Getting There
From I-5, take U.S. 2 from Everett, or if you're coming from the south, take I-405 to Bothell and then head northeast to Monroe, where you pick up U.S. 2 heading east. From U.S. 97, the main north-south route east of the Cascades in the central part of the state, head west on U.S. 2. Wenatchee is at the junction of U.S. 2 and U.S. 97. Wash. 28 connects Wenatchee to the eastern part of the state.
Wenatchee's Pangborn Memorial Airport, 1 Pangborn Dr., East Wenatchee (tel. 509/884-2494; www.pangbornairport.com) is served by Horizon Air from Seattle. Amtrak trains stop in Wenatchee en route between Spokane and Seattle.
Visitor Information
For more information on this area, contact the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center, 940 U.S. 2 (P.O. Box 327), Leavenworth, WA 98826 (tel. 509/548-5807; www.leavenworth.org). For more information on the Wenatchee area, contact the Wenatchee Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, 25 N. Wenatchee Ave., Suite C111, Wenatchee, WA 98801 (tel. 800/572-7753 or 509/663-3723; www.wenatcheevalley.org).
Getting Around
Car rentals are available in Wenatchee from Hertz and Budget. Although it is not very convenient for exploring this area, the Link bus system (tel. 509/662-1155; www.linktransit.com) services the Leavenworth, Wenatchee, Lake Wenatchee, and Lake Chelan areas.
Festivals
During the annual Maifest (mid-May) and Washington State Autumn Leaf Festival (late Sept), Leavenworth rolls out the barrel and takes to the streets and parks with polka bands, Bavarian dancing, and plenty of crafts vendors. In June, more music hits town with the Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration (www.accordioncelebration.com). In mid-September, the Wenatchee River Salmon Festival (www.salmonfest.org) celebrates the return of salmon to the river, and in October there's Oktoberfest (www.leavenworthoktoberfest.com), which is held over three consecutive weekends. In December, the whole town gets lit up in perhaps the most impressive Christmas Lighting Festival in the Northwest.
Nearby Wenatchee celebrates its apples each year with the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival (www.appleblossom.org), with more than a week of festivities in late April and early May.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
