Children and adults alike climb aboard to enjoy a ride around the rails in Riverfront Park . The depot is accessible from downtown Wenatchee by way of a short stroll over Riverwalk Crossing located at the Stanley Civic Center . For more information call (800) 572-7753.

Watch salmon and steelhead make their upstream migration through the windows in the fish ladder viewing room. Tour the museum exhibits or enjoy a picnic on the 30 acres of carefully manicured lawns and gardens. For more information call (509) 663-7522 or visit http://www.chelanpud.org.

by taking the walking tour offered by Art on the Avenues. Starting in 1995, local volunteers gathered willing artists around the country to loan pieces of sculpture to the community for a year. From that beginning the project has grown to have about 60 sculpture locations stretching as far as East Wenatchee and to Pangborn Memorial Airport .

Within a central downtown core of a few blocks you can see (and touch) dozens of bronze pieces that have been placed on basalt pedestals, reflecting the local geology. Residents, businesses and organizations have purchased more than 30 permanent pieces of sculpture over the years, keeping them on display for the community. About 20 new pieces are moved into the revolving exhibit each spring. Walking map brochures can be found at many downtown locations. For further information, call 886-2019 or visit www.artontheavenues.org

the Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee is a venue you might expect to find in a much larger community. Playing host to everything from local performing arts and civic events to national and international touring artists, the PAC of Wenatchee offers something for everyone in a 500-seat, intimate setting.  It’s mission is to bring together leadership and resources to:  1. Provide a performing arts center of excellence and 2. Educate, inspire, and celebrate the performing arts!  Discover one of North Central Washington’s treasures, and “Live Life Live!” at the Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee!  For a list of upcoming events or tickets call (509) 663-ARTS or visit www.pacwen.org

comprise what is now known as the Columbia Cascades viticultural region. A driving guide leads you on a tour of vineyards and tasting rooms along the shores of North Central Washington's many lakes and rivers, and on into the foothills of the majestic Cascade Range. Stunning views accompany you along the way, and at each stop you are rewarded with award winning wines. For a Driving guide or for more information call (800) 572-7753 or visit www.columbiacascadewines.com.

including the the Leavenworth Wine Walk in June, the Leavenworth Wine Tasting Festival in August, and the Family Farm Festival during harvest time.  Learn more about these events at www.visitwashingtonfarms.com.  Request a FREE Ag-tourism/Wineries Driving Map to find out more about the farmland activities in Chelan County and beyond. 

The Cascade Foothills Farmland Association (CFFA) is a non-profit organization representing and promoting Ag-Tourism in North Central Washington, providing support, training, and event coordination to tourist destinations and individual related businesses. For more information visit www.visitwashingtonfarms.com or call (509) 548-6784.

Browse the General Store, sift through the miner's shack or step into the log-walled Mission Hotel. In all, 20 original pioneer buildings filled with authentic period furniture and all the tools of the day transport you back to the late 1800's. The Museum itself is a treasure trove of historic artifacts and displays on the Native Americans and pioneer people who first inhabited this land. The Museum, located at 600 Cotlets Way in Cashmere , is open from March through December but scheduled tours are welcome year-round. For more information call (509) 782-3230 or visit www.visitcashmere.com.

The Wenatchee Valley Farmers Market fills with bounty every harvest season- fresh flowers, crafts, baked goods, pure honey, and, of course, a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables straight from the earth to your dinner table. The market bustles all across the valley in many locations. For specific locations, dates and times, visit www.wenatcheefarmersmarket.com.

at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center . The Museum also hosts countless special programs each year such as the annual Apple Bin Rally or the Fiestas Mexicanas. Located at 127 South Mission Street in Wenatchee . For a schedule and more information call (509) 664-3340 or visit http://www.wenatcheevalleymuseum.com.

the Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee is a venue you might expect to find in a much larger community. Playing host to everything from local performing arts and civic events to national and international touring artists, the PAC of Wenatchee offers something for everyone in a 500-seat, intimate setting.  It’s mission is to bring together leadership and resources to:  1. Provide a performing arts center of excellence and 2. Educate, inspire, and celebrate the performing arts!  Discover one of North Central Washington’s treasures, and “Live Life Live!” at the Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee!  For a list of upcoming events or tickets call (509) 663-ARTS or visit www.pacwen.org

Located at the new Town Toyota Center, you can take in a hockey tournament, or better yet, join the team. Watch a figure skating exhibition or sign up for lessons and throw your own double axels; or just hold hands with a loved one while going round and round during public skating. It all happens at the Riverfront Park Ice Arena at the foot of Fifth Street in Wenatchee . The two full sheets of ice are also available for private parties and special events. For schedules and more information call the City of Wenatchee Parks and Recreation Department at (509) 664-3392.

