Every other year, my family takes a trip to Lake Chelan. There is nothing like wading in the crystal blue water, eating ice cream cones that practically melt before you can eat them, basking in the old town feel of the city, and swirling down the water slides that sit high above the town on the side of a mountain. Yes, Lake Chelan has it all and it is the perfect place to relax and enjoy family while sharing tons of laughs and memories.
I have been going to Lake Chelan since I was a child. I camped for years during the summer in the Chelan State Park with my cousins, camped with my family in both the State and City Parks, and more recently, stayed in hotels (my dad hates camping) right on the lake. While I do miss the smell of the campfire and waking up on a cold pillow, I thoroughly enjoy the hotel atmosphere and don't miss the dirt and muck. For me, Chelan has gotten better and better since I introduced my kids to the fun it has to offer. They now have their own memories and ask me year long when we are going to go back! For Michael and Claire, this trip to Chelan was their third. For Matthew and my nephew Kyle, this was their first trip!
Chelan is a short 3 1/2 hours from my parent's house. To break up the trip, we sometimes stop in a quaint and cute German town called Leavenworth. The small town was built to look German and offers a lot of shopping and yummy snacks. We couldn't resist the taffy shop and of course, we had to frequent the authentic German coffee shop, Starbucks. The kids enjoyed the opportunity to stretch their legs and Matthew was equally happy to get out of his carseat, eat, and enjoy the scenery.
For the past two trips, we have stayed at a cute little hotel on the other side of a little bridge from the small downtown of Chelan. Unfortunately, they were remodeling and have started upgrading their rooms to draw more guests (and more money)! So, we opted instead to stay at Campbell's Resort which is right in the middle of town. I stayed there years ago with my Uncle Denny, Aunt Carol, and cousins Julie and Stefanie when I was 11 and we really enjoyed our stay there. This year, our family (13 people) occupied 4 rooms and used my Mom and Dad's room as the 'Party Room'. Okay, we basically snacked, played games, and fed the babies there- but that is about as much partying as we get these days! Their room was situated perfectly on the lake and it never got boring sitting on their balcony, watching the boats zig-zag on the water, while eating red licorice (a Chelan must!). At night, the starry sky was breath-taking and if you timed it right, you could watch the moon sneak behind the mountain only to return the next day.
The big variable of the trip were Matthew (5 1/2 months) and Kyle (9 months). Would having two babies throw off the rhythm of the trip, or would having them there enhance the trip? I am happy to report that both babies did great! They slept pretty well, and napped on the go. They even went down a few waterslides! When we booked the trip last year, both Jill and I were pregnant and we wondered how it would be once the boys arrived. I think everyone was happy they were with us. They looked adorable in their swim trunks, Kyle got to try his first ice cream, and both enjoyed the favorable weather and I think they relaxed, too.
One big sell for Chelan, next to the nostalgia of the small city, is the water park called SlideWaters. It is a smallish park, but so much fun! The babies and Michael and Claire started on the small kiddie slides. It didn't take long for my two crazies to want to go on the big slides and off they went. We first took them on a double tube ride which is no small feat! Up the sides of the slide we flew and all I could hear was Claire's giggling as I tried to see through her hair which was flying back in my face. Next to the double tube ride is a slide called the Purple Haze. I went on it a few years ago and remembered it to be a little rough and scary, but not too bad. Claire had absolutely no interest in it, but Michael begged and begged to go on. Michael knows that when we wants to push the envelope, he should ask me because Damien is more conservative when it comes to rides and scary-ish things. So, after seeing the hopeful glimmer in
Michael's eyes and after talking to Damien about letting Michael go on it, he agreed. Up the hill we climbed to the entrance to the ride. The whole time in line, Michael was asking me if it was going to be scary. I said that it was a little scary, really dark, but a lot of fun. As I confidently answered Michael, I started to get nervous because I really didn't remember the ride much except that it is pitch black in the tube the whole way down. I was going to go first so that I could be at the bottom to catch him. I waved goodbye to Michael and told him to be brave. Off I went. Man- was it dark. Gees, the pace was fast and the water was rough. I was swished around and seriously couldn't see anything. The air in the tube was warm and I am embarrassed to say- I started
hyperventilating. All I could think about was my Michael- who was so courageously handing his fear but was doing it because Mommy said it would be okay. And here I was- a grown woman freaking out! I pictured him crying, I thought of him choking on the water. I was now in a full blown panic and thought that maybe if I yelled loud enough up the tube to my brother-in-law Brian, he would hear me and spare Michael from the terrifying ride. As soon as I came up with this brilliant idea (not) I was splashed with overwhelming daylight and thrown into the pool of water. I knew that my splashing in the wading pool was the signal for Michael to go. Brian gave him a push and off he went. The ride only lasts about 45 seconds, but it seemed like an eternity. I pictured him coming out hysterically crying. I bit my nails and felt Damien and the rest of the family's eyes peering through me to the opening of the tube to see Michael come out. I brainstormed how I would handle Damien's anger as he held his frightened son and how it was all my fault. As soon as I began to formulate my plan, the tube spit Michael out into the water. "I'm coming Michael! Mommy's coming!"
Once he wiped the water from his eyes, he yelled out, "That was awesome! I want to do it again!" All my worrying- thinking Michael couldn't handle it and I was the only one hyperventilating. In my eyes, this very moment propelled Michael to a new level in my mind. He is growing up and he did a great job at handling his fears. A lot better than I did! The whole day at the park was so fun, hysterical, and perfect. SlideWaters lived up to our expectations, again. Can't wait to go back in a few years!
Our trip was great! There were no snags with our ever-growing family, and we all felt satiated on day 4 when it was time to return home. Yes, Chelan lived up to its promise and the delicious ice cream at Pat & Mike's on the way out of town left us wanting more!
Every other year, my family takes a trip to Lake Chelan. There is nothing like wading in the crystal blue water, eating ice cream cones that practically melt before you can eat them, basking in the old town feel of the city, and swirling down the water slides that sit high above the town on the side of a mountain. Yes, Lake Chelan has it all and it is the perfect place to relax and enjoy family while sharing tons of laughs and memories.
I have been going to Lake Chelan since I was a child. I camped for years during the summer in the Chelan State Park with my cousins, camped with my family in both the State and City Parks, and more recently, stayed in hotels (my dad hates camping) right on the lake. While I do miss the smell of the campfire and waking up on a cold pillow, I thoroughly enjoy the hotel atmosphere and don't miss the dirt and muck. For me, Chelan has gotten better and better since I introduced my kids to the fun it has to offer. They now have their own memories and ask me year long when we are going to go back! For Michael and Claire, this trip to Chelan was their third. For Matthew and my nephew Kyle, this was their first trip!
Chelan is a short 3 1/2 hours from my parent's house. To break up the trip, we sometimes stop in a quaint and cute German town called Leavenworth. The small town was built to look German and offers a lot of shopping and yummy snacks. We couldn't resist the taffy shop and of course, we had to frequent the authentic German coffee shop, Starbucks. The kids enjoyed the opportunity to stretch their legs and Matthew was equally happy to get out of his carseat, eat, and enjoy the scenery. 
For the past two trips, we have stayed at a cute little hotel on the other side of a little bridge from the small downtown of Chelan. Unfortunately, they were remodeling and have started upgrading their rooms to draw more guests (and more money)! So, we opted instead to stay at Campbell's Resort which is right in the middle of town. I stayed there years ago with my Uncle Denny, Aunt Carol, and cousins Julie and Stefanie when I was 11 and we really enjoyed our stay there. This year, our family (13 people) occupied 4 rooms and used my Mom and Dad's room as the 'Party Room'. Okay, we basically snacked, played games, and fed the babies there- but that is about as much partying as we get these days! Their room was situated perfectly on the lake and it never got boring sitting on their balcony, watching the boats zig-zag on the water, while eating red licorice (a Chelan must!). At night, the starry sky was breath-taking and if you timed it right, you could watch the moon sneak behind the mountain only to return the next day.
The big variable of the trip were Matthew (5 1/2 months) and Kyle (9 months). Would having two babies throw off the rhythm of the trip, or would having them there enhance the trip? I am happy to report that both babies did great! They slept pretty well, and napped on the go. They even went down a few waterslides! When we booked the trip last year, both Jill and I were pregnant and we wondered how it would be once the boys arrived. I think everyone was happy they were with us. They looked adