Wenatchee Washington Hotels, Accommodation in Washington USA

Wenatchee sits on the banks of the mighty Columbia River—the lifeblood of this arid region. You can get splendid views of the valley, river, and city from Ohme Gardens, a 9-acre alpine retreat with cool glades and water features that sits on a promontory 600 feet above the river. The Riverfront Loop Trail on the banks of the Columbia makes for a pleasant evening stroll-or an easy bike ride for those who want to pedal the entire 11-mile loop. (It traverses both sides of the river, and crosses two bridges, from Wenatchee to East Wenatchee.) Rocky Reach Dam offers a beautiful picnic and playground area (locals marry on the well-kept grounds), plus a fish-viewing room. Inside the dam, two large galleries are devoted to the region's history.

Travel west on Highway 2 from Wenatchee and you'll encounter two of the Cascades' more fascinating communities: the little orchard town of Cashmere, famous for its fruit-and-walnut confections called Aplets and Cotlets, and the pseudo-Bavarian town of Leavenworth. Once a railroad yard and sawmill town, Leavenworth recast itself in the 1960s as a Bavarian-style village with tourism as its primary industry. The architecture sets the tone, and while some cringe at the dirndls-and-lederhosen decor, beyond the facade most find an appealing town suited to its stunning alpine setting. Front Street is the strolling, shopping, and festival showcase street.

Drive farther west past Leavenworth and you'll reach popular Lake Wenatchee, which has a state park at one end boasting a large, sandy public swimming beach, campsites, and trailheads for some of the scenic hikes that make the Cascade Mountains famous.