Tsillan Villa: Area

 

About Chelan North

The north shore of Lake Chelan was designated a national recreation area in 1968 to protect the wonderful water-based opportunities it offers to so many people. Considered the sunnier side of the Lake, it hosts many of the area’s famed fruit orchards that provide some of the nation’s finest apples and peaches.

Equally famous are the vineyards that produce many award winning wines. The regional forest has been thinned by several historic fires in the past century, resulting in an open view of the Lake for north shore homeowners. A great many vacation homes are located on this side of the Lake.

Along the north shore are also many reminders of its past. Shiny metal drums can be seen every so often along the shoreline. These served as navigation reflectors for the tugboats that, between 1937 and 1957, hauled copper ore across the Lake non-stop. By shining a light on them at night, the tug captain could calculate his position on the Lake. Boaters still use them today to get their bearings on the long Lake at twilight.

Well past the end of the road, about mid-lake is Prince Creek named in 1886 after a Miner's bellowed horse that was not too sure footed. Not too far way is Lucern Basi, the deepest part of the lake. At 1,486 feet in depth it makes Lake Chelan the third deepest lake in the United States.

STEHEKIN:
At the far end of the lake and accessible only by boat, plane or foot is Stehekin Landing, known as the Gateway to the North Cascades. Part of the National Park Service concession, the landing is a unique get-away- destination tucked in to a still corner of our busy world. Every visitor to Lake Chelan should make the all day round trip run to Stehekin.

Only 100 people live permanently in Stehekin but there are private cabins, camp sites and picnic areas. Be sure to visit the Golden West Visitor Center built from logs salvaged from the 1892 Field Hotel that once welcomed visitors to the Landing.

CLIMATE:
With bright blue skies for over 350 days of the year, the Lake is a mecca for water sports of all kinds. It is not unusual to see water skiing, canoeing, tubing, parasailing and scuba diving on the Lake during the summer months. Beach combing, picnicking and star gazing all offers a way to enjoy the Lake in a more relaxed manner under the warming summer sun.

The cooler winter months invite everyone to enjoy snowmobiling, downhill and cross-country skiing. Visitors often enjoy trying their hand at making snow ice cream or a snowman near their vacation rental home.

No matter the season, you will enjoy the north shore of beautiful Lake Chelan. Many families return year after year to enjoy the diversity of its amazing beauty. It is a treasured family secret. Ssssh!

 

About Lake Chelan

One of the most popular vacation destinations in all of Washington. The name Chelan comes from the Indian word Tsillian. It can mean deep water. This is actually the third deepest lake in the country, surrounded by rolling hills covered with apple trees and soaring mountains providing huge territorial views from all around the valley.

The weather is near perfect. Hot in summer. Cold in winter, warm and friendly in between. Over 300 days of sunshine per year thanks to the Lake's location sheltered from prevailing wind from by the Cascade Mountains immediately to the West. In short, Chelan is perfect all year round.

There is something for everyone year round in Chelan. Enjoy touring the wineries, boating, water skiing, hiking, biking, river rafting and much more. Don’t worry there is a plethora of winter sports as well so don’t feel like you can only come for the sun. Go snowmobiling, snowshoeing, or enjoy all kinds of skiing.

There are many different places to stay along the Lake from spacious vacation homes, to cozy condos. Come stay any time during any season and take in the sights, enjoy the activities. Or just kick back and relax on the water and watch the day go by.

 

About Washington

The Evergreen State lives up to its name. In Western Washington vast forest once covered most everything and even today new visitors are sometimes stunned by the ever present green that can be found in the forests of course, but also in the vegetation that seems to spring up everywhere.

Much maligned as a rainy place, most areas of the state such as Seattle actually get less rain than New York City, Chicago and Florida. And in Eastern Washington vast stretches of high plateau and vast agricultural areas are actually hot and bright in summer and have a great many days of sun even in winter.

THE COAST:
Washington also has some of the most diverse coastal areas in the U.S. To the Southwest, the Long Beach Peninsula is the longest beach in the world and visitors can even drive their cars right out on the sand. There they'll find color kiting, legions of shore birds and a brisk ocean environment.

Further up the cost are Willapa and Grays Harbors home to forest industries, fishing fleets and moderate year round climates. From Seattle and the larger cities, visitors flock to both Harbors during the spring, summer and fall. Many come for fishing, claming and beach front activities.

Still further North is the vast Olympic Peninsula where beaches rise steadily to numerous snow capped summits including Mount Olympus, the Hoh rain forest and the rain showed Sequim recreational areas. The Peninsula is also home to numerous low land lakes where spring fishing gives way to summer water skiing and other great fresh water fun.

PUGET SOUND:
Tucked between the Olympic Mountains to the West and the metropolitan areas of Seattle, Tacoma and Everett to the East is a vast salt water estuary known as Puget Sound. It is connected to the Pacific Ocean by the pristine Straight of Juan De Fuca. State ferries and the engineering marvels of floating bridges, allow visitors to move around "the Sound" with ease. The Sound has been reshaped by the scouring action and till deposition which extended as far south as Olympia.

SAN JUAN ISLANDS:
At the Northern edge of Puget Sound lies a cluster of spectacular rocky islands known and the San Juan’s. A ferry or float plane is required to access the islands but worth the trip.

SOUND CITIES:
Almost dead center on the East coast of Puget Sound lays the large city of Seattle and its cross lake cousin Bellevue. Home to big industries such as Boeing, Microsoft and Starbucks Coffee the cities of Puget Sound offer much to visitors. There are restaurants, tours and places to visit such as the Pike Place farmers market. Professional spots teams and major arts organizations including Opera, Ballet and many Live Theatres provide things to do on every night of the year.

CASCADE MOUNTAINS:
Running North-South and splitting the state in half are the Cascade Mountains. Sometimes forgotten in comparison to the Montana, Idaho and Colorado Rocky mountains, the Cascades are vast and sheer. Mt Saint Helens eruption in 1980 brought attention to the area but there are a dozen other major mountain climbing areas including Mt. Rainer and Mt Badams. All are within easy driving distance of major cities and international airports.

At the Northern End of Washington State's Cascades is Mt. Baker, birthplace of snow boarding and still one of the snowiest ski areas in the world. Just to the south is the North Cascades Wilderness area which boasts one of America's most scenic roads. So precipitous, in fact, that it closes in winter due to immense snow falls.

EASTERN WASHINGTON:
From the Eastern Slopes of the Cascades spreads the sprawling areas of Eastern Washington. On the south it is bordered by the Columbia River gorge how to numerous dams and world famous wind surfing. Above that lay the deep rich fields and wine grape vineyards of the Yakima Valley which compares in longitude and composition of renowned French growing areas.

The Columbia river flows north through the middle of Eastern Washington State where dams have created long and winding lakes surrounded by campgrounds and recreational areas. North Central Washington is home to the Replica Bavarian Village of Leavenworth which boasts over four million visitors per year, as well as to Lake Chelan a 50 mile long natural lake one of the cleanest in the United States. Its gorge - if it were emptied of water - would be deeper than the Grand Canyon. North of that can be found the Wild West town of Winthrop Washington where real live cowboys ride the ranges during hot summers and frigid white winters.

On the border shared with Idaho and about central North to South, lays the Inland Empire city of Spokane headquarters to industry and agricultural activities. To the south likes the Palouse region known as the bread basket of the world because it produces more grain per acre than anywhere else.

In short, the Evergreen state is a very diverse place full of recreational activities like boating, fishing, water sports, professional sports arenas, high class arts organizations and so much to do you'll need a month just to begin to see much of it.