Wenatchee, the "The Apple Capital of the World", is a city of about 35,000 people in the North Central Cascades of Washington State. It sits at the confluence of the Wenatchee and Columbia Rivers, and is a popular destination for outdoor adventurers and enthusiasts looking for a refreshing getaway.
The metropolitan area also incorporates East Wenatchee. See its own article for detailed listings on the east bank of the Columbia River.
Understand
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The Wenatchee Valley provides an ideal climate for agriculture, and therefore, the area has become widely known for its produce. There are a plethora of orchards in the valley, especially apple orchards, from which Wenatchee has earned the slogan “Apple Capital of the World.”
History
[edit]Archaeologists believe that an ancient people migrated to the Wenatchee area during the last ice, some 12,000 years ago. This is based on many Clovis artifacts that have been found in the area. These ancient people are thought to be the descendants of the Yakama people. White settlers began to move into the area during the late 1800s.
The city has grown substantially in the 21st century, to over 100,000 residents. The greater Wenatchee area incorporates East Wenatchee, which lies on the opposite side of the Columbia River, as well as Rock Island and Malaga.
Climate
[edit]Unlike cities in western Washington, it is in the rain shadow of the Cascade Range, which means that Wenatchee gets nearly 300 days of sunshine per year. Its climate is very similar to that of other eastern Washington cities, yet it retains the picturesque views of the Cascade mountains.
Get in
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By plane
[edit]- 1 Pangborn Memorial Airport (EAT IATA) (15 minutes east). The airport has three Horizon Airlines flights a day to Seattle/Tacoma.
The next nearest airports for commercial flights with a greater selection of airlines and destinations are Everett Paine Field PAE IATA and Seattle Tacoma International Airport SEA IATA which is connected to Wenatchee by the Wenatchee Valley Shuttle for those traveling without a car (see below under 'By bus').
By car
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Driving is the most common way to get into and around town from the surrounding regions.
& 
passes through town from Peshastin 19 mi (31 km) west, and along the east side of the Columbia River from Orondo, 17.5 mi (28.2 km) north.
- US-2 continues (51 mi (82 km)) east towards Coulee City from Hwy 97 in Orondo and 4 mi (6.4 km) west to Leavenworth from its junction with Hwy 97 west of town in Peshastin.
- US-97 continues 26 mi (42 km) north to Chelan from its junction with US Hwy 2 in Orondo and 51 mi (82 km) south towards Ellensburg from US Hwy 2, west of town. Alternatively US Hwy 97 ALT parallels US Hwy 97 along the west side of the Columbia River to Chelan.
WA-28 connects Wenatchee to Quincy and Ephrata from the south end of town.
WA-285 connects downtown to US Hwy 2 & 97 in the north as N Wenatchee Blvd & Mill St. It goes through downtown as Chelan Ave (SB) and Mission Ave (NB) and crosses the river to connect with SR-28, south of downtown, in East Wenatchee as Stevens St.
From Seattle, it is 148 mi (238 km) northeast via I-90, SR-970 (Exit #85 from I-90) and US Hwy 97.
From Spokane, it is 169 mi (272 km) west via I-90, SR-281 (Exit 151 from I-90) and SR-28 through Quincy.
By train
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- See also: Rail travel in the United States
- 2 Wenatchee station (Columbia station), 1 Kittitas St & S Columbia St (Downtown, along Kittitas to the end of the road). The station is an unstaffed platform with only a shelter. There are no facilities or amenities at this station.
- Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates train service around the United States of America Route serving Wenatchee:
- Empire Builder operating daily between Seattle/Portland and Chicago including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Fargo, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. The trains split into separate branches between Seattle and Spokane, and between Portland and Spokane, while operating as trains consisting of train cars from both branches between Spokane and Chicago. Between Seattle and Spokane, trains stop in Edmonds, Everett, Leavenworth, Wenatchee, and Ephrata.
- Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates train service around the United States of America
By bus
[edit]- 3 Columbia Station (Columbia Bus Station), 300 S Columbia St (at Kittitas St, across from the Amtrak station parking lot). The bus hub for Wenatchee and Central Washington. The ticket desk for Northwestern Trailways and the customer service desk for Link Transit are inside the building.
The following services make stops in Wenatchee:
- Link Transit, 300 Columbia Ave (office in the Columbia Station building), ☏ +1 509-662-1155. Offers local bus service, service to East Wenatchee and intercity services to Ardenvoir (Rt #26); Chelan (#21); Leavenworth (#22); Manson (#21); Rock Island (#23); Cashmere (#22 & 28), etc. $1 one zone (local); $2.50 two zones ('intercity').
- Northwestern Stage Lines (Northwestern Trailways / Salt Lake City Express), Intermodal Station @ 221 W 1st Ave, ☏ +1 509-838-4029, [email protected]. Shuttle service between Tacoma and Spokane (via Seattle, Everett, Stevens Pass, Leavenworth, Wenatchee, George, Moses Lake, Ritzville) on one route. The other route is between Spokane and Boise (via Couer d'Alene, Moscow, Grangeville, McCall). Tickets can also be booked with Salt Lake City Express, Greyhound, and Megabus
- Travel Washington Apple Line (Operated by Northwestern Stage Lines), (bus stop) Columbia Station at 300 S Columbia, ☏ +1 509 838-4029, [email protected]. This line goes north from Ellensburg to Omak via Quincy, Pateros, Wenatchee, Okanogan, etc. along US Hwy 97 twice daily. See schedules. Connections to Greyhound and other bus lines are in Ellensburg.
