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things to do in chelan in winter
September 18, 2017  by

Things to Do in Chelan in the Winter: Inner Wellness Activities

If, for some wacky reason, parasailing several hundred feet above the lake or caroming at top speed behind one of our sport boats isn’t quite your thing, or it’s just too cold outside, the town of Chelan offers some—shall we say—gentler options designed to foster relaxation, inner wellness, and all-around positive vibrations. As we point out in this article, there are many things to do in Chelan in winter.

To be truthful, at Chelan Parasail we don’t think inner wellness and outer thrill-seeking are at odds with each other; more like two parts of the same circle. In other words, a yin and yang approach!

Whatever your inspiration, we’ve collected a few of our favorite local options for coming down, getting relaxed and centered, and making the absolute most of your visit to our beautiful lake.

Things to Do in Chelan in Winter

Chelan Yoga and Massage

When we want to expand our bodies (and minds), we head to Glow Yoga, a studio offering a unique and eclectic blend of classes, workshops, and individually tailored massage therapies. Choose from various yogic styles—including Vinyasa and heated hatha—and fun, out-of-the-box activities such as belly dancing, aromatherapy-fueled core-building workouts, meditation space and more. It’s Chelan’s one-stop-shop for relaxation and recentering!

And the free-spirited Yogachelan takes yoga out of the studio and into the world, bringing an inspired mix of classes and styles to such locations as wineries, outdoor parks, and even paddle boards (naturally, we love that last option!). Alternately, you can enjoy their classes—tailored for yogis of all ages—from the comfort of their studio located right in the middle of town.

Chelan Dance

Though they draw inspiration from very different traditions, dance and yoga are not worlds apart from each other. The Chelan Dance Centre offers a variety of classes for dancers—or those who just want to stretch, tone and play to the music—of all ages.

Chelan Spa

A dedicated center for the relaxation and rejuvenation of the body, Chelan Valley Spa specializes in carefully tailored skin care, from facials, body scrubs and wraps, bionic hydrotherapy, and many other modalities.

Heal Wellness Studio takes a different approach, combining massage therapy and tailored rejuvenation plans for body, spirit, and mind. You can dive even deeper with unique aroma, light and color therapies, guided meditation and the family of intuitive therapies: tarot cards, pendulums, runic stones and more!

While not a traditional spa, Wellness Garden is a unique “integrative medical clinic,” offering acupuncture, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and an infrared sauna.

Chelan Gym

If you prefer to workout rather than be worked on, Chelan has options. Valley Fitness is a 24/7 gym stocked with a variety of cardio and strength-training equipment such as Precor, Nautilus, Matrix, and Cybex. If you’re only visiting Chelan for a few days, the gym offers day or weeklong passes as well!

Another option is Chelan Two Four Seven Fitness Club, a full-featured workout space including a juice bar—Yum!—daycare, Zumba, ladies’ classes, and even tanning.

In short, Chelan offers a broad range of options to address your spirit and inner core, as well as all the “outward-facing” options for watery fun we offer here at Chelan Parasail & Watersports!

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Lake Chelan activities
August 23, 2017  by

Lake Chelan Activities Beyond Watersports

If you’re one of our many friends and repeat visitors in Chelan, you know how big we are on anything and everything having to do with water: parasailing, jet skiing and boating but also water sports, longer boating tours around the lake and boat design.

But from time to time, even we have to admit that dry land looks pretty good, too. Fortunately, Chelan and the surrounding area hosts a ton of relaxing, beautiful and just plain fun outdoor activities for guests of every age.

Here are a few of our favorite places and things to do around town. If you’re with youngsters, don’t forget to check out our family fun roundup from a few weeks back!

Lake Chelan Activities Beyond Watersports

Electric Bike Tours

The zippy little two-wheelers at Chelan Electric Bikes are a blast! You can cruise at up to 20 miles per hour using either pedal power, the small electric motor, or a combination of both. The company also offers highly rated tours of local wineries, several of which we pointed out in our “local wineries” blog from a few weeks ago.

Farmer’s Market

One of the most beloved (and most delicious) weekly events of the summer is the Chelan Farmer’s Market, open every Thursday evening from 4 – 7 pm. You’ll see gorgeous produce and locally produced cheese from over 20 vendors, hear live music and catch food and cooking demos to boot. Unlike some other farmers markets, Chelan’s has a strict policy that all vendors and produce must be local. Come by and get a taste of what makes life in Chelan so magnificent!

Don Morse Memorial Park

A 40-acre extravaganza right on the lakeshore, Don Morse Park is named for one of the country’s most beloved fixtures, an orchardist and civic leader with a fascinating life story. The park he inspired offers prime swimming, boating, and sunbathing access, plus a host of amenities. You’ll find a newly resurfaced beach volleyball court, tennis, and basketball courts, a skatepark, and even an 18-hole green-grass putting course.

Beebe Bridge

A “hidden gem” of a park located some four miles east of Chelan, Beebe Bridge Park offers swimming, picnicking, tennis and more on a beautiful perch overlooking the Columbia River. Of course, the centerpiece is a stunning view of the bridge itself, an impressive, nearly 100-year-old two-lane steel span. If you’re motoring through town, Beebe Bridge Park offers RV hookups on a first-come-first-served basis.

Chelan Riverwalk Park

No description of Chelan would be complete without a mention of this gorgeous walking park winding around the eastern end of Lake Chelan. Featuring a picnic area, boat launch, and a walking trail, you can enjoy stunning views of the lake through all the seasons, but especially during the golden light of the last half of summer.

We hope you find these resources both tempting and useful, and most of all – we hope to see you here in Chelan sometime soon!

