We decided to drive over to Lake Chelan to get away from the gray weather on the west side of the mountains. It was sunny and warm when we arrived and we wanted to explore the area. We checked out some shops in the downtown area and then discovered Riverfront Park.

    The paved walkway along the lower stretch of the Chelan River provides an opportunity to take in the activity of a busy summer day or the solitude of a calm evening.  You can enjoy music from the bandstand during summer festivals.  We enjoyed watching otters playing alongside the river. The boat traffic was interesting to watch. The  paved walkway heads south past manicured gardens and crosses the bridge and returns on the other side by the outlet of the lake.  It took us about 45 minutes to complete the loop. There were accessible restrooms at the boat ramp.  We finished the day with some wine tasting at one of the wine shops  downtown and enjoyed a nice dinner.

     We made the drive  south along the Columbia River to Wenatchee the next day.  We wanted to explore the 11 mile Apple Capitol Loop Trail. The eastern part of the trail follows a relatively undeveloped shoreline, while the western portion provides a more urban feel with several developed parks.

    We decided to check out the 2 mile portion of the trail that went between Walla Walla Park and Confluence Park. There are accessible restrooms and picnic areas at both parks.  The paved path heads south from Confluence Park and crosses the Wenatchee River on a  spectacular footbridge.  You can see salmon heading up the river in the fall.  The trail skirts the Heron Nature Area, where an unpaved trail leads to good opportunities for bird watching.  The main trail meets up with the Columbia River just as it enters Walla Walla Park. It took us 2 hours to make the round trip between the parks.  The trail continues south past  beautifully landscaped gardens to the grounds of the Wenatchee Riverfront Railway.  The steam train runs during spring and summer months.  There is also a small museum at the site.  It is best to use the trail in the morning or evening during the hot days of summer. 

     We enjoyed our weekend break from the clouds and were impressed by the trails and activities available in the area.