Skirting the shores of the Columbia River on both banks, the 11-mile Loop Trail leads you through parks and habitat areas, past playgrounds and swimming holes, offering respite from a hectic day or a beautiful place to follow up on that fitness program. With entry points all along the trail, a favorite is via the Riverwalk Crossing pedestrian overpass in downtown Wenatchee . On the Wenatchee side of the river, the trail lights stay on until midnight .

Annual events such as the Sunrise Rotary Century Ride and the Tour de Vine (a biking tour around area vineyards) bring out the bike enthusiasts by the hordes. LINK, the public bus system, is also equipped to carry cyclists to and from their starting points. To find out more about biking clubs and events in the area call (800) 572-7753 or visit www.wenatcheevalleysports.com.

Participants can choose between the 100-mile course and an abbreviated 50-mile version. Each takes you down scenic byways along the Columbia River . Rider's carbo-load at the Friday night pasta feed and wind down on Saturday afternoon at the Finish Line Fest, both featuring live music and good fun. All proceeds from the ride benefit community service projects. For more information visit www.wenatcheesunrise.org/century.

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. For more information visit: www.applesox.com and www.wccbl.com

A volcanic past has created a ridge where snowcapped peaks shimmer on one side and the Columbia River rolls majestically through Eastern Washington on the other. But don't let the view distract you; Mission Ridge has over 2000 acres to explore. Carve tree lined groomers, float through wide-open bowls, wiggle through glades, or scream down narrow chutes. Now through in a ton of sunshine, heaps of dry snow, and reams of velvety corduroy, and you have Washington's most distinctive winter playground. Make us your Mission this season and share the love!

The Columbia Breaks Fire Interpretive Center (CBFIC) is a unique, interactive learning and research center built around two of North Central Washington's famous fire lookout towers. The CBFIC is the first such center dedicated to the research and interpretation of wild land fire. An outdoor amphitheatre and a full-scale visitor center are among the future plans. You will find the center about one mile north of Entiat , WA , on the west side of US Hwy 97. For information about the center, upcoming lectures or demonstrations, call (509) 662-3035 or visit http://wildfirecenter.org.

this 100-acre parcel has been converted into a manmade wetlands preserve. Eagles, owls, herons and kingfishers make this bird-watchers' paradise. Otters play in the waters visible from several of the 15 viewing stations dotting the two miles of gravel trail winding through cottonwoods and willows. For a guide to the area call (800) 577-7753 or go to www.parks.wa.gov.

Reflecting pools, waterfalls and even a wishing well bubble through what is recognized as one of the Northwest's premier public gardens. A photographer's paradise, a gardener's delight, or simply a place to relax in lush surroundings, Ohme Gardens is a Northwest treasure. The gardens are open from April 15^th to October 15^th. For more information call (509) 662-5785 or visit http://www.ohmegardens.com.

the U.S. Forest Service headquarters offers forest passes, trail maps and valuable information for staying safe and getting the most out of your experience in the woods. The headquarters is located on Melody Lane near the junction of Highway 2 and Highway 97. For more information call (509) 662-4335 or visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee.

havens for family recreation and enjoyment. Add to that more than 800 acres of parks maintained by the Chelan and Douglas County PUD's, and you have an unending range of options for how best to spend all those sunny afternoons. Many of the Parks offer a variety of youth and adult sports programs. For more information about the parks and their programs, contact the Wenatchee Valley Sports Council at (800) 572-7753 or visit www.wenatcheevalleysports.com.

