The Aplets & Cotlets Candy Kitchen is located off Highway 2 in Cashmere. Tour hours are: April– December from 8:00 to 5:30 p.m., Monday – Friday and 10:00 a.m to 4 p.m, Saturday and Sunday; January – March 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday. Come and enjoy a taste sensation at the Aplets and Cotlets Candy Kitchen! For more information, call (509) 782-2191 or visit www.libertyorchards.com

Take the tastiest tour in Washington at the Aplets & Cotlets Candy Kitchen. It’s an experience that will delight the whole family.

Just after the turn of the century, a young Armenian named Armen Tertsagian emigrated from the Near East to the United States, working his way from Ellis Island across the rugged continent to the infant city of Seattle. There he met Mark Balaban, another young Armenian who was visiting from England. It wasn't long before the two became fast friends and decided to venture into business together. It was here, in the fertile Vale of Cashmere that they settled, purchasing an apple farm which they named Liberty Orchards in honor of their new homeland.

Times were tough for most orchardists in 1918, so Mark and Armen searched for new ways to make use of their surplus fruit. Apple dehydration seemed a logical first move and, coinciding with the onset of World War I, Northwest Evaporating was born. This new enterprise not only assisted the local farmers, but helped the war effort by providing "an apple a day" for the boys "over there". Other successes for Liberty Orchards included "Applum"- a delicious jam made from apples and plums, and a local cannery named Wenatchee Valley Foods.

The cannery, Mark & Armen's main business in the 1930s and 1940s, grew so rapidly that Mark's nephew, John Chakirian, was invited to join the company. During that same period, another use for surplus fruit occurred to Mark and Armen. Why not use apples to make Rahat Locoum, the popular near eastern candy they had loved as children? After much "research and development" on the kitchen stove, they perfected a delicious apple and walnut recipe. The candy was an immediate success, and soon Armen began traveling throughout the Pacific Northwest selling the "Confection of the Fairies," also known as Aplets®.

Today Liberty Orchards has grown to be a geniune Northwest tradition. Each year we welcome 80,000 visitors to tour our Candy Kitchens and visit our Country Store. And when they do, they don't find a large, impersonal factory... they find townfolks making and packing Aplets & Cotlets much the same as Mark and Armen did all so many years ago.

Source: www.libertyorchards.com

The Apple Capital Loop Trail is a scenic 10-mile paved loop trail for pedestrians, cyclists, and skaters. This scenic trail can be entered or exited from the Riverwalk Crossing Pedestrian Overpass located in the heart of downtown Wenatchee or at several locations on both sides of the river that have plenty of free public parking areas. The trail crosses the Columbia River at the north and south ends of Wenatchee and is lighted until midnight on the Wenatchee side. A 2-mile trail extends south, from 9th Street in East Wenatchee, to Rock Island Hydro Park.

Click here for map of Apple Capital Loop Trail.

It's a shiny, orange aluminum, 6-foot-long replica of the airplane, Miss Veedol, moving in a breeze atop a 16-foor pole in Ballard Park. The replica is international orange, the same color as the original plane, with running lights on the wing tips and it moves on roller bearings in a breeze. The flight is briefly explained on a stone marker and is dedicated to the people of Misawa, Japan, East Wenatchee and Wenatchee. The three are sister cities because of the Pangborn-Herndon flight, the first non-stop flight across the Pacific, which occurred in October of 1931. It began near Misawa, Japan and ended at Fancher Field above what would become East Wenatchee.

The East Wenatchee Bridge of Friendship Garden was designed as a symbol of friendship between the sister cities of Misawa, Japan and Wenatchee/East Wenatchee. In 1931 the first transpacific flight was made from Misawa, Japan to East Wenatchee. The Japanese garden is now a showcase at the corner of Ninth Street and Eastmont Avenue, not so very far from where Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon made their famous landing. At the center of the garden is a cedar bridge connecting two land masses, symbolic of other kinds of bridges this project strengthens.

National Geographic Traveler calls the Cascade Loop Scenic Highway "one of America's grandest, most spectacular drives." This 400-mile self guided driving tour circles through the heart of Washington from the waters of Puget Sound across the Cascade Mountains and into the high-desert climate of the Columbia River Valley. Coming or going...Wenatchee is on your way.

Cashmere's Pioneer Village is a collection of twenty original pioneer buildings dating back to the late 1800's, complete with original furnishings, railroad cars and a water wheel that is now on the National Historic Register. The Museum houses historical treasures and includes outstanding displays of Native American artifacts, natural history, pioneer and meso American exhibits. The wine and gift shop feature local wines, wonderful gifts and books. Open March 1 - November 1, 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The seed for the concept of the Columbia Breaks Fire Interpretive Center began with the idea of bringing an old fire lookout tower from the mountains to the valley. It was placed in an accessible spot where the young and young-at-heart could climb the stairs and look through a "fire finder" device to capture the romance and excitement of lookout duty. At the Columbia Breaks Fire Interpretive Center you will find a self-guided, half-mile trail with twelve interpretive stops and two fire lookouts with interpretive signage at each.

The Columbia Breaks Fire Interpretive Center is located about 1 mile north of Entiat, Washington on the west side of US Highway 97A.

Summer: 6:30 a.m. to dusk.
Winter: Closed Oct. 13, reopens March 12.
Camping:
Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time, 1:00 p.m.
Quiet hours: 10:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.

Experience Desert Golf in the Northwest! Washington's #1 rated resort golf course, located midway between Wenatchee and Lake Chelan. In the heart of Washington States recreational paradise is sun, sand, sagebrush and 7,500 yards of lush, green grass. Desert "Target" golf at it's best right here in Washington State.

Your Discover Heirloom Cuisine At A Glance.

• Transfers to/from Wenatchee airport to your B & B
• 4 nights accommodation at a charming accommodation
• Gourmet breakfast each morning
• 3 hands-on cooking classes, each culminating in a sumptuous meal, generally lunch or dinner
• 3 adventure excursions to artisan producers, local farms, markets, cider mill, and vineyards
• All meals listed in the itinerary *Ground Transportation provided to course workshops, tours,and  class events
• Personal Discovery Kit Extras $200 Value
• A personalized apron
• Journal
• Class Recipes
• Gourmet Gift Shipper
• Diploma upon completion (congratulations

Geocaching is an entertaining adventure game for gps users. Participating in a cache hunt is a good way to take advantage of the wonderful features and capability of a gps unit. The basic idea is to have individuals and organizations set up caches all over the world and share the locations of these caches on the internet. GPS users can then use the location coordinates to find the caches. Once found, a cache may provide the visitor with a wide variety of rewards. All the visitor is asked to do is if they get something they should try to leave something for the cache.

Local Wenatchee Valley caches are here: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest.aspx?zip=98801&dist=50

Pure Golf. Experience Washington's finest Classic Links-style championship golf course. Ideally located next to Pangborn Memorial Airport in East Wenatchee, the Highlander offers sweeping views and precisely kept greens. Golfers enjoy the unique characteristics of Scottish Links-style golf, rolling hills, impeccably kept fairways, unforgiving pot bunkers and rugged stretches of fescue on the sidelines.

Designed by John Steidel, architect for Canyon Lakes, Apple Tree and Eaglemont. Highlander Golf Course was shaped and constructed by James Haley of Chicago's Highland Gold Services, shaper for Brandon Dunes.

The Columbia River Bridge was the first wagon bridge to connect the city of Wenatchee on the west and the land on the east side of the Columbia River. The bridge was opened in January of 1908 to replace the ferry that carried people and products from one side of the river to the other. Not only was the bridge a means of getting traffic across the river, but it was also used to pipe irrigation water to the dry lands on the east side of the river.

Today the bridge is open to pedestrian traffic only and is now a part of the Apple Capital Loop Trail. An irrigation pipeline still carries water across the bridge.

In 1990, the Chelan County Public Utility District #1 acquired about 100 acres of pear orchard from the Horan Family for the purpose of building a man-made wetland. After construction, the wetland was given to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission to administer and is now part of the Wenatchee Confluence State Park.

The Horan Natural Area has 2 miles of gravel trails that connect 15 viewing stations for walkers. These viewing stations allow individuals to learn about and experience a variety of habitats. The area is used by numerous species of mammals, songbirds, and waterfowl. This area is readily accessible from the Apple Capital Loop Trail.

Located 2 miles south of East Wenatchee on Hwy 28.

