C A S C A D E    L O O P ,    W A S H I N G T O N

The route across the Cascades and back takes you many places. Some are amazing, some are interesting, and some are simply beautiful. You can drive the Loop (or parts of it) in a short amount of time, but we really don't recommend it. You'll never see it all that way. Just take your time and enjoy the Cascade Loop.

Click on any photo for the full-size version. (photo will open in a new window)

Lake Wenatchee State Park

Ever been to the beach? Ever been to the mountains? Well, how about going to a beach in the mountains? Lake Wenatchee is a good-sized lake with a beach and mountains on the sides. OK, so it's not exactly a Hawaiian-style white-sand beach, but hey, sometimes you take what you can get.

We stopped at the state park for a picnic lunch. The place was pretty busy. Lots of people sunning and talking and playing, a few boats in the water, all that sort of thing. It was the day before Memorial Day when we were there, so that's one reason it was so crowded, but apparently it's a busy and popular park during the summer. If you want to camp there, it's a good idea to try to make a reservation very early, especially if you plan to be there on a weekend. You can find out how to make a reservation, plus lots of other information, at the state park's website.

Lake Chelan ( see Kids' POV )

Very popular during the summer, Lake Chelan (shuh-LAN) is one of Washington State's best-known recreational lakes.  Long and narrow, the lake has a town on one end accessible only by boat or plane.  We stayed at the State Park campground on the other end, easily accessible by car.  Considering the time of year, it was unexpectedly quiet and un-crowded, even considering that we went mid-week. (This trip was not part of our original drive of the Cascade Loop).

There isn't a whole heckuva lot to do at the lake if you don't have a boat except swim, but it was nice to simply enjoy the peaceful surroundings and take it easy.  The town of Chelan is nearby, if you need anything.  There was a good-sized fruit stand nearby, as well, where we stocked up on some Washington apples (grown in the area) and other goodies.

Ohme Gardens ( see Kids' POV )

We weren't sure exactly what to expect when we arrived. All we'd seen was a few photos, and the way up to the gardens seemed to be taking us closer and closer to the middle of nowhere. Afterwards, however, we were glad we went. Originally, the hilltop where the garden is located was very barren, without even a single tree. Over a period of decades, the owners of the land cultivated the hill into an alpine garden, with lots of trees, a few ponds, open lawns, and rocky promontories from which you can see the river and mountains surrounding the city of Wenatchee, all for a reasonable price. You can learn all about that at their website.

We were very impressed with the place. It's set up so that visitors follow a series of trails taking you to different viewpoints and sections of garden. There are a few narrow trails, and more than a few steep ones, although you can skip some of them and go around an easier way. One very thoughtful touch is that there are lots of stone benches scattered throughout the garden, making it easy to stop and rest or simply to admire the scenery. You're never far from a bench, so you don't have to worry about getting tired. Walking through the garden is almost like taking a mostly easy hike on a rocky yet plant-filled hill. A couple of things to watch for: the Twin Pools are a nice spot to sit for a bit (although any of the ponds will do just fine), and there's a covered lookout not far from the entrance that's a shady spot to take in the view. It's even got steps at the corners so kids can see.

We were there for just over an hour, and even though we saw everything, we feel that an hour just won't do the place justice. We want to go back when we have a little more time to explore the grounds. We definitely will go back.

Alta Lake State Park

Another of Washington's mountain lakes, this was where we camped for the night. As it was Memorial Day weekend, the place was packed. We arrived too late to get a spot near the water, and almost too late to get any spot at all. It was only about 5:00! This is obviously another very popular recreation area. More boats and jet skis, and several people fishing. (And we must say the fishing was successful, because just in the few minutes we were looking for a spot near the water, we saw more than one person holding up a just-caught fish.)

We visited two lake-side state parks, and both were crowded. We didn't even go to the most popular one of all, Lake Chelan State Park. Washington's state parks are very busy, and the lakes are a popular way to have fun when the weather warms up. Find out more at the park's website, plan ahead, and try to get there early if you can!

Liberty Bell (Washington Pass)

The Liberty Bell is a well-known rock formation near Washington Pass, on Highway 20. There is supposed to be a nice picnic area nearby with a view of the mountain, but it wasn't open due to snow on the road. You can still pull over close by and snap a few photos. That's what we did.

Leavenworth

Leavenworth is the Bavarian village mentioned at the top of the page. Some time ago, the citizens of the town decided to transform the place as a way to attract tourists. It worked. Today, Leavenworth is a popular destination for tourists and Washington residents alike. They have several festivals throughout the year, including Oktoberfest. There is a complete listing available on their website.

The first time, we only drove through Leavenworth (Highway 2 passes right through it), since we were on a tight schedule. It seemed interesting, though. Even the McDonald's and the Burger King were dressed up as shops in the Alps! There are lots of places to stay in Leavenworth, and lots of things to do. During a later trip to Lake Chelan, we stopped briefly to play miniature golf with the kids.  We definitely plan to go back and see what else Leavenworth has to offer.

Stevens Pass

Popular with skiers, Stevens Pass is where Highway 2 crosses the Cascades. It was mid-May when we went, but there was still a good bit of snow on the side of the road and the surrounding hills and mountains. The drive to Stevens Pass was interesting. Along the highway, we saw a series of road-side waterfalls pouring (or trickling) down the cliffs and rocks. Some of them were quite impressive and beautiful. It makes for a pleasant drive. Stevens Pass is about 20 or so miles from Lake Wenatchee.

Lake Chelan
Most of the time we spent at the lake, the kids either played near our campsite or splashed in the lake.  The water was pretty cool, but not so cold it made swimming unpleasant.  Also, both kids love to eat fruit, so they were happy to see us purchase some apples and other fruit.  There are lots of places nearby to do so.

BACK

Ohme Gardens
We didn't expect the kids to like walking through the garden as much as they did. Our son liked 'hiking' and climbing to the top of the rocks. He and his little sister both enjoyed running on the green lawns. There was a wishing well in the garden; there were fish in the pond; there were viewpoints high atop some rocks. They truly had fun, and our son kept talking about going back to the garden for the rest of the trip and on into the week after we got back home.

BACK