Wenatchee Valley

Apple Capital of the World, Buckle of the Power Belt of the Great Northwest

By Robert Painter

There is a little known destination that is calling out for your visit.  The words from the masthead of the Wenatchee World above offer a hint of what you will find here.

On the East side of the Cascade Range, there is an amazing area filled with delicious apples, delightful cherries , luscious peaches and juicy, tree-ripened pears.   At the confluence of the Wenatchee and Columbia Rivers lies a valley with more fruit than you can imagine.  I said Delicious apples, but if you want to get picky there are also Gala, Granny Smiths, Fuji, Jonagold, Braeburn and many other varieties.

And if you really want to get “picky” I’ll tell you how to have a terrific working vacation. But, if you have only a week or a few days there is plenty to keep you busy here.

Tell me you’re the outdoor type and I’ll insist that you ride the 11 mile paved loop trail that passes through the heart of this lovely little city and follows the Columbia River, crosses it at the north and south ends and offers a number of comfortable rest stops with scenic views along the way.  You can hike the loop, skate it or bike it.  And, if you didn’t bring a bike you can rent one a couple blocks from the loop at Arlberg’s - a friendly bunch that will fit you with the perfect bicycle.  And not an old junker, but a really good quality bike.  I not only did the loop, but also cycled to Cashmere and back (about 26 miles round trip) and that was a terrific ride following the Wenatchee River.  A ride up to the Rocky Reach Dam will allow you to view Salmon climbing the fish ladder.

You can tour the museum and exhibits while learning more about hydroelectric power.  You might want to take a picnic lunch to enjoy at the beautiful grounds there, but they do have a snack bar for a light lunch and cool drinks.

As you have already guessed, the area has plenty of good fishing, canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking as well as road biking, whitewater rafting and other water sports. Lots of golf and abundant parks make this an outdoor enthusiast’s dream come true. If you visit in winter Mission Ridge is only 12 miles away and provides excellent, dry powder and an average of 26 sunny days a month. Miles of uncrowded slopes for skiers and snowboarders alike. Wenatchee even has an indoor ice arena at Riverfront Park. You can take lessons or just practice your toe loops, spins and jumps.

Want a tamer holiday? How about a candy factory where you can eat all the samples you want?  Maybe I shouldn’t tell you this but the Aplets & Cotlets Candy Kitchen & Country Store in neighboring Cashmere just keeps restocking the sample counter no matter how many pieces you eat! And they don’t even stand guard like some places that give free samples.  But, to be fair you should at least take the guided tour - it’s quick and fun.  You’ll learn what you may have already suspected from eating the candy.  The company was started by a couple of Armenian brothers who began with a traditional Turkish delight recipe and added apples and walnuts.  Now the delicious candies have all kinds of flavors, including macadamia nuts, raspberries and other delectable flavors.  The best part is that the candy travels well so you can buy several boxes for gifts and to take home for times when you want to remember your Wenatchee Valley vacation.

Don’t dare miss the Farmers Market at Riverfront Park.  Not only can you get the fabulous fresh picked apples, pears, peaches and cherries, but there are always bakers there who have made some very tempting pastries from these bountiful fruits. There are markets on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, depending on the time of the year.

If you send for the Wenatchee Valley visitor’s guide you’ll find a list of fruit stands where you can stock up on fresh fruits - this can be a really healthy vacation if you want it to be.  And, that same guide will give you directions and information about15 wineries in the area.  Unfortunately for me, I didn’t have time to make the rounds - next time for sure.  I did get to the Chateau Fair Le Pont right in Wenatchee proper. This is a beautiful facility, remodeled from an old brick warehouse, and they offer a number of excellent, award winning wines. They can even cater your wedding.

But, let me get back to my earlier idea about a working vacation. There is so much to do in the valley that you may want to spend a couple of months here - especially if you’re retired and can afford the time.  I noticed a number of help wanted signs at some of the fruit packing facilities.  Curious, I stopped in at Worksource, part of the Washington Department of Labor. Administrator Kathy Mertes, told me that every year the growers need fruit pickers.  There are different seasons for different fruits.  The cherries are picked in early summer and the apples begin in early fall.  Not sure about the peaches and pears.  My visit was in September and the peaches were pretty much picked, but there were lots of pears and the apple harvesting season was just beginning and runs into late November and maybe even December.

Fall is a perfect time to be in Wenatchee.  Warm days and cool nights.  Ms. Mertes advised me that many of the pickers can make $14 an hour and really hard working pickers can make much more.  It seems to me that a healthy individual who wants to work without killing him/herself could easily make $80 -100 a day and have plenty of free time to enjoy all the activities in the area.  Apparently there are also indoor jobs that may be less strenuous, like sorting and hand packing the apples.  Some of these apples get really special treatment.  Have you seen fancy fruits that are individually wrapped in tissue paper?  It happens right here in Wenatchee.

There are some excellent RV parks in the area.  I biked through the Wenatchee Confluence Park by the Columbia riverfront and it was beautiful and close to everything - an easy walk to the Farmers Market.  The sites are spacious and uncrowded, but you may need to reserve ahead, although in the fall I think the rates are lower.  A perfect situation for the working vacation.

Just remember it’s not all work and no play.  The list of festivals and events in Wenatchee seems endless. From Hog Loppet (I’ll leave it to you to discover what that is) in February to the  Washington State Apple Blossom Festival in April/May to the Apple Capital Triathlon in August to the Washington State Apple Harvest Festival in September to the Festival of Trees in November it would be impossible to find a month (and very few weeks) when there is not a special event going on in the valley.

If you’re coming for a short stay you may need a hotel.  I stayed at the Coast Wenatchee Center Hotel.  You guessed right again - it’s in the center of downtown Wenatchee, a short walk from the Riverfront Park and a number of fine restaurants nearby.  They have their own dining on the top floor in the Wenatchee Roaster and Ale House and are just across the street from Bob’s Classic diner where you can get a burger or some very tasty fish and chips for lunch.  I had the fish and it was prepared perfectly - hot and delicious flaky cod.

Just down the street a couple of blocks you may discover the elegant Inna’s Cuisine European Restaurant with a nice selection of Greek, Italian, Russian & Ukrainian offerings.  My choice of lasagna was certainly Greek inspired as I discovered from the generous inclusion of spinach in the excellent dish. Don’t be concerned about the spotless table cloths and excellent service - the prices are very reasonable.

A $17 Kobe beef burger at Shakti’s was excellent - a bit above my normal budget, but where else am I going to find a Kobe beef burger for that price.  And, to answer your next question - Yes, it was worth it, but no, I won’t be eating one every day!

I also noticed the Owl Soda Fountain, a vintage looking spot close to my hotel, where I’m guessing they probably have terrific milk shakes.  It will be my first stop when I return - just couldn’t fit it into my busy schedule.  I did stop at the Anjou Bakery on my bike ride to Cashmere and picked up some great pastries there.  They have their own little orchard and offer some plump fresh fruits in the shop.

I didn’t have time to get into the art galleries this trip, but noticed several very nice ones.  Also, an Antique Mall and a number of shops for boutique shopping.  You may want to get by the Performing Arts Center or the historic movie theater, both downtown. There is a trolley running every 15 minutes, but you may prefer to walk so you won’t miss a thing.

Whether you decide to visit for a short vacation or make plans to spend some time picking cherries, apples or pears, you’ll find Wenatchee and the surrounding area a great place to get outdoors and have some fun.

When you go:

Wenatchee Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau: www.wenatcheevalley.org
Kathy Mertes at WorkSource: kmertes@esd.wa.gov 
Rent A Bike: www.arlbergsports.com. Or call (509) 663-7401.
Coast Wenatchee Center Hotel: www.wenatcheecenter.com.

Story and by Robert Painter (rpainter2006@comcast.net)