dipped in maple syrup.
While in Leavenworth, we were treated to a couple's massage at the Alpine Spa, located at the Icicle Village Resort.
This was an extra special treat and The Alpine Spa doesn't forget the importance of fine details in creating the ultimate pampering experience. Upon entering, clients are greeted with lush robes and soft spa shoes. My personal recommendation is to never skip the mimosa here, as each one is homemade and a deliciously perfect combination of sunshine, I mean, orange juice, and bubbly. Our appointment began with a warming foot soak, followed by a 90 minute swedish massage. I appreciated how attentive the massage therapists were regarding areas of tension, previous injuries and soreness.
The staff at this spa was absolutely wonderful and extremely welcoming and accommodating. Pictured below, is a wall hanging that I found inspiring; what a calming prayer to lead each of us to a place of gratitude and peace.
Chelan, Washington.
With some time to spare, Wade and I decided to check out Vin du Lac, one of Chelan's many local wineries. It's open for wine tasting, as well as for lunch and dinner on their tranquil patio, overlooking Lake Chelan.
Wade and I enjoy wine tasting so we decided to share two of the wine flights offered at the winery. We ordered the Cabernet Franc flight and the white wine flight. The white wine flight consisted of Pinot Gris, Cuvee Blanc, and Chardonnay and the Cabernet Franc included three of their Cabernet Franc wines (Barrel Select, Dineen, and Bacchus). Of the three white wines, my personal favorite was the Cuvee Blanc, however, all three wines paired well with my entree of salmon, green beans and fingerling potatoes.
The food served at Vin du Lac was delicious, and being able to enjoy it while the sun set over Lake Chelan was really just the icing on the wine if you know what I'm saying.
One of the major selling points of coming to this winery is the ambience of the patio and being able to sit outside on a beautiful day. I would recommend allowing at least an hour to spend time relaxing on the patio if you make Vin du Lac one of your wine tasting locations during a visit to Central Washington. Trust me, don't rush it.
I wished that we had more time to explore more of Central Washington, including some of the other wineries. Summer months are popular for this area and it can be very busy. If you are traveling here with large groups and plan on wine-tasting it is recommended that you make reservations in advance. Reservations are also helpful for small parties at restaurants during the summer season.
Can't wait to come back, Central Washington! You definitely impressed.
June 2017.