Tracy IsemingerI’ve lived in Washington State all my life and one of my favorite places to pass through since I was young is Wenatchee. Nestled in Central Washington, you are on the edge of the evergreens moving into the warm dry desert. Growing up, we used to make an annual visit for swimming, sun and fun. It’s something that I now enjoy with my own family. This year, we made the short trip up for the Ohme Gardens Wine and Food Gala. We packed up in the car and headed out to the Holiday Inn Express in Wenatchee to settle in for a bit of family adventure.
Our first night in Wenatchee was free for play. We found an outstanding restaurant near the river called the Rail Station and Ale House, a gastropub with a rustic feel serving up gourmet mac n cheese and smoked meats. The food was more than we expected. Following our meal we headed downtown to the Owl Soda Fountain & Gift Shop for dessert. Again, we were not disappointed. A warm friendly feeling while drinking milkshakes at the counter with my family. A perfect end to a wonderful day.
Day two takes us to do a bit of shopping and activity. We venture into downtown after a morning swim and big breakfast at the hotel. Here we find dozens of specialty shops including antiques and furniture which we just can not resist. Just a few blocks down to the river, we then explored the Pybus Public Market and Outdoor Farmer’s Market, took a ride along the river trail on bikes rented from Arlberg Sports, and had a blast!
Alas came mommy and daddy time. The JOYS of having kids who are finally old enough to hang out on their own while we go out and play! The event we were waiting for… The Ohme Gardens Wine & Food Gala. The Ohme Gardens have always been a place I wanted to visit but never had time to stop and enjoy on my previous trips to the area. I was beyond excited to not only visit the gardens but to enjoy a bounty of local food and wine bliss. The event was definitely an evening to remember. The food and wine samplings were paired for a perfect fit, the hosts of each table were willing to chat and tell you all about why they chose what they did to present and pair, and the gardens and views were spectacular. In talking with others enjoying the event, we discovered that many were local who’ve been to the event in the past but enjoy the opportunity to come out and enjoy their local culinary and wine delights. A few of our favorites among many were Crayelle Cellars and Stemilt Creek Winery.
We wrapped up our weekend with a big hearty breakfast at Sassy’s Diner, a small retro diner in downtown and followed it up with a quick trip up to Cashmere, just about a 10 minute drive from town. There we explored more antiques before hitting the road back home.
I wish we would’ve had just a bit more time to explore more of the great dining and outdoor activities the area has to offer. We know we will be back for many more visits!
Thank you to to the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce for arranging our complimentary visit for the gala. It was a wonderful weekend!
