If you want it, the Methow Valley’s got it ...
Y
ou might think you’re coming to a sleepy little town to ski by day and curl up at night with a good book, and you’re certainly welcome to do just that. But if you want to fully experience the Methow Valley in winter, you will want to explore beyond the ski trails and your hotel room.
While the COVID forecast looks more promising than it did at this time last year, various COVID mitigation strategies exist in different places. Check methowvalleynews. com/calendar-of-events/ and the individual websites of establishments and organizations before you visit, to determine what options and protocols exist on any given date. We’ve figured out how to entertain and enrich ourselves even in pandemic conditions, and we welcome you to join us.
ARTFUL EXPLOR ATIONS Find top notch art at Confluence Gallery & Art Center on Glover Street in Twisp and at the Winthrop Gallery on Riverside Avenue. Both feature works by Methow Valley artists, and lots of gift-giving possibilities. Some artists and craftspeople have open studio hours on the TwispWorks campus, where you can watch the artists at work. At Glassworks of Winthrop on the boardwalk you can see a glassblower in action. Some valley shops also display local art, notably Rocking Horse Bakery in Winthrop and Cinnamon Twisp Bakery in Twisp. Look for unique items at other boutiques and stores including the Fiber yarn store in Twisp, where you can learn to knit on site. ART OUTSIDE The Methow Valley boasts a range of public art, stretching from the upper reaches of the valley down into the confluence with the Columbia River at Pateros. Much of it is accessible in winter. Visit www. methowarts.org/public-art-map for a map and brief description of the art and artists.
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METHOW RIVER POEMS In 1992, just a year before his death, Northwest poet William Stafford was commissioned by the U.S. Forest Service to write a series of poems celebrating the Methow Valley. In 1994, those poems were published on roadside plaques and installed at scenic turnouts along the Methow River watershed, from Washington Pass to Pateros, most of which are accessible even in winter. The location of each poem can be found on the public art map at www.methowarts.org/williamstaffordmethowriverpoems2020/. SMOOTH A S ICE Our unique community-built, open-air ice rink nurtures both the family-friendly experience and a competitive atmosphere, depending on the time of day. Rink sessions include open skate, lessons, hockey practice, drop-in hockey games and tournaments.Visit www.winthroprink.org, or call 509-996-4199. PAGE TURNER Browse for leisure-time reading material at Winthrop’s impressively stocked Trail’s End Bookstore on Riverside Avenue. Check out the children’s section at the back of the store, with big picture windows overlooking the river. Our two libraries, in Winthrop and Twisp, welcome visitors to browse the stacks in limited numbers, and both offer free Wi-Fi: www.ncrl. org/locations. Tour the new Winthrop Library, under construction. Walk through the spaces where we will gather, connect and discover once the new library opens, and see what community support has made possible. Check www. winthroplibraryfriends.org for tour schedule, age requirements and COVID protocol. Free books can be found at one of the valley’s free little libraries, located in the Mazama Store courtyard and outside the Twisp Post Office. Take a book or leave a book. HAVE A HELI OF A TIME For an exhilarating backcountry skiing adventure via helicopter, contact North Cascades Heli, www. heli-ski.com, to learn more. North
Cascades Mountain Guides, www. ncmountainguides.com, also offers snowmobile-accessed skiing and snowboarding at Washington Pass.
to the scene is the Twisp River Tap House, with live music and craft beer, specialty bourbon, spirits, and local art.
OH WHAT FUN Dashing through the snow at Sun Mountain Lodge you’ll get to snuggle in a blanket on a sleigh behind a full team of horses complete with jingle bells! Daily sleigh rides from the lodge are offered throughout the winter. www. sunmountainlodge.com/activities/ winter-activities/sleigh-rides
ONSTAGE The Methow Valley’s arts-loving community is rife with plays, concerts, poetry slams and other literary readings, and informal jam sessions and open mic opportunities. The Merc Playhouse, Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Old Schoolhouse Brewery Taproom at TwispWorks, Methow Valley Ciderhouse, Twisp River Suites, BJ’s Branding Iron, Mick & Miki’s Red Cedar Bar, Copper Glance, The Barnyard Cinema. Methow Arts, the Methow Valley Community Center, Winthrop Barn, Sun Mountain Lodge, Freestone Inn and Mazama Country Inn, Confluence Poets, and Trails End Bookstore all present a variety of live performance events, ranging from local performers to groups from across the region, country, and globe.
PAMPER YOURSELF Get a massage, facial, manicure, pedicure or other personal treatment. Try the Nectar Skin Bar and Boutique in Winthrop, the TwiSpa in Twisp, or head up to Sun Mountain Lodge for pampering in their hilltop spa. Feeling sassy? You can get permanent or temporary body art at Heart of the Valley Tattoo Studio. twispwa.com/listing/ heart-of-the-valley-tattoo-studio/ SHAPE UP Looking for indoor exercise? Get a day pass at Winthrop Physical Therapy & Fitness and take advantage of a wide range of modern workout equipment in a pleasant environment, or take one of their regular fitness classes, like yoga, Barre, circuit, and strength. Proof of COVID vaccination is required for gym use.Visit winthroppt.com for updated COVID protocol. All of the local yoga studios offer drop-in rates and a welcoming atmosphere. There’s no better way to get to know other community members than by working out with them. NIGHT LIFE The Methow Valley’s nightlife belies its small size. On weekends, Copper Glance, Old Schoolhouse Brewery, and the Methow Valley Ciderhouse in Winthrop frequently host bands from around the region, as does Sun Mountain, in its glorious hilltop location overlooking a shimmering valley. The Branding Iron in Twisp is another hot spot, where you can enter pool and dart tournaments, and on Fridays you’ll find a lively karaoke session. Newer
SIP AND CHAT We Pacific Northwesterners love our coffee, and the Methow Valley gives us numerous places to sip different roasts: Blue Star Coffee Roasters, The Little Dipper, Rocking Horse Bakery, the Mazama Store, Oliver’s Artisan Kitchen, Cinnamon Twisp Bakery, and the deli at Hank’s Harvest Foods. The Pony Espresso in Winthrop and Michael’s in Twisp both offer drive-up windows. Most cafes feature high quality hand roasted beans from one or the other of the Methow Valley’s specialty coffee companies: Blue Star Coffee Roasters in Twisp and Lariat Coffee Roasters in Winthrop. E AT UP Visit our dining guide on page 36 for information about the valley’s eateries, offering dining from casual to fine. Most restaurants offer take-out, for those who prefer to eat in more distanced social settings. Many eateries have cozy outdoor seating around tables with built-in fires, so you can stay warm and watch the night sky while you dine.
Methow Valley News