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Lake Chelan tourist attractions
July 27, 2017  by

Lake Chelan Tourist Attractions: The Family Fun Roundup

Naturally, we love Lake Chelan for all the watersports we get to enjoy in, on—and above!—its deep, clean waters. But when you and your family want to change things up, the lake hosts tons of various sundry activities, like boat tours, bowling, and a waterpark!

4 Family-Friendly Lake Chelan Tourist Attractions

1. Chelan Bowling

Talk about timeless family fun! Chelan Lanes has been a mainstay in downtown Chelan for years. It may be a small alley with only ten lanes, but it delivers oversize amounts of fun at “Mr. J’s Lane Eleven,” the associated restaurant serving up kid-friendly favorites like burgers, nachos, and pizzas. Exhausted adults, take note: there’s also a full bar serving a wide selection of draft and bottled beers, and creative cocktails (“Espresso White Russian,” anyone?).

2. Chelan Water Park

Debuting in Chelan in 1983—the very same year we kick-started Washington State’s parasailing scene—Slidewaters waterpark is another beloved part of the Chelan community of family-style funmakers. The park features breathtaking views of the lake below and designed to provide easy access, no-intimidation slip-sliding fun for guests of every age and ability. And while the park has changed hands a couple of times since its inception, it’s always been a family-owned business, and it shows in the park’s welcoming air and all-ages style of fun.

3. Chelan Boat Tour

Offering a stunning, close-up tour of some of Chelan Lake’s most remote and beautiful nooks and crannies, the Lady of the Lake takes visitors of all ages on voyages around Chelan’s deep blue waters. Singled out by none other than National Geographic and Sunset magazines as a “must-see trip,” the cruises offer the only access (besides floatplanes) to the remote and unspoiled wilderness in the northern reaches of the lake. If you’re concerned with sightseer stamina, the tour is available in shorter “express” lengths which may be more suitable for the youngest of visitors.

4. Stehekin

One of our favorite activities in Chelan isn’t even in Chelan: it’s the tiny village of Stehekin, accessible only by boat (see the Lady of the Lake, above), by plane or by a long trek on foot or horseback. Though it’s short on the amenities offered by Chelan, it’s an unbelievably pristine and one-of-a-kind experience. Stehekin is an isolated community based largely on fishing and hunting, existing much as it did 100 years ago. Think deer roaming through the village, glacier-fed waters, and an utter natural beauty. Do consider a visit to Stehekin Valley Ranch, where there’s a restaurant as well as gentle horseback tours of the area. Note: The Lady of the Lake makes a three-hour stopover in Stehekin; think about packing a picnic to enjoy while you’re there.

We love the relaxed pace and kid-friendly atmosphere of our hometown, Chelan, and we’re pretty sure you’ll find plenty of Lake Chelan Tourist Attractions for the whole family to enjoy here, too. Pay us a visit soon, and see all that our beautiful lake has to offer.

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Lake Chelan adventures
July 19, 2017  by

Lake Chelan Adventures in the Sky

Naturally, we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that Lake Chelan is home to Washington State’s first parasail operation (yes, we’re name-dropping ourselves). But our beautiful lake hosts a bounty of other airborne options for adventure, and believe us when we tell you that the lake’s unspoiled beauty is even more breathtaking when seen from the air.

Sadly, one of our favorite options—and a true symbol of Lake Chelan—is closed for the 2017 season due to construction and changes at the Chelan Marina. As reported in the Lake Chelan Mirror, Chelan Seaplane, operating a jaunty orange DeHavilland Beaver since 1945, is seeking a new permanent home. We wish them luck and hope they return to the lake soon.

That said, there are other ways—besides parasailing Lake Chelan—to get up in the air. Here are a few of our favorites!

Lake Chelan Adventures in the Sky

Lake Chelan Parasailing

While we weren’t the very first to take advantage of Lake Chelan’s natural beauty by air–that distinction goes to Chelan Seaplane–we’re proud to have brought a whole new way of doing it when we inaugurated the state’s very first parasailing operation back in 1983. Since then, we’ve given thousands of riders the thrill of a lifetime as they sail hundreds of feet above the lake. Come be next!

Lake Chelan Skydiving

Let’s cut directly to the chase: When it comes to airborne thrills, nothing competes with the raw rush of skydiving! Skydive Chelan offers a range of options from tandem jumps—in which you’re hitched to a seasoned instructor—for beginners, to full-altitude or quick “hop-n-pops” for licensed pros. If you’re feeling shaky about jumping, you can even schedule your jump to land at a winery for a rapid and controlled come down.

Lake Chelan Helicopter Tours

If you’d prefer to stay inside the vehicle, Lake Chelan Helicopters offer a more sedate airborne experience. Their attractive little Robinson whirlybird is available for tours, winery and dinner hops—just to be clear, you wine and dine on the ground, not in the air!—and passenger flights to nearby Stehekin and Holden Village farther up the lake.

Lake Chelan Zip Lines

For those of you who prefer your airborne fun a wee bit closer to the ground, Tunnel Zip Lines offers a truly unique and thrilling ride. Sailing above a decommissioned apple orchard at breathtaking speed (but, needless to say, complete safety), riders are slingshotted from station to station on a virtual tour of the canyon. We can’t recommend a visit strongly enough; it’s a one-of-a-kind melding of the natural and human-made worlds. Kind of reminds us of another place we know, come to think of it…

We hope we’ve made our point when it comes to summer fun in Chelan, the sky really is the limit. Come see beautiful Lake Chelan by land, by water–or by air! And maybe you can invent a whole new way of enjoying it!

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