If you would have asked me about the fun things to do in Wenatchee, WA a few years ago, I wouldn’t have known what to say. I used to pass through it regularly on my way to other areas of Washington, but I never actually stopped.
That changed when Visit Wenatchee invited me to check out their city. Friends…Wenatchee is a place worth visiting. There is a wine and beer scene, cute shops, hikes, yummy restaurants, and so many hidden gems. I can’t believe more people aren’t talking about this town!
So, before the word gets out, let me share all the fun things to do in Wenatchee, WA. Read on for my favorite restaurants in Wenatchee, Wenatchee hikes, and tips on exactly what to do to make the most of your visit to this city.
About Wenatchee, WA
Where is Wenatchee?
Wenatchee is in central Washington, about 3 hours east of Seattle. If you’ve ever been to Leavenworth, WA, it’s only about a 30-minute drive west from there.
You may have seen signs for Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest on your drive through the Cascade Mountains. While they share the name of the Wenatchi tribe that were the first to live on the land, the city of Wenatchee is actually on the west side of the 4 million acre forest.
When is the best time to visit Wenatchee?
Wenatchee is a place worth visiting year round. It’s known as the Apple Capital of the World given its fertile land and apple production, so fall is a perfect time to go. But if you’d prefer water activities on the Wenatchee River, Columbia River, Lake Entiat, or Wenatchee Lake, spring and summer are a good time too.
It’s also near Mission Ridge, a less visited ski resort but near some of the best cross-country skiing in Washington. If you’re coming from Seattle or western Washington, remember to look at the road conditions of route 2 or 90 east. Both may be closed if snow conditions are bad enough on the passes.
Regardless of the time of year you visit, know that most businesses are closed on Sundays. Some restaurants, wineries, and breweries will still be open, but consider visiting another day if you want to be able to shop and explore all Wenatchee has to offer.
Fun Things to Do in Wenatchee, WA
I’d be happy to plan a custom itinerary for you!
Visit Pybus Public Market
On of the fun things to do in Wenatchee, WA for food lovers is visit Pybus Public Market. It’s a restored factory building once owned by Pybus Steele Co. that has a railroad track going right into it where steel used to be delivered. It sits along the Columbia River on one side and is accessible from downtown Wenatchee using a pedestrian bridge overpassing active rail lines.
There are about 20 businesses inside, including restaurants, bars or breweries, a winery, gift shops, produce stalls, and artisan food vendors. They host cooking classes and special events regularly and also host the Wenatchee Farmers Market every May – October from 8 AM to 1 PM.
Eat at McGlinn’s Public House
website | 111 Orondo Ave | cuisine: pub food
A restaurant in Wenatchee, WA worth seeking out is McGlinn’s Public House. It’s a pub located in a historic building with the cutest outdoor patio area. The menu features crowd pleasers like burgers, wood-fired pizza, sandwiches, and appetizers using local ingredients.
We ordered the nachos, lamb burger, and a mac and cheese special they had with blue cheese, mushrooms, steak, bacon, and arugula.
Everything we had was good. I loved how the nachos were served on the cookie sheet they were baked in and included a lot of veggies like peppers and potatoes. The only way it could have been better was to get some sour cream and avocado or guacamole on the side.
While I prefer my mac and cheese a bit drier, I respected how they were able to get it so creamy while still making sure all the other flavors stood out. For example, you could taste the tang of the blue cheese and the fat from the bacon. Mac and cheeses are often one note or so over thought they’re a cheesy mess. But this one was well balanced and addictive.
And then, there was the burger. Sigh…this was our favorite dish. The burger was cooked perfectly and paired beautifully with the pickled onions and homemade tzatziki. Our only wish was that the patty was bigger so it filled up the bun because we could have eaten a whole lot more!
Here are other restaurants in Wenatchee, Washington on my short list to try. There are also other Wenatchee restaurants in my map of Wenatchee below. As I visit I’ll update this section with my thoughts!
Go on one of these Wenatchee hikes
Given its surroundings, one of the best things to do is get outside. For a leisurely walk, bike, or run, mosey along the paved Apple Capital Loop Trail located in Riverfront Park, which is behind Pybus Public Market and takes you along the Columbia River. It’s an easy way to get exercise while people watching and taking in the beautiful views of the Wenatchee Valley. Or sit in a picnic area and enjoy the goodies you picked up at the market!
