A museum at the far end of the park tells the history of the area which was first settled by a member of the Entiat tribe who sold the land to settlers. The town has moved twice since then, first when a fire destroyed the original buildings and again when the dam flooded the town’s streets to form Lake Entiat. Fruit, especially apples, has been a major industry in this part of Washington almost since the land was settled, and orchards and fruit company warehouses still abound. Timber was Entiat’s other mainstay industry for many years. A drive upstream along the scenic Entiat River took us deep into the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest where lumberjacks used to ply their trade. Today the sawmills are gone, replaced by several small United State Forest Service campgrounds. Chelan - Beach Town with Music Not far from Entiat, the waterfront town of Chelan spreads out along the shores of Lake Chelan. We found a public pebble beach on the edge of Dan Morse Memorial Park was a great place to take a picnic blanket and spend some time watching kids play in the water. In town, a few streets away, tourists out window shopping in the boutique shops with ice cream parlor treats in hand gave the whole area a fabulous summer beach vibe. Our favorite place to while away a few hours was the Chelan Riverwalk Park. Paved walking trails wander between shade trees just above the dam, and one loop trail takes walkers along the water’s edge between two bridges. The Riverwalk Pavilion is a beautiful open-air stage with naturally elevated theater seating on a grassy hillside in front of it. We were lucky to catch an evening concert there. What a sight to see the sun set behind the hills as the orchestra played stirring music.
Colorful jars draw parade goers to various food stands in Othello.
booth next door offered more familiar fare: pulled pork and brisket sandwiches. We strolled, food in hand, to the far end of the park where a skateboard tournament was in full swing. Brave kids swooped from one embankment to another, soaring into the sky and doing twists and turns in the air. Entiat - A Beautiful Lakeside City Park In north-central Washington Lake Entiat was created in 1962 when the Rocky Reach dam was built in the mighty Columbia River. As we walked along the banks at dawn, the water was as smooth as glass. Vineyards and fruit orchards on the far shore created a lush green carpet at the base of the arid hills. Salmon season had just opened, so the lake was teeming with anglers hoping to make a big catch. The salmon hadn’t arrived from their journey from the ocean up the Columbia River just yet, but everyone was enjoying a morning of peaceful fishing anyway. Entiat City Park hugs a long stretch of shoreline on the lake and is a hub of activity each summer. Wide grassy lawns, tall shade trees, and kid- and kayak-friendly access to the water make this park a beloved favorite among Washingtonians. Entiat is halfway between Seattle and Spokane, and the campground at the city park is a popular place for RV vacations and family reunions.
A popular spot is Lake Chelan and its signature pebble beach.
Night life at Chelan is the Riverwalk Pavilion.
WASHINGTON STATE HIGHLIGHTS
COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE FALL 2023 | 20
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