Seattle Day Trips

Seattle Day Trips: Cle Elum, Cashmere, and Wenatchee Edition

When wanderlust strikes,  you can’t always hop on a plane. As we’ve been gearing up for our long-term travels, taking little trips has gotten even more important. Of course, with planning a wedding we just don’t have much time for them! We also don’t own a car, so the opportunities are a bit fewer, but we find ways to make adventuring happen.
Like this past weekend, some good friends of ours took us on a meat inspired road trip! They visited Owen’s Meats in Cle Elum several weeks prior and knew it was right up our ally, so invited us along when they planned their next visit. We made a food based road trip out if it. (I’m a big fan of themes)

First stop: Cle Elum, WA

Drive time from Seattle: about an hour and a half 

Starting at Owen’s Meats, (good thing we packed a cooler!) we stocked up on goodies to take home as well as to picnic on later that day. Owen’s Meats has been around for over 100 years. So they know what they’re doing.

The service was fantastic, the meat local,  and everything was really reasonably priced! It’s really worth the trip to stock up. We just grilled the filet mignon that we bought there last night. OMG …. SO GOOD!

Next Stop: Cashmere, WA

Drive time from Cle Elum: about an hour

For our picnic spot, we found a little place on the river in Cashmere. Cashmere is a great little town. Many rafting trips happen here on the Wenatchee River, plus Aplets and Cotlets are made here!  If you haven’t had these candies, go find some now!  Made with local apples and apricots, these are like a gummy candy with a few nuts thrown in covered in powdered sugar.  After our picnic we stopped by their factory and were just in time for one of their tours. Score!

The picnic spread.

Home made pickled things! Jealous?

Aplets and Cotlets Factory

The gang! We could even keep the fancy hats… but didn’t.

Next Stop: Wenatchee, WA

Drive time from Cashmere: about 25 minutes

OK, we had PLANNED on hitting up Snowdrift Cider for a tasting and to get some yummy ciders. However, the owner decided to close 4 MINUTES early, so we missed out. The nerve! We had plenty of time! Seriously though, must make a plan to go back. Their cider sounds amazing.
It was still a beautiful drive through the apple orchards and the rolling dry hills of Eastern Washington.
We stopped at the Public Market for gelato and watched people bring their boats in from the boat launch. Then it was time to drive back.

Really good gelato lives here:

Next stop: Home

Drive time back to reality: 2 hours 30 minutes 

We took highway 2 back, which brought us through Levenworth, WA. We didn’t stop on this trip, but Levenworth deserves it’s own post.
Sneak peek!

We want to hear from you!

What are some of your favorite Seattle day trips?

(Bonus points and extra stars awarded for car-less adventures! )