Lake Chelan
Nowhere does summer quite like Lake Chelan, a beautiful destination offering 300 days of sunshine about four and a half hours outside of Seattle. The warm-weather days offer an inviting setting for golfing at one of eight golf courses, including Lake Chelan Golf Course, Gamble Sands and Bear Mountain Ranch or hiking and biking along Echo Valley, which is suitable for outdoorspeople of all skill levels. For the true adventure-seekers, the summer vacation destination for Seattleites even offers a one-of-a-kind way to check out Lake Chelan’s stunning vineyards: via Sky Dive Chelan. And no trip to Lake Chelan is complete without time on the water. For a family-friendly river trip, taking place around 30 minutes from the downtown area, Methow Rafting hosts whitewater rafting from late March through August. Scenic floats in rafts and kayaks, as well as tubing, are also available for on-the-water adventures. When it comes to settling in for the evening, Wapato Point is home to a range of villages (with accomodations having up to three bedrooms) while family-owned and -operated Campbell’s Resort hosts award-winning dining options on the shores of Lake Chelan.