Weekend Watersports and Wine in Washington

Lake Chelan Summer Fun

With over 300 days of sunshine a year and 55 miles of crystal clear glacier fed waters, Lake Chelan is one of the most popular lakes in Washington State for summer getaways.

Family traditions run as long and deep as the lake, which is the third deepest lake in the United States behind Crater Lake in Oregon and Lake Tahoe in Nevada and California.

Anchoring the city of Chelan is privately owned Campbell’s Resort on over eight waterfront acres where hundreds of sunkissed souls sleep and play in and around it’s 170 waterfront guest rooms, docks, pools and beaches. Other resorts like Peterson’s and Darnell’s maintain the original family names and hundreds of additional feet of resort waterfront. With popularity and demand for weekend digs, comes more corporate names in lodging. And, as of 2007, there’s even a Walmart at the outer edge of town. It’s a 162,000 square foot contrast to the micro boutiques and old school drive-ins that dot historic downtown. But of course, the supercenter, born with plenty of local controversy, has low prices on flipflops, floaties and plastic forks.

From Chelan’s roots when the original waterfront hotel was sold to first generation C.C. Campbell for $400 in 1898 to a modern thriving tourist economy, Chelan welcomes two million visitors a year and nearly half a billion dollars in tourism revenue.

But agriculture is #1. The nearly 10,000 acres of trees are primarily Chelan apples which are world renown for color, taste and longevity. The other orchards framing the lake and hills produce pears, apricots, peaches and cherries.

Newest on the agriculture scene are hundreds of acres of wine grapes where a few dozen wineries now call home. While summer sipping and tasting are extremely popular, the Lake Chelan Wine Valley is strengthening its year round appeal with major events like the Crush event celebrating fall’s harvest and a February chocolate pairings event.

The wine scene lends a more refined touch to event and dining options in contrast with the whimsical party goers on fun floaties dotting the southern part of the lake. Tan muscled bodies regularly exit the grocery stores with heavy, logoed cases of beer. Cruising the water on kayak, boat or paddle board, you’ll smile at the ten foot tall pink flamingos, blow up seashells, bucking broncos and king sized beds bobbing on the waves. Book readers wedge their loungers in the spare shade.

Lake Chelan Floaties!

The heat of the summer and clean, clear waters have a way of refocusing workbrains into worryfree warriors who’s biggest goal for the day is winning the cannon ball splash contest.

All senses are engaged. Colorful parasails float above. Jet Skis and boats buzz incessantly with constant laughter ringing even louder.. Barbecues drift their menus in the breezes. The spray of water cools hot sunscreened skin.

Parasailing on Lake Chelan

If you make your way out of the busy southern Lake Chelan scene to the north end, you’ll be captivated by the ridiculously beautiful scenes of Stehekin and waterfalls on your way up. Here the agriculture hills are replaced by the jagged rocks knifing the water and sky giving way to the mountains of the North Cascades. The water is cold. Most depth finders on the runabout boats reach their limit and just say: DEEP. The deepest spot is 1496 feet. The air breathes different up north, super filtered from stands of pines at the water’s edge and remnant snows above dropping to the waterfalls and river that feed the lake.

On a day when winds are quiet, the Marina at Stehekin gently rocks a few boats and provides hikers of the Pacific Coast Trail some rest as they check their hiking boxes. Other folks may now check their Amazon boxes.

A few tables on the decks host murmuring guests in the shade.. The vibe is much different than the partying downtown, now a couple hours south. It’s almost church-like where no one wants to break the serenity.