Lake Chelan is a beautiful small town boasting with activities left and right. Since it’s a lake town, the summer months are probably the more prime time to visit, but don’t let that stop you.
Wintertime in Lake Chelan is beautifully decorated and visitors can enjoy snow-capped mountains, sledding hills and even special events like the Winterfest!
Winterfest, Alefest
The Winterfest is a two-week event that features live entertainment, ice sculpting, fireworks, carriage rides and definitely wine and ale tastings. On a chilly Saturday afternoon during the closing weekend, the Alefest was bursting with spirit and lots of ale.
The Alefest featured over 20 local craft breweries and cideries and was surely a crowd pleaser. Each admission ticket included a tasting glass, 6 tasting tickets and a Winterfest button, so you can enjoy the other Winterfest activities!
Tasters cosied up in a large tent in downtown Manson and enjoyed tastings from all over the state. After choosing your favorites, there is a small store at the tent exit where you can purchase some of your findings.
The Alefest is a great opportunity to meet some of your local brewers and explore some new brands.
Winterfest is an annual family-friendly event that kicks off on MLK weekend, and each year they are growing bigger and better! Due to week 1 being a holiday weekend, it tends to get a lot more attention and events sell out fast.
Be sure to keep an eye on the schedule for when tickets for next year are on sale and book your lodging sooner than later.
The Lookout
Nestled on a hill near downtown Chelan and boasting views of the lake and surrounding mountains — The Lookout is an adorable lakeside village that is definitely a ‘do-not miss!’
Established in 2014, The Lookout offers guests lovely vacation homes fit for all family sizes, some with up to 6 bedrooms! Each house offers a unique feel as they are all individually owned and decorated. Various properties feature fireplaces, private hot tubs, and some are even pet friendly!
The village is designed to perfection with each home lined side-by-side in a large circular layout, but also offering privacy and space for outdoor areas.
The center of the village has all your favorite amenities to make both a sunny and cold winter day entertaining. During the summer months, guests can enjoy many outdoor activities like the large outdoor swimming pool, pickleball court, open park for lawn games, BBQ area, and a handful of hiking and biking routes.
Although we came during the winter, and much of these summer activities were not exactly useable due to the snow, we did enjoy the warm outdoor hot tub and community fire pit. There’s even s’more ingredients at your disposal if you’re in the mood for a chocolate-marshmallowy treat. Read more here..
Sorrento’s at Tsillan Cellars
Last year when we spent our summer in Lake Chelan we visited Sorrento’s and fell in love! Now, each visit is not complete without a stop here. Tsillan Cellars is an award-winning winery and connected to the property is their restaurant Sorrento’s.
Boasting with lake views, Sorrento’s is beautifully decorated from head to toe. The large glass windows allow for plenty of natural light, and lake views. During the summer months there’s a lovely garden area to walk around in and take in the sunset. Outdoor seating and entertainment are also something to look forward to during the warmer season.
However, during our winter visit we enjoyed a cozy evening lit by the winter decorations and dining to the sweet music by Mac Potts. Mac is a blind musician based out of Vancouver, WA. He often comes back to Sorrento’s to play live music. His work is beyond amazing and definitely got the crowd engaged.
While we listened to music, we enjoyed a savory steak, cooked to perfection; my partner had their lobster tail dish. Sorrento’s is one of those restaurants that everything on their menu is delicious so you’ll keep wanting to come back to try more!
Tsillan Cellars is launching a brand new bottle for their red wines, and I am excited to share them with you! The new bottle will be shiny black with sharp gold lettering and featuring their new logo. These bottles will be available at the Chelan and Woodinville location in early February!
If you’re into red, like myself, be sure to try their Estate Syrah, as it is absolutely amazing and probably my favorite Syrah out there.
When in Chelan, drink wine
Since there are just so many options when it comes to wineries in this lovely town, we gathered some of our favorites.
Vin du Lac
Since we were staying at The Lookout, we knew we needed to check out the Vin du Lac winery. They are located just a quick 5 minute drive down the hill. This winery is a small venue tucked away from all the hustle and bustle of the downtown wineries.
Even Keel
Not technically a winery, but definitely a spot worth stopping at for some local wine, cider, beer, or spirits. Even Keel Roadhouse is a family-owned business that is located just off the road as you enter the town. It’s the perfect spot for those looking for a little variety.
Tsillan Cellars
As I mentioned earlier about their restaurant Sorrento’s, Tsillan Cellars is a beautiful spot to stop in for some wine tasting. Their tasting room decor is beyond impressive decorated with amazing Italian style decor. Tsillan Cellars has a wide variety of award-winning wine.
Mellisoni
If you are looking for a beautiful outside view of the lake this is the spot for you! Mellisoni’s tasting room is a little unique as it offers a little something for everyone. During the summer months this outdoor tasting area is like a neighborhood lawn park, with games, live music and plenty of chairs. So bring the kids along for this one.
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