- Wenatchee Valley Shuttle (Flixbus), bus stops at Pangborn Airport, Penny Rd P&R and Columbia Station, ☏ +1 509 293-5773. A shared shuttle service that operates several daily departures to Wenatchee and Peshastin in Eastern Washington from Sea-Tac and Bellevue. Check with them regarding local door to door pick-up or drop-off. Tickets can also be booked through Flixbus. $45 one-way, $85 roundtrip.
Get around
[edit]See
[edit]- 1 Ohme Gardens, 3327 Ohme Rd.
- 2 Rocky Reach Dam (Rocky Reach Discovery Center), 5000 State Hwy 97A. The project provides energy for more than 7 million people throughout the Pacific Northwest. The visitor center shows films describing the Columbia River. The "Look a Salmon in the Eye" exhibit is a fish viewing room. The Powerhouse includes exhibits on the fourth floor. Free.
- 3 Wenatchee Valley Museum, 127 S Mission St. Exhibits on the history of the apple industry
Do
[edit]- Apple Capital Loop Trail. a 10 mile walk along the Columbia River waterfront of Wenatchee and East Wenatchee
- 1 Wenatchee Convention Center, 121 N Wenatchee Ave. Also home to the Stanley Civic Center, and Numerica Performing Arts Center
- 2 Riverside Playhouse and Music Theatre, 233 B N Wenatchee Ave.
- 3 Mission Ridge Ski Resort, 7500 Mission Ridge Rd. Mission Ridge has six lifts providing access to 2,000 acres (810 hectares) of terrain. It receives an average of 200 in (5,100 mm) of snowfall and over 300 sunny days each year.
Parks
[edit]- 4 Squilchuck State Park, 2805 Mission Ridge Rd. The 249-acre (101 ha) park offers hiking, mountain biking and cross-country ski trails, group camping, birdwatching, and wildlife viewing.
- 5 Wenatchee Confluence State Park, 333 Olds Station Rd. The park consists of 197 acres (80 ha) spanning the Wenatchee River at its confluence with the Columbia River. Park offerings include camping, boating, fishing, swimming, and various sports activities. Discover Pass required.
Buy
[edit]- Wenatchee Ave, between about 2nd St and Orondo Ave, is a walkable main street with a mix of trendy boutiques and small-town charm.
- 1 Antique Mall of Wenatchee, 11 N Wenatchee Ave.
- 2 Pybus Public Market, 3 N Worthen St (at Orondo Ave, opposite of railroad tracks from downtown, by waterfront), ☏ +1 509 888-3900. Daily 8AM-9PM. Open, airy marketplace featuring local farm goods, artisanal foods, restaurants & specialty shops. It is also the same location for the Wenatchee Farmers Market from May through December.
- Wenatchee Valley Mall, across the WA-285 bridge in East Wenatchee, is the largest mall in the region.
Eat
[edit]Fruit stands
[edit]Wenatchee is famous for its apples and other fruits. If anything is in season, stop by a fruit stand and try something!
- 1 Stemilt Growers, 3615 US-97 ALT.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Chateau le Pont Winery, 1 Vineyard Way (north of Wenatchee Confluence State Park), ☏ +1 509 667-WINE (9463). Tu-Sa 11AM-9PM (winery & restaurant); Su-M 11AM-6PM (winery only).
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Best Western Chieftain Inn, 1017 N Wenatchee Ave, ☏ +1 509 665-8585, toll-free: +1-800-780-7234, fax: +1 509 665-9745. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon.
- 2 Holiday Inn Express, 1921 N. Wenatchee Ave, ☏ +1 509 663-6355. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM.
- 3 Super 8, 1401 North Miller St, ☏ +1 509-662-3443, toll-free: +1-800-454-3213, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Heated outdoor pool, hot tub, business center, meeting space, laundry facilities. Microwaves, refrigerators and wi-fi in rooms, breakfast included, pets welcome, handicap-accessible rooms available. No extra charge for kids 17 and under staying with an adult.
Cope
[edit]- 1 Central Washington Hospital, 1201 South Miller Street, ☏ +1 509 662-1511.
- Wenatchee Valley Hospital & Clinic, 820 N. Chelan Avenue, ☏ +1 509 663-8711.
Go next
[edit]- Cashmere, a nearby small town with a candy factory
- Leavenworth, the "Bavarian" village nestled in the mountains.
- Chelan, the base for exploring rugged Lake Chelan
- Lake Wenatchee State Park
Wenatchee is on the North Cascade Loop itinerary.
| Routes through Wenatchee |
| Seattle ← Everett ← Leavenworth ← | W  E
|
→ Ephrata → Spokane |
| Everett ← Leavenworth ← Cashmere ← | W  E
|
→ Waterville → Coulee City → Davenport |
| Oroville ← Omak ← Chelan ← | N  S
|
→ Cashmere → Ellensburg & Jct 
|
| END ← Rock Island ← | W  E
|
→ Quincy → Ephrata |