Wenatchee might just be Washington state’s best kept secret! An adventure hub without the crowds, you HAVE to visit this amazing gem in the heart of Eastern Washington. It’s known as the “Apple Capital of the World”, has an annual apple festival, and is full of outdoorsy, adventurous activities as well as craft breweries and some incredible eats. I spent an incredible weekend in this lovely little corner of Washington this past June – huge thank you to Visit Wenatchee for hosting me! I had such an incredible time and I wanted to share with you what to do in Wenatchee, Washington so you can visit too:

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Fly into Seattle-Tacoma International airport and rent a car, and then drive for about two and a half hours east to get to Wenatchee. Or, make it even easier, and fly into Wenatchee’s own airport, Pangborn Memorial Airport, which has daily connections to and from Seattle.

Once you’re in Wenatchee, getting around is really easy and you don’t necessarily even need a rental car as many of the activities and things to do in Wenatchee are close together. Some hotels offer bike rentals, and there are also Bird scooters around town you can jump on and ride.

Since Wenatchee sits further east of Washington, expect higher temperatures and less rainfall. I honestly think Wenatchee would be fantastic just about any time of year, but May-September is going to be the best summer weather (also don’t miss it, in May Wenatchee hosts their annual Apple Blossom Festival!) But come back for winter to ski or snowboard!

I personally stayed at the Residence Inn Wenatchee, which, in June 2022, just celebrated their grand opening party. The Inn offers breakfast, a small shop for food and essentials, a bar – the Orchard Bar + Bites, a pool, workout room, and bike rentals. My room had a kitchen, living room space, a king bed, desk to work at, a large TV, a closet, and a big bathroom.

From the Inn, you can walk straight out the back, enjoy views of the Columbia River, and be just steps away from the Apple Capital Loop Trail. It’s definitely a great central location to begin your adventures from. Check out availability and book here.

Other places to stay in Wenatchee:

• Red Lion Hotel Wenatchee City Center – book it here for a budget-friendly stay
• La Quinta by Wyndham Wenatchee – book it here for a conveniently-located stay
• Warm Springs Inn & Winery – book your stay here for a unique and luxury experience of staying at a winery!

Saddle Rock is a popular, 2.5 mile loop hike that many locals enjoy – some even hike it weekly! While the distance is fairly short, it has an elevation gain of 912 feet, so it’s rated as a moderately difficult hike, but it is SO WORTH it. At the top, Saddle Rock has panoramic views of Wenatchee Valley, Columbia River, and the surrounding mountains. Make sure to start the hike early in the day to beat the heat, pack plenty of water, and apply sunscreen.

Grab a paddle board, kayak, or even a tube and head over to Confluence State Park. You’ll have to pay a parking fee at the park (unless you have a Discover Pass). I started at the boat launch with a local guide, and we went through some beautiful sections of the river before floating down and getting out downriver from where we started – if you want to do something similar, pair up with a friend and park one car further downriver from the boat launch.

After the paddle I asked my local guide what her favorite brewery was and she took me to Wenatchee Valley Brewing, where I did a tasting flight of Raspberry Wheat (my favorite!), Tour de Bloom Hazy IPA, Overlord Amber Ale, and Trout Stout on nitro. I LOVE that Wenatchee has such a great craft beer scene – if you enjoy beer, definitely check out Other Saddle Rock Brewery and Columbia Valley Brewery as well.

In case you aren’t much of a beer drinker, there are thankfully plenty of opportunities to wine taste as well! Norwood is right in the heart of downtown Wenatchee that serves Washington wines and some small food plates.

One of my favorite stops was Pybus Market – an indoor market with a plethora of local eats, art, gifts, and more, including a farmer’s market! Parking is right there at the market so it’s very easy to visit too. I had lunch at the market, grabbed some local cheese to pack for a picnic meal for later, and I purchased some local artwork.

Shops at Pybus Market includes:
Cheesemonger’s Shop, Jones of Washington (wine), McGregor Farms (honey, mead), Arlberg Sports Riverfront (bikes, apparel, gifts), D’Olivo (gourmet grocery store with oils & vinegars), Huck @ Pybus (restaurant), Cafe Columbia (coffee & food), The Taproom (beer), Fire by Visconti (pizza and Visconti’s Grab & Go Market), Balsamroot Boutique (handcrafted artisan goods), Royal Produce, Mike’s Meat & Seafood, Little Red’s Bakery & Espresso, Wenatchee Valley Farmer’s Market, ICE (ice cream), and South (latin food & drink). There is also a community kitchen, art alley, little book rental, and more! View more here.

