Lake Chelan - A Great Place to Relax
Written: Jun 03 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Beautiful lake, relaxing, large enough to spend a lot of time around, can be very family oriented.
Cons: Renting equipment can get expensive; don't expect much of a city/club/bar scene.
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| DuffMan's Full Review: Washington |
I've been going to Lake Chelan for as long as I can remember. My family first bought a time share there in the early 80's, and I can remember building snowmen in the winter and trying to learn to water ski in summer. While there aren't a ton of cultural aspects about Lake Chelan that make it mentally stimulating, I've found it to be a fantastic place to go and relax, or even to have boat-loads of fun.
When I speak of boatloads, I mean to convey that a majority of my time at Chelan is spent on boats. Any number of places will be happy to rent Jet Ski's or powerboats to vacationers. The lake itself is pretty warm, and deep, but it really hits the peak around August. That's when the water is warm enough to spend all day in, and the weather is absolutely gorges. However, the weather is beautiful from the middle of May to the middle of September, so don't worry about dates too much. However, if you own a boat or any aquatic equipment, make sure to bring it along. This will absolutely help your budget for this trip.
Not to leave out the naturalists, there are tons of hikes around and through the countryside. One favorite that I've been told is an adventure is the hike to Stehekin, at the very tip north end of the lake. It is only accessible by boat or by foot, and makes a worthwhile stop no matter which way you arrive. The hike is fairly substantial, so give yourself the equipment and time for a few days. Or, put down a few dollars and take the majestic Lady of the Lake up to Stehekin for half a day. You won't be sorry.
The lake itself is beautiful, extremely long, and I'd say a few miles wide the whole way along. The scenery is calming, with rolling hills golden hills on one side leading towards the Cascades, and apple orchards mixed in with various other farms on the far side. None of the towns bordering the lake are huge, but they cater to the vacationing population, so you'll find everyone to be as helpful and happy as possible. One great location to stay in Chelan itself is Campbell's. It is situated right on lake, and I've heard good stories about prices. I have always stayed at Wapato Point, which you're bound to notice, since it juts out prodigiously into the middle of the lake about 10 minutes down lake of Chelan. Wapato is a fantastic place to stay, for kids and adults alike, but it will be the topic of its own review shortly.
I know that if you've already decided to come to Chelan, this review isn't entirely helpful. It's designed to be more persuasive to those who are still deciding. All I can say is that I whole-heartedly recommend this area to anyone who is looking for a great place to take a week or two long vacation.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
DuffMan
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Member: Evan McGee
Location: Allston, MA
Reviews written: 12
Trusted by: 8 members
About Me:
Bum.
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