Eastmont Community Park comprises 26 acres, a baseball 4-plex, soccer field, football, restrooms, kitchen shelters, horseshoe pits, radio control car racing, and an Aquatic Center operated by the YMCA.  It is also the host site for the East Wenatchee Events Board annual Classy Chassis Car Show & Parade and the Wings and Wheels Festival. Tedford Park comprises 14 acres, a baseball field, soccer fields, restroom and lots of shade trees. Kenroy Park ' s 5 acres includes play equipment and kitchen shelters. Pangborn / Herndon Memorial Park is  half of an acre that overlooks the Wenatchee Valley .

Youth activities are abundant: baseball, Babe Ruth, basketball, girl's fast pitch, soccer, football, tennis camps, golf camps, basketball camps and summer day camps. Adult activities are available: men's basketball & men's soccer. Visit www.eastmontparks.com for information.

Many of the public parks along the Wenatchee and Columbia Rivers feature campgrounds where you can stay and play. To find out more about campgrounds in the Wenatchee Valley , call (800) 572-7753.

Head for the big rivers for salmon, quiet lakes for bass, or hike up into the foothills were the trout are making their way upstream. There is something here for every angler. For more information on fishing in the Wenatchee Valley call (800) 572-7753.

Many of the National Forest trails allow use by mountain bikes or horses. You'll also find miles and miles of single-track networked through the hills around Wenatchee . For more information on hiking and mountain biking in the Wenatchee Valley call (800) 572-7753.  

Among the best known are the sandstone slabs of Peshastin Pinnacles State Park . If clattering up walls or rappelling down them is your idea of a good time, then North Central Washington is a great place to be.

Whether you get up for some early morning water-skiing while the Columbia is still glassy or paddle your way around Confluence State Park on your lunch break, the waterborne recreational opportunities are endless. Windsurfers, sunbathers and boaters of all types make themselves at home in these waters. For more information on water sports in the Wenatchee Valley call (800) 572-7753.

Washington's biggest Class III whitewater run. Even more challenging is the Chelan River Gorge. Adrenaline-pumping rapids interspersed with lazy drifting along serene stretches of river make for memorable, invigoration trips. The rafting season typically runs from late March to early August. For more information on whitewater rafting call (800) 572-7753.

City and county pools combine with facilities at the high school, the YMCA and the Wenatchee Racquet and Athletic Club to offer a broad selection of recreational and competition pools, as well as numerous swimming lesson programs. For more information contact the Wenatchee Valley Sports Council at (800) 572-7753.

This 11-day festival is built around great food, great events and great fun! At blossom time, the food begins with the Memorial Park Food Fair and continues through the entire celebration. Enjoy the food while walking around the arts and crafts fair and take in the Classy Chassis Car Show and Parade just across the river in East Wenatchee . There is a Grand Parade, a youth parade the week before, a golf tournament, children's art exhibits and much more.

  The Festival represents the pride its many community volunteers take in the Wenatchee area's spectacular natural beauty, its prosperous economy and family values. For further information call the Apple Blossom office at (509) 662-3616 or visit www.appleblossom.org.

Held on the second weekend in April, the six-leg relay race involves cross-country skiing, downhill skiing or snowboarding, running, biking and kayaking or canoeing. The race starts at the top of the Mission Ridge Ski Resort and finishes on the waterfront of the Columbia River . The Wenatchee World Junior Ridge to River Relay runs the same weekend. For more information visit www.r2r.org.

The festival takes place at Eastmont Community Park and Pangborn Memorial Airport with free shuttle bus service between locations. Festivities include a car show, motorcycle parade, rally and show & shine, fly-in, dance, carnival, free entertainment, free kids' activities, food and craft fair, and much, much more. For additional information about this fun-filled, family-oriented festival, call the East Wenatchee Events Board at (509) 886-6108 or visit www.east-wenatchee.com/wingsandwheels.

The Festival includes an apple dessert-baking contest, live music, craft vendors, and of course, fresh apples from the Valley. Children’s activities abound with the Festival's high-demand pie-eating contest, kids' crafts, and games in Centennial Park--located in the heart of Wenatchee's Downtown--perfect for an afternoon of shopping too! Contact the Wenatchee Downtown Association for details. 509.662.0059