Ohme is a MUST visit in Wenatchee. The gardens are nestled up in the hills, so not only are there gorgeous hillside gardens, but also incredible views of Wenatchee. Ohme has one mile of natural stone pathways that take you to waterfalls, through lush foliage, and past many flowers. There are little benches spread out all over the gardens so you can sit and relax for as long as you’d like. It’s so lovely here, it also doubles as a wedding venue!

If you don’t get a chance to come out to Wenatchee’s Apple Blossom Festival in May, definitely don’t miss heading up to Union Hill Cider Co – as the “Apple Capital of the World”, you owe it to yourself to try the local apples in some form or another! I did a tasting flight of four different ciders, which are done in a dry, almost-English style. One of the best parts, though, is the view from Union Hill is absolutely BREATHTAKING. There was live music and a little hot dog stand too, so I stayed for a few hours listening to music and taking in the views of the Columbia River.

The Apple Capital Recreation Loop is 5+ miles of a paved trail that gives you views of rolling hills and the Columbia River. I jumped on a Bird scooter to see as much of the trail as I could, but you can also bike over 10+ miles the Loop trail links into nearby trails. There is also a playground and green areas to picnic in – it’s definitely a popular local’s spot.

The Sunshine Ranch features a lovely rustic barn, is popular as a wedding venue, and boasts views of the Enchantment mountains. At certain times of year you can go to enjoy live music and drinks – check the event calendar to see what is coming up next!

• The Yogi Grind⁠: The Yogi Grind is so ADORABLE – not only do they have delicious coffee and some seriously amazing smoothies, but you can also buy plants! I was so tempted to add some little agaves but tragically I had to fly home, so I’ll have to grab some next time!
• Stone’s Gastropub⁠: Stone’s Gastropub has a little bit of everything – amazing food, wine, craft cocktails, whiskey flights, and more. Definitely don’t miss dinner here.
• McGlinn’s Public House⁠: McGlinn’s Public House is in downtown Wenatchee, has amazing food, as well as an outdoor seating area that was absolutely perfect for a summer evening.
• Huck @ Pybus: While I was at Pybus Market, I had some incredible brunch faire. Check out some of their other locations here.
• Alma’s Mexican Kitchen⁠: Alma’s was so incredible – I had tacos on their HOMEMADE tortillas and yes, they were everything.
• Freddies Kitchen: If you are a fan of Mexican food, look no further than Freddie’s.
• Tropical Salvadoreo Restaurant: A family owned,women established, must-visit stop for lunch. Note: cash-only.
• Chateau Faire le Pont⁠: I finished my Wenatchee weekend by stopping into Chateau Faire le Pont⁠, and it was the PERFECT way to wrap up the trip. I enjoyed live music, wine, and some absolutely incredible food.

• Visit Leavenworth:  a Bavarian-styled village in the Cascade Mountains – German food, markets, & more! Extra tip: visit in fall for their Oktoberfest or visit in winter for the most dreamy Christmas scene you’ll see outside of Germany
• Hike in the Enchantments: the Enchantments are some of the most beautiful alpine lake hiking you might ever do. Make sure to get a reservation during high season
• See Snoqualmie Falls:  if you’re heading to or from Seattle, add on a stop to this dramatic and stunning waterfall – you can use this tour here which includes transport from Seattle, local wine tasting (!), and lunch, which TBH sounds like the perfect day to me.
• Spend time in Seattle: since it’s only a 2.5 hour or quick hop flight away, you might as well enjoy soe time in the city as well! Grab this Seattle CityPass which will save you 44% or more at 5 top attractons – it’s the best way to see all of the best sights!
• Visit Olympic National Park: check out my guide post here on how to spend a weekend in this incredible park. If you’re short on time but still want to see the park, add on a day tour with GetYourGuide, which will save you having to plan or figure out entry fees, plus you’ll have a local guide, which for me always makes a trip so much more enjoyable – it’s such a great way to learn more about the local destination! 
• Drive to Mt Rainier National Park: Mt. Rainier is so stunning in summer and it is well worth a stop for some hiking and gorgeous views – check out this day hiking tour here which will get you away from the crowds, take you to the BEST views, and includes your entry fee as well.
• Hike in North Cascades National Park: the North Cascades are less visited than Rainier or Olympic, but it is an absolutely breathtaking park you should definitely add to your Washington state trip.

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