Lake Chelan surely has a great reputation for being THE place to vacation in Washington State during the summer, and there is a huge laundry list of reasons why!
Last year, a group of my BFF’s and I decided that we DESPERATELY needed a vacation in hot weather, and naturally Chelan was mentioned since it is always a solid 15+ degrees warmer in the summer than it is in Seattle (plus, its only a 3 hour drive, making it much more attainable than other warm vaca. options).
Some of the things to love about Lake Chelan:
- The lake itself is crystal clear blue all the way to the bottom
- The climate in Chelan is perfect for wineries, so there is wine to try galore!
- Lake activities, such as boat, canoe, kayak and jet ski rentals
- Nightlife in downtown Chelan
- Sun, sun, and more sun!
Unfortunately, Lake Chelan is also known for booking up SOLID before the summer even starts (proof of how sun-starved us PNW’ers are at the end of winter I suppose). After we exhausted all our options on VRBO and Air BNB we decided to concede and grab a spot at a campground on the lake, which is still an excellent option! There are a few places to camp including:
- Lake Chelan State Park
- Lakeshore RV Park – City of Chelan
- Wapato Lake Campground
- Twenty-Five Mile Creek Campground
- Mitchell Creek Campground
After solidifying where to stay, logically the next course of action is to decide where to wine taste for the weekend 🙂
If staying on the north side of the lake, you can easily start in the Wapato Point area with TONS of options, then work your way towards downtown Chelan.
North Shore Lake Chelan Wineries I suggest:
South Shore Lake Chelan Wineries I suggest:
- Karma Vineyards
- Chelan Estate Winery
- Nefarious Cellars (personal favorite!)
- Tsillan Cellars
Lastly, there is where to dine out! Our group was 8 adults and three kids, and Campbell’s Resort in downtown Chelan accommodated us splendidly without complaint. We all LOVED our dinners there, the view of the lake was spectacular, and we loved their lineup of local Lake Chelan wines on the menu.
Here are my recommendations for dining out:
- Sorrento’s Ristorante at Tsillan Cellars – South Shore, BEAUTIFUL views!
- Campbell’s Resort Pub and Veranda – Downtown Chelan
- Winemaker’s Grill at Wapato Point Cellars – North Shore
How cute is our little baby (18 mos old at the time) ordering off the menu!
2010 Vin du Lac Barrel Select Cabernet Franc 750 mL
2010 Karma Vineyards Estate Riesling 750 mL
2010 Four Lakes Chelan Winery Estate Grown Trinity Red Blend 750 mL
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Wow! It looks beautiful and fun! I’m going to keep this in mind for my next trip to Washington. Great guide of restaurants, places to stay and wineries!
Your timing couldn’t me more perfect! I’m going to Chelan for a girls weekend at the beginning of June and was just starting to think about where to go for wine and food 🙂
Okay I wrote this a while ago and we are here again today!!!! Nefarious has my fav to taste white wines, but if you want an amazing place to eat on the patio head to Siren Song or Benson. Have fun!!
Kind of reminds me of Lake Tahoe with the crystal clear water and the state park! Beautiful place!
Lake Chelan is very much like Lake Tahoe!