Wenatchee (Winter)

Apples are a big part of life in Wenatchee — as are pears, cherries, apricots and more. But in the winter when the fruit trees are waiting for the warmth of spring, Wenatchee and the surrounding area provide a base for some mighty fine skiing and snowboarding at nearby Mission Ridge. Blessed with 300 days of sunshine a year and peaks reaching nearly 7,000 feet, Mission Ridge is a winning combination of dry snow and sunny mountain views. It's also relatively free of crowds and only 12 miles from town. Back down in the valley, there are plenty of local sites and activities. The Wenatchee Valley Museum and the Pioneer Village & Museum in nearby ...

Apples are a big part of life in Wenatchee — as are pears, cherries, apricots and more. But in the winter when the fruit trees are waiting for the warmth of spring, Wenatchee and the surrounding area provide a base for some mighty fine skiing and snowboarding at nearby Mission Ridge. Blessed with 300 days of sunshine a year and peaks reaching nearly 7,000 feet, Mission Ridge is a winning combination of dry snow and sunny mountain views. It's also relatively free of crowds and only 12 miles from town. Back down in the valley, there are plenty of local sites and activities. The Wenatchee Valley Museum and the Pioneer Village & Museum in nearby Cashmere tell the story of the early settlers here and how it became the Apple Capital of the World. Or, sink your teeth into the local apple and apricot treats known as aplets and cotlets. Less than an hour up the valley is the town of Chelan, nestled at the lower end of Lake Chelan. The Lake Chelan Winterfest brings locals and visitors out for sleigh rides, ice skating, and fireworks. The Winterfest Wine Walk is a good way to warm your insides with some samples of Washington's best wines. A majority of the grapes were grown here in the Wenatchee Valley.

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.