METHOW VALLEY’S GOT IT

If you want it, the Methow Valley’s got it

You 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 EXPLORATIONS

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.

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 AS 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.

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

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 to the scene is the Twisp River Tap House, with live music and craft beer, specialty bourbon, spirits, and local art.

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.

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.

EAT 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.

HOT AIR

On the first weekend of March in typical years, Winthrop hosts an annual hot air balloon festival, when dozens of balloons from around the Northwest fill the morning skies. Dozens of silent colorful bubbles juxtaposed against a blue sky is a sight that causes cars to stop along the roadside and passengers to crane their heads skyward to take in the view. Check methowcommunity.org/calendar closer to the date of the Winthrop Balloon Festival for updates and details.

SOAK UP KNOWLEDGE

This valley is full of interesting people who love to share their knowledge, experiences, poetic talents, and images with others. A robust schedule of live and virtual presentations and classes are offered through many of the valley’s non-profit organizations. Visit www. methowconservancy.org/events, www.methowarts.org/community calendar, www.winthroplibraryfriends.org/events, methowcommunity.org/calendar and methowvalleynews.com for more.

DEALS ON WHEELS

The best deal in town is the Methow Valley Community Center’s gym and closet full of roller skates, all of which you can rent for $50-$75 for three hours. Bring some tunes, some snacks, and a makeshift limbo pole and you’re set for a rocking and rolling good time. Rent the adjacent kitchen for an additional $50 and you could add a meal to your skate party. methowcommunity.org/gym-rental.

S’MORE FIRESIDE GATHERINGS

One thing our first COVID winter taught us was that backyard bonfires were a reasonable means of visiting with friends and family. Bundle up, put some warm drinks in insulated mugs, and get out the roastables. Propane outdoor fire pits and fireplaces are a relatively clean-burning way to create warmth and ambiance in an outdoor environment. Wood-burning fire pits are more common, however, so please be attentive to air quality concerns (mvcitizens.org/mvcap/) and local or regional burn bans (okanogancounty.org/Commissioners/index. html). Keep your fires small for more intimate settings and less

ENJOY THE SHOW

At The Barnyard Cinema, an eclectic roster of films ranging from wide-release to independent to arty rotates through the theater’s deluxe viewing room, complete with oversize recliners and an unparalleled sound system. Local beer, wine, coffee, and a quintessential movie-house candy selection complete the package. The Barnyard Cinema, www.thebarnyardcinema. com, (509) 996-3222, info@thebarnyardcinema.com. Proof of COVID vaccination is required.

GET CLASSY

Hungry to learn something new? Whether you’re interested in becoming a master at a skill or craft, or just wanting to bask in someone’s knowledge, you can do it in the Methow Valley. Learn to knit, write caligraphy, memorize a poem, create a sourdough starter, identify animal tracks, read a topographic map, cook, and dozens of other skills. Visit www.methowarts.org/ category/classes/ for class offerings.

BUDGET COUTURE

Twisp’s Thrifty Fox is more than just a secondhand clothing store; it’s a curated boutique for chic and funky pre-owned attire and accessories. The owner/buyer is in possession of a keen eye for fashion and a flair for unique and stylish duds. The imaginative and entertaining staff will help you find the perfect outfit for any occasion, and what fun you’ll have choosing. The attire isn’t costume; it’s couture funky, and will breathe some new life into your wardrobe. Pre-owned clothing and housewares at pocket-change prices can also be found at the Methow Valley Senior Center Thrift Store on Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

SHOP LOCAL

Your one-stop shopping space for locally-made products, Methow Valley Goods features the work of more than 70 artists, producers, creators, growers, and makers. From housewares to beauty products, clothing to home furnishings, art to edibles, the Valley Goods store, as well as the storefronts where artists and artisans sell their art and wares, is the best way to support the local artisan economy and to give thoughtful, unique gifts to friends and family for the holidays. twispworks.org/on-campus/ twispworks-partners/valley-goods/

DO SOMETHING

Want to feel like a local? Get involved, do something community-oriented: join a group or volunteer at an event. Weekly classes and discussion groups welcome drop-in visitors; check the community calendar in each week’s Methow Valley News. Plug in and

WE’VE GOT THE BEAT

Keep up with local goings-on with a subscription to the Methow Valley News, delivered to you once a week with fresh stories and tons of useful information. Call (509) 997-7011, email frontdesk@ methowvalleynews.com, visit our website, www.methowvalleynews. com, or find us on Facebook for daily news and updates.