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A friendly, old-school vibe ruled. Though we didn’t find lift lines, there was plenty of lift-line chattiness, as well as decent snow at a time when ski areas on the western side of the mountains weren’t even open. And sun! Wenatchee was blanketed in fog when we left our Best Western motel ($70 a night, thank you very much) for the ski area. During the 11-mile drive to the mountain, the fog rolled away to make room for clear skies and sunshine. With 36 runs spread out over 2,000 acres, we had plenty of terrain to explore. Don’t miss Mission Ridge’s famous relic: At the top of the Bomber Bowl run, the wing of a B-24 bomber that crashed during a training mission in 1944 is a permanent installation. Tradition dictates that you rub it for good luck (or snow luck). One caveat: There is less beginner terrain than we would have liked (only about 10 percent of the mountain). But once we got the feel of the mountain, we were able to navigate around it. SPRING: Bike and explore Tune up those bikes, pump up those tires and head to Wenatchee for a glorious spring bike ride on the Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail (traillink.com), a paved biking and walking trail that loops 10 miles around the Columbia River. You’ll wind your way through riverfront parks (a good starting point is Wenatchee Confluence State Park, where the Wenatchee and Columbia rivers meet), across two bridges and right by Pybus Public Market, the perfect place for a snack stop. For an extra pedaling challenge, you can add more miles to your ride by cycling out and back on the trail north to Lincoln Rock State Park. Don’t want to bring bikes? No problem. Rent from Arlberg Sports – Riverfront (arlbergsports.com), located at Pybus. Alpine blooms: Another lovely spring stop in Wenatchee is Ohme Gardens (ohmegardens.org), an alpine oasis located on a rocky bluff above the city. Once privately owned, the gardens are now open to the public. Wander through 9 acres of gardens, which feature towering trees, pools, stone paths and benches, adding up to a carefully curated mountain landscape with spectacular views. Though the gardens are usually open seasonally, they’re closed for 2020 because of COVID-19, so check for updates before you go. ■ Elisa Murray is a Seattle-based freelance writer and editor of the guidebook “52 Seattle Adventures With Kids” (parentmap.com/52adventures).
Exceptional Exceptional Elementary Elementary Education Education Ages 5–11 Ages 5–11 DOWNTOWN DOWNTOWN 914 Virginia St.
914 Virginia Seattle, WA St. Seattle, 98101 WA 98101 206.621.9211 206.621.9211
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Where to Stay in Wenatchee In temperate weather, camp at Lincoln Rock State Park (parks.state.wa.us), which boasts 2 miles of paved biking paths; located on the shores of Lake Entiat, it also offers swimming, boating and self-serve kayak rentals. Although there is no lodging next to Mission Ridge’s slopes, you’ll find plenty of affordable motels in Wenatchee, including two Best Westerns (bestwestern.com) and the slightly more upscale Coast Hotel (coasthotels.com). Or look for an Airbnb property!
parentmap.com • August 2020 • 33
