Wenatchee (Summer)

If all the apples picked this year in Washington state were laid in a row, they would encircle the world 12 times. And a very large share of those apples would come from Wenatchee and the surrounding valley. Apples are a big part of life in Wenatchee — as are pears, cherries, apricots and more. The grapes from the area's bountiful vineyards make Washington number two in U.S. wine production. They're all ripe for the picking at local farmer's markets and fruit stands, or by touring the orchards and wineries. To kick off the season, there's the Apple Blossom Festival and fall is celebrated with the Harvest Festival. Situated where the ...

If all the apples picked this year in Washington state were laid in a row, they would encircle the world 12 times. And a very large share of those apples would come from Wenatchee and the surrounding valley. Apples are a big part of life in Wenatchee — as are pears, cherries, apricots and more. The grapes from the area's bountiful vineyards make Washington number two in U.S. wine production. They're all ripe for the picking at local farmer's markets and fruit stands, or by touring the orchards and wineries. To kick off the season, there's the Apple Blossom Festival and fall is celebrated with the Harvest Festival. Situated where the Wenatchee River joins the Columbia River and blessed with 300 days of sunshine a year, the Wenatchee Valley is teeming with opportunities for hiking, biking, walking, running, and water sports. The 11-mile Apple Capital Loop trail extends along both shores of the Columbia River, crossing the first wagon bridge to span this part of the river. For local history, the Wenatchee Valley Museum and the Pioneer Village & Museum in nearby Cashmere tell the story of the original people here and how it became the Apple Capital of the World. Less than an hour up the valley is the town of Chelan, nestled at the lower end of Lake Chelan. This charming little historic town offers an array of boating, hiking and other outdoor recreation.

About the Expert

Myra Ingmanson and Daniel C. Schechter worked together on various titles for Lonely Planet, particularly the Pacific Northwest and Mexico books. Together they coauthored chapters for Lonely Planet's Eastern Caribbean.