Kirby Billingsley Hydro Park (formerly Rock Island Hydro Park) is a 70-acre park with baseball/soccer fields, picnic areas, picnic shelters, swimming, boat launch, tennis and volleyball courts. Sitting along the edge of the Columbia River, the park also connects to the Apple Capital Loop Trail.

For more information about Wenatchee contact the Wenatchee Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, 25 N. Wenatchee Avenue, Suite C-111, Wenatchee, WA 98801, 1-800-572-7753 or 1-509-663-3723, www.wenatcheevalley.org.

Lincoln Rock State Park is an 80-acre park with tent and RV camping on the east side of Lake Entiat, created by Rocky Reach Dam blocking the flow of the Columbia River north of Wenatchee. Lincoln Rock Park is a popular place for swimming, water-skiing and boating. The park offers sports fields and a 3-lane boat launch, picnic shelters an amphitheater and volleyball, tennis and horseshoe areas. The park is named for a basalt outcropping said to resemble the profile of Abraham Lincoln.

Summer: 6:30 a.m. to dusk.
Winter: Closed Oct. 20, reopens March 12.
Camping:
Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time, 1:00 p.m.
Quiet hours: 10:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.

A short 12 miles from Wenatchee and just three hours from most major cities in Washington is Mission Ridge, a snow enthusiast's dream come true.

Mission Ridge offers dry snow, sun filled days, and miles of uncrowded slopes. Mission Ridge averages about 26 days of sunshine every month! The Ridge offers inland powder snow that is well groomed. And talk about elbow room: Mission Ridge offers 2,000 acres of groomed runs and open slopes. There are generous, gentle and slower-paced runs for children, beginners, families and infrequent skiers and riders. Higher up, the mountain offers a challenge for the most demanding skiers and snowboarders.

So come to Mission Ridge. For a great winter getaway, right here in Washington State! Mission Ridge is open from December through early April.

On a high rocky bluff, just north of Wenatchee sits one of the most famous alpine gardens in America. The dry and desolate hill was transformed into 9 acres of lush alpine beauty by over 60 years of work by the Ohme family. There are winding paths throughout the garden where visitors can view calm, clear pools surrounded by beautiful flowers and alpine groundcover. Vista areas offer spectacular views of the Cascade Mountains, Columbia River, and Wenatchee Valley.

Open daily from April 15 through October 15. Spring and Fall hours 9:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. and summer hours 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Admission charge. A must see if you are in the area!

If its fresh cider that you thirst for, this is the place where you can watch it being made. The cider press starts with "fresh from the tree apples." The apples are then uniquely blended to bring out the bright crisp flavors. Relax on the porch with your fresh cider and a hot donut made by the "donut robot".

Open Daily 7:00 a.m. til 6:00 p.m. Pressings every Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

Step-back in time to 1926 and enjoy an old-fashioned soda or sundae. Do you remember black & white sundaes? Sit at the counter and sip a phosphate or cool-off with a cherry lemon sour. Put a coin in the Jute-box and listen to your favorite song. Or dance if you dare!

Summer hours: Monday-Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Friday-Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. and Sunday 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Winter hours: Monday -Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and Sunday 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The park offers a mile and a half of steep hiking trail. For rock climbers, slabs and spires vary from easy to difficult and require rock-climbing equipment. Peshastin Pinnacles State Park is a 34-acre desert park featuring a group of sandstone slabs and spires called "the pinnacles." Climbable spires reach 200 feet into the air. Rocks and trails provide views of surrounding orchards, the Enchantment Mountain Range, and the Wenatchee River valley.

Summer: 6:30 a.m. to dusk. Winter: Closed Nov. 29, reopens March 18, depending on trail conditions.

The Rocky Reach Hydro Project is located in north central Washington state on the Columbia River, about seven miles upstream from the city of Wenatchee. By river, the dam is 215 miles below the Canadian border, and 473 miles above the mouth of the Columbia at Astoria, Ore.

More than 7 million people throughout the Northwest benefit from clean, renewable energy produced at Rocky Reach. The project is also nationally recognized for efforts to protect the environment. A first-of-its-kind juvenile fish bypass system was completed in 2003 to help young salmon and steelhead on their way to the ocean. A major powerhouse upgrade started in 1995 includes new turbines that are more fish friendly. Improvements to turbines and generators are also designed to improve efficiency and reliability.

An innovative juvenile fish bypass system helps move young salmon and steelhead quickly and safely past the Rocky Reach Hydro Project. The bypass includes two main parts. The first is a collector system which relies on 29 large pumps to create a strong current, appealing to the natural instincts of the young fish to attract them to a collector in the dam’s forebay.

Once the fish are in the collector, water moves them into the second part of the system -- a steel tube up to 9 feet in diameter. The tube passes through the dam and extends 4,600 feet around the back side of the powerhouse, across the face of the spillway and about one-third mile down the east side of the Columbia River before the fish are returned to the river. The entire trip will take young fish about six to eight minutes.

The Visitor Center is located at the west end of the forebay wall, on the Chelan County side of the Rocky Reach Hydro Project. The center is easily accessible from Highway 97A and offers ample parking for visitors, including recreational vehicles. Those touring the facility will discover an air-conditioned seasonal gift and food service area, restrooms, and balconies that offer panoramic views of the project, the reservoir (Lake Entiat), and the Columbia River. The Visitor Center's small theater, with a seating capacity of 90, shows movies upon request. Guided tours are available during the summer months or by request. Close to 60,000 visitors annually enjoy the hydro project's visitor facilities.

A highlight of any visit to the Rocky Reach Visitor Center is the opportunity for a closeup view of fish passing through the fishway. The fish viewing room, with five windows located on the west side of the fish ladder, allows visitors to watch salmon, steelhead, trout and other species continue their upstream migration to spawning areas. Salmon and steelhead are seasonal visitors. The best months of the year to see chinook salmon are May and August. Sockeye salmon are most visible during July, and it's September for steelhead. "Look a salmon in the eye" in the fish viewing room, located downstairs in the Visitor Center at Rocky Reach Dam.
After completing a tour of the Visitor Center, guests can walk along the forebay deck to the powerhouse and take an elevator down to the fourth floor where they can enjoy a number of exhibits and observation points. Conveniently arranged self-guided tours take visitors through the Museum of the Columbia, featuring a look back at the rich history of early life along the Columbia River. Other powerhouse displays include a Nez Perce Indian Portrait collection and changing art, craft and floral exhibits. Balconies provide visitors with views of the full length of the powerhouse, the spillway, fish ladder and Columbia River.

Adjacent to the visitor center and powerhouse are 30 acres of award-winning lawns and gardens. Special features include Petunia Island, where 8,000 brilliantly colored annual flowers are planted in a new design every year. A large symbol of the Chelan County Public Utility District is composed of colorful flowers. Another display of bright red, white and blue annual flowers depicts the U.S. flag, and dozens of varieties of dahlias and the wide open space of lawn, clusters of alpine trees, picnic areas and playground equipment await the visitor. A turbine exhibit was constructed on the Rocky Reach grounds in the summer of 1998. The hub and blades of Generating Unit C5 were saved for the exhibit following C5's rehabilitation.

SCHEDULE YOUR TOUR ONLINE

Source: www.chelanpud.org

Maps, trail guides, brochures, forest permits, Smokey Bear items, assorted outdoor recreation-oriented books and other forest-related information.

The historic downtown area of Wenatchee is comprised of former wholesale and commercial buildings. This 9 block area was home to a variety of businesses including the 11-story Cascadian Hotel, one of the earliest formal medical clinics, the first Chelan County Courthouse and Jail, a hardware store and The Wenatchee Daily World newspaper building. Several of the seventeen buildings on the tour are listed on the Register of Historic Places.

Walla Walla Point Park encompasses 70 acres and adjoins the Riverfront Park system.

It contains a "fourplex" soccer/softball complex, picnic shelters, play areas, swimming, tennis, volleyball and horseshoe pits and offers easy access to the Apple Capital Loop Trail.

The Visitors Center & Gift Shop is an extension of the Commission's efforts, providing a stop that appeals to group tours, individual travelers, student groups and families. Admission is free and each guest receives complimentary apple slices and Tree Top apple juice.

• View a 15 - minute film about the Washington apple industry
• See displays covering pollination, irrigation, pruning, research & technology
• Take home unique items from the Gift Shop

Washington Apple Country is a tour experience like no other. A collection of educational and agricultural experiences customized for your group, the tours showcase the beauty, romance and history of the world-famous Wenatchee valley fruit-growing region. Local orchards feature pears, cherries, peaches and of course apples. Washington produces more apples than any other state in the nation. Discover what makes Washington a leader! The specialty gift shop features beautiful gifts from Washington State, apple country & the Pacific Northwest. Take home gift packs, ciders, chutney, jams and jellies, syrups, sauces, candies, soap, lotions, fresh fuit, candles, candy and much more.

The Wells Hydroelectric Project operated by the Douglas County PUD has a unique hydrocombine design that incorporates the powerhouse, spillway, switchyard and fish facilities into one unit instead of many separate structures. The hydrocombine structure is 1,165 feet in length and the dam is 4,460 feet long overall. The dam has ten generating units rated at a combined 840 megawatts. Eleven gated spillway openings have the ability to pass over 8,800,000 gallons of water per second.

The Wells Hydroelectric Project was built with fish ladders on both ends of the dam to facilitate the upstream migration of adult salmon and steelhead. One of the ladders is equipped with a trapping mechanism to aid biologists in the study of fish and to help enhance propagation of the fish.

The Wells Dam Hatchery is one of two hatcheries in the Columbia Basin dedicated to the enhancement of the important summer Chinook salmon stocks. Adult summer Chinook are collected for broodstock in July and August. They may be seen in the holding ponds at the Wells Hatchery during those months. Juvenile summer Chinook are released from the hatchery in April and June. Approximately 3 million juvenile salmon and steelhead are released annually into the Columbia River and tributaries above Wells Dam.

Wells Dam is located in North Central Washington between Seattle and Spokane at river mile 515.8 on the Columbia River. It can be reached by driving north from Wenatchee along Highway 97 up the Columbia River.

Contact the WVCVB at 800-572-7753 or marcia@wenatcheevalley.org for information.

The Wenatchee AppleSox Baseball Club plays at Paul Thomas Sr. Field and is part of the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League, the premier wood-bat summer collegiate league in the country. The AppleSox provide inexpensive family entertainment for baseball fans throughout North Central Washington, and an excellent environment for college players from around the country to develop their skills. AppleSox baseball is fun! Contests for the fans, a complete selection of your favorite ballpark food and beverages, and special promotions throughout the season makes a day at the ballpark something to remember.

You'll be creating new family memories when you include the AppleSox as part of your summer activities in Wenatchee.

Wenatchee Confluence State Park is a 197-acre year-round camping park at the confluence of the Wenatchee and Columbia rivers. Situated at the edge of town, the park has shaded, grassy areas, tent and full-hook up RV sites, picnic shelters, sports fields, a roped-off river swimming area, 2-lane boat launch and walking access to the Horan Natural Area, a natural estuary with an interpretive walking trail. The park is open year-round for camping and day use.

Summer: 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Winter: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Camping:
Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time, 1:00 p.m.
Quiet hours: 10:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.

Entrances at Worthen and Fifth Streets

Wenatchee Riverfront Park encompasses 31 acres along the banks of the Columbia River. Contained within the park is the Wenatchee Riverfront Railway miniature steam train, an indoor ice arena and the Apple Capital Loop Trail.

Located at Riverfront Park in Wenatchee. An affiliate of the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center.

The "Saunders Special" is a mini steam train that offers fun for both kids and adults. The train runs on most holidays, during special events and may be reserved for private celebrations. All runs are subject to change and are weather permitting. The Depot, shop and miniature train system are located in Riverfront Park at the Worthen Street Entrance.

Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center showcases local & regional history as well as the arts. Visitors enjoy the Apple Industry display and the coin-op HO-gauge Great Northern Railway layout. Pre history is explored through Images on Stone, featuring authentic Columbia River Petroglyphs & Ice Age Mystery in East Wenatchee, chronicling the discovery of 10,500 year-old artifacts. Youngsters have fun in Coyote's Corner, a hands-on natural history discovery area. Anywhere in the Air explores early aviation through the story of Clyde Pangborn—including his record-setting, non-stop transpacific flight-1931.

Open year round except certain holidays, Tues.-Sat. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Museum Store.

The world's fastest quarter mile oval has taken auto racing to new heights in the Northwest. Located in East Wenatchee, the "Super Oval" draws fans and competitors from all over the country.

The racing season runs from April through September. Racing classes include: Super Late Models, NASCAR Sportsman, Winged Modified, Super Modifieds, Mini Super Stocks, Mini Stocks, NASCAR Limited Sportsman, NASCAR Mini Sportsman, Midgets and more.