Small town, big adventure in Winthrop, WA

March 11, 1:00 PMSeattle Tourism ExaminerBrie Rydberg

Previous Next

2 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Seattle Tourism Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Lately, we Seattleites have just about had it with the snow for one season. So last weekend, I headed east of Seattle on the other side of the Cascades to…well, more snow. But since I was on a weekend getaway and didn’t have to navigate freeways and steep downtown hills, I didn’t mind it. In fact, the only traffic I did run into was deer crossing at what seemed like every turn.

Five hours northeast of Seattle and nestled in the Methow (pronounced “met how”) Valley is the sleepy little town of Winthrop, WA. I went for the annual Winthrop Balloon Round-Up, which is held every year during the first full weekend in March. Hot Air Balloonists from all over the Pacific Northwest come to Winthrop to launch their brightly colored novelties over the beautiful valley. On Saturday night of the Round-Up, head to the main square in town for the Balloon Glow, where all the balloons are “parked” and their pilots light up the balloons all at once. It really is a unique sight, not to mention the warm glow from all those propane tanks going on at once. Morning Glory Balloon Tours offer daily balloon rides year round.

If the thought of a piece a fabric, a hot propane tank and a wicker basket separating you from falling to your death doesn’t float your balloon, that’s OK- Winthrop has plenty more to offer. In the winter, the area is known for its cross-country skiing trails, which are well marked and cross all over the valley floor. There’s also heli-skiing, snowmobiling, an ice-skating rink and a smallish ski resort, Loup Loup. Don’t expect any high-speed quad chairlifts here, but the ticket prices are reasonable ($24-38), there’s never a line and the view is unmatched.

Summertime is especially beautiful in Winthrop, and the list of warm weather activities is just as impressive as in winter. Camping, mountain biking, fishing, boating, river rafting, horseback riding, fly-fishing just to name a few.

WHERE TO EAT:
Duck Brand Restaurant and Hotel could fall in both the “eat” and “stay” categories. They have a few modest, cozy rooms from $69-$79 and are conveniently located in the town center. Their restaurant specializes in Mexican fare, but they have great home-baked goodies too. We ate breakfast there two days in a row and our party of 10 couldn’t have been happier.

Old Schoolhouse Brewery has your typical brewpub fare, but this is not your typical brewpub. Housed in what appears to be an old boxcar (or at least the size of one), you can’t miss the microbrews at this little red brewpub that could. They’ve been getting some well-deserved attention at local brew festivals. Since I’m a fan of IPAs, I recommend the Ruud Awakening IPA.

If wine is more your style, the Lost River Winery has some nicely rounded Cabernets and Merlots, some of which are featured on menus of local restaurants, like Arrowleaf Bistro. They’ve converted an old barn into a beautiful tasting room and have weekly tastings from 11a-5p, sometimes free of charge.

And of course, no visit to Winthrop would be complete without a visit to Three Fingered Jack's, the oldest legal saloon in Washington State. Legend has it that Jack’s was named after a local meat cutter who had an unfortunate run-in with his butcher knife. They have a family style restaurant or a bar for the 21+ crowd. I don’t know if pie just tastes better in a small town dive bar, but don’t miss the coconut cream pie at this legendary establishment.

WHERE TO STAY:
River Run Inn is just outside of town and has 10 private rooms, a 6-bedroom house, a double cabin and three single cabins to accommodate your needs. Views, decks, year round indoor pool and hot tub are some of the features at this cozy inn.

A little more up the scale is the rustic and romantic River’s Edge Resort. It’s located in town and has private decks and hot tubs for each individual cabin unit.

And at the top of the scale (and the top of a mountain) is Sun Mountain Lodge. From their Conde Nast certification to their award winning cuisine and 5,000 bottle wine cellar, Sun Mountain is the premier place to stay for world class luxury in Winthrop.

So whether you’re going to satisfy your adventurous side or your relaxing side, enjoy Winthrop, which has something for everyone, for every season.