Guest Hook Travel Guides Lake Chelan | Page 3

SAGE’S REAL LAKE CHELAN... Lake Chelan (pronounced "shuh-LAN") is situated in the northern center of Washington state, just 3 hours from Seattle or Spokane. Formed over 10,000 years ago, the lake is over 50 miles long and the third deepest lake in the US at just under 1,500 feet. The area is renowned for its 300+ days of sunshine a year which, of course, means a huge variety of outdoor activities in the Lake Chelan valley. Starting with the lake - it's a boater's paradise. Enjoy sightseeing, water-skiing, jet-skiing, para-sailing, kayaking, canoeing, rowing, tubing, paddle boating, and cruising the 50 mile long glacier-fed lake. There are also numerous other smaller lakes and rivers nearby. of the Lake Chelan area. The fish in Lake Chelan do not migrate as they are landlocked. For more information check the Department of Fish & Wildlife website. There are some amazing golf courses in the Lake Chelan valley. Bear Mountain Ranch Golf Course is an 18-hole, incredibly beautiful, championship public play course with panoramic views of Lake Chelan, ranked as one of the top six new golf courses in the United States by PGA Professionals. Alternatives include The Lake Chelan Golf Course with stunning views, or the Desert Canyon Golf Course, ranked as the #2 public course in Washington by Golf Digest. Public boat launches can be found along Lake Chelan's south shore at both 25-Mile Creek & Lake Chelan State Parks; along the north shore at Mill Bay Park; and If you need a break from the Lake, there are many quaint small town shops and restaurants to explore in Chelan. And, on the first Friday of each month from April through December, downtown merchants stay open until 8pm with fun activities for people of all ages. in Chelan at Riverwalk Park and the three marinas. Boats can also be launched on the Columbia River at Chelan Falls Park, Powerhouse Park, and Beebe Bridge Park. More information on boat and watercraft businesses can be found on the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce website. For some history, take the Audio Walking Tour. Learn about our historic buildings such as the Ruby Theatre (oldest movie theatre in the Northwest, built in 1913) and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church (log structure built in 1898) and the lives of Chelan's earliest pioneers, residents, and native people. For the wine lovers amongst you, the area is home to 260 acres of wine grapes and more than 20 wineries it's the ultimate wine-lovers vacation destination! But more on that later in the wine enthusiast section. For the kids (young and old!) don't miss the Slide Waters Waterpark. Or, if it's raining (very rare of course!), then the kids might enjoy some bowling at the Chelan Lanes or the Ruby Movie Theatre. Lake Chelan is one of the top fishing locations in the northwest, with world class fishing since the late 1800's. Each year stocking programs release 100,000 Chinook Salmon, 60,000 Lake Trout, 100,