On day 2, after a restful camping adventure at Lake Wenatchee State Park, we were on our way to Chelan, our next stop on this adventure. Little did we know that we would be transported to Italy.
I had read about Chelan before this visit, mostly for its activities and wineries, but who would have thought it also bears a striking resemblance to Lake Como?
While sipping wine at a winery, I had a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that we were still in Washington. Part of it was because the winery we chose was owned by people of Italian heritage, so the architecture was inspired by a Mediterranean villa. Add the lake view to that, and it honestly felt like a little European escape.
Out of curiosity, I looked it up, and my instincts were right: the two places do share similarities. Both Lake Como and Chelan are glacial lakes, surrounded by wineries thanks to their microclimates and fertile soil, and of course, both have boats gliding across the water. So no wonder my brain got confused.
Now, you can choose to stay here overnight and enjoy your little Italian vacation without spending a fortune, or visit on a short excursion like we did. We chose the shorter option this time, but we might come back for a longer holiday trip.
Leavenworth Coffee Roaster
We were driving from Lake Wenatchee to Chelan, so a stop in Leavenworth was mandatory. The only other time I had been there was in winter for the Christmas festival, so I had very different memories of the town. I was curious to see whether it would feel magical in summer too.
To my surprise, it is not as charming as when the peaks are covered in shimmery snow, but it still makes for a cozy mountain getaway town. We went to Leavenworth Coffee Roasters for our second breakfast. Their stuffed waffles are quite popular, so I wanted to try them.
We ordered the lemon curd and strawberry waffles, and they were delicious. Totally worth it. Their coffee was great too, so much so that we bought a bag of beans to take home.
The drive to Chelan showed us a very different side of Washington: not green, wet, and gloomy, but arid. It felt like driving through Nevada and Arizona, but hillier. There were a few rolling hills along the way, but much of the land looked dry, especially around Cashmere.
We made another quick stop in Cashmere at a candy store called Aplets & Cotlets Candy Kitchen. They also offer free factory tours but unfortunately, it was closed for the 4th of July. Still, we got to try some amazing Turkish delight and bought a few pieces to take home.
Chelan
Our first stop in Chelan was a River boardwalk next to the Chelan River, the bluest and calmest river I’ve seen in the USA. I just stood there in awe, admiring how clear and pristine the water looked. The Chelan Riverwalk Trailhead offers beautiful views of the Chelan River and Chelan Dam, and it was fun watching people enjoy the extremely cold water on such a warm day. We were not in the mood for cryotherapy, so we happily watched from the side.
Next was the Lake Chelan Legend Pullout, which not only gave us a great view of the lake but also had a board with information about it, including how it was formed and the important spots nearby. It was a nice, short stop before our actual Italian-inspired adventure began.
Siren Song Winery
Our final stop was one of the most anticipated places on the trip: a hilltop winery with amazing views and pizza, Siren Song. Since I was driving, I skipped the wine and got a bottle to take home instead, while my husband tried the Spanish Dancer wine, recommended by our lovely server Teresa, to pair with our Athena pizza.
We love wines that are on the sweeter side, and this one was a perfect fit. The pizza was one of the best I’ve had here. It reminded me of the one I had in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, but even better. Loaded with prosciutto, mission figs, candied pecans, mozzarella, chèvre, and arugula, topped with in-house balsamic vinegar. It was the perfect combination of food and atmosphere for a memorable lunch.
We left Chelan feeling content and dreaming about our next holiday. It definitely lived up to all the hype my friends and people online had created, and I highly recommend experiencing it for yourself.
Our base for the night was near Grand Coulee, but that’s a different story.
