Much as I love Seattle, sometimes the weather of the Pacific Northwest gets me down. During those dark, wet days of winter, all I want to do is nap. No wonder everyone drinks so much coffee in this city! Little did I know all I needed to do was head over the mountains to get some much needed Vitamin D and a change of scenery.
Wenatchee is a small city on the eastern side of the Cascade mountains boasting 300 days of sunshine. And sure enough, when I visited a few weeks ago, the sun was bright and felt absolutely heavenly on my face. It was such a welcome reprieve from the dull dreariness of Seattle.
After a restful night and a hearty complimentary breakfast at SpringHill Suites, I headed to Mission Ridge Ski Mountain to explore this ski resort that’s well-known for its’ bluebird conditions. Visiting on a Wednesday, I had the place practically to myself, and it was the best corduroy I have snowboarded in quite some time. For being a somewhat smaller mountain, 36 designated runs, I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of terrain.
Mission Ridge is the card that all skiers have up their sleeve when the other mountains are too packed or the roads are closed to other resorts. Sure, Windy Ridge, the top of the mountain, is aptly named, but nothing compared to some of the bitter, freezing days I’ve experienced at Steven’s Pass. And with no lines to speak of. Take that Alpental at Snowqualmie Pass.
One of the best surprises for me during my stay in Wenatchee was the food. My expectations were low when I pulled into the parking lot of Tastebuds, a small restaurant advertising coffee and wine. As I walked in, I realized what a gem I had stumbled upon. With a warm fireplace, comfy couches, an impressive wine selection (focusing on local wineries) and live music nights to boot, this place this would be my go-to spot if I lived here.
The menu was much more extensive than the coffee and wine tag line suggested, boasting everything from cheese tortas to fresh clams. The fondue platter, an appetizer, could have been an entree, served with smoked salmon, grapes, and fresh bread and much more. Yum. The Janna-Licious pizza was melt in my mouth good, with gourmet ingredients such as goat cheese, basil, heirloom tomatoes all loaded on top of home baked pizza dough.
I went to bed that night with a full belly and lunch for the next day.
I’m looking forward to returning to Wenatchee in the fall, during the apple harvest and wine harvest. There’s plenty more to explore in this area of Washington, and I look forward to coming back for a visit to do just that.
Feel free to read my blogging disclosure about my trip to Wenatchee.