Another leisurely option for a Wenatchee hike is visiting Ohme Gardens. It was once a private estate of the Ohmes, who purchased a rocky bluff overlooking the Wenatchee Valley. They transformed it into a rockscape with winding paths among trees, meadows, a pond, and other plants. They sold it to Washington State Parks so the public can enjoy it for $8 per person. If you have time, bike the 27 minutes from downtown Wenatchee, which takes you mostly on the Apple Capital Loop Trail.
If you’re looking for more traditional Wenatchee hikes or nature areas, try one of these:
- Mission Peak – ~4 miles and offers breathtaking views of Wenatchee Valley and the Cascades
- Clara Lake – ~4.5 miles and said to be a great hike to see golden larches in the fall
- Pipeline-Squilchuck-Clara Lake Loop – ~6.75 mile loop that includes Clara Lake
- Lincoln Rock State Park – ~88 acres of trails and lookouts on the east side of Lake Entiat and most easily accessible from East Wenatchee
- Peshastin Pinnacles State Park – 34-acres of trails among sandstone slabs with panorama views of the Wenatchee Valley
Go wine tasting in Wenatchee
If you know me, you know that my idea of fun things to do in Wenatchee, WA will most definitely include wine. I was surprised to learn that there are about 10 tasting rooms in downtown Wenatchee! And the best part is that they are mostly Wenatchee wineries, not outposts of other more established wineries.
We visited Horan Estates Winery and Crayelle Cellars. Both are small, with Horan making about 2,000 cases a year and Crayelle making just 600.
Horan focuses mostly on reds and grows their own grapes about an hour from Wenatchee. Crayelle focuses on refreshing whites and red blends. The latter is owned by Danielle and her husband Craig, who is the winemaker at Karma Wines in Lake Chelan (another great place for visiting Washington wineries).
Visit a brewery
I also think beer is pretty great, so another fun thing to do in Wenatchee, WA is going beer tasting. As of writing this there are 5 breweries and a few pubs/tap houses in downtown Wenatchee. Four of them make up what they call Brewer’s Row: Wenatchee Valley Brewing Company, Columbia Valley Brewing, Badger Mountain Brewing, and 509 Bierwerks.
You can get stamps at these 4 participating breweries to get a free mug, but there’s also Saddle Rock Pub & Brewery. All of them are in walking distance, which makes it great for a beer crawl.
Shop local boutiques
There are a lot of antique shops along Wenatchee Avenue in downtown Wenatchee, so if you are like me and love antique shopping, make sure to save time for this! Unfortunately I went on a Sunday and a lot of the stores were closed, but meander and hop into ones of interest if they’re open when you visit!
Go skiing at Mission Ridge
If you’re visiting in the winter, another fun thing to do in Wenatchee, WA is go skiing at Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort. I haven’t been here yet, but one of my friends raves that it’s the best place to go skiing because it’s less crowded than Snoqualmie or Stevens. So if you ski or snowboard and want to go where locals go, make sure to check out Mission Ridge!
Wenatchee, WA Map
If you’re looking for more ideas of what to do in Wenatchee, WA, here’s my map with even more restaurants, wineries, breweries, and shops I hope to visit on future trips. I’ll add more to my Wenatchee, WA map as I discover them and add them to this post if I’d recommend them, so pin this guide for later!
Other Places to Explore Near Wenatchee
Hopefully this list of fun things to do in Wenatchee, WA convinced you to stop next time you pass Wenatchee. I can’t wait until my next trip because it’ll give me an excuse to explore more of what to do in Wenatchee!
If you need ideas for day trips to take that will give you an excuse to visit Wenatchee, WA, I’ve got you:
- Take a road trip to Idaho for skiing
- Visit Spokane, Washington
- Go wine tasting at Lake Chelan
- Visit the best restaurants in Lake Chelan
- Attend the Winthrop Hot Air Balloon Festival
- Visit Winthrop, WA in winter
- Eat at the best Winthrop, WA restaurants
- Eat your way around Leavenworth, Washington
FYI. the River that is running behind Pybus Market isn’t the Wenatchee. It’s the Columbia River. The Wenatchee River Meets the Columbia River where you enter town from the West.
Doh, thank you! My mistake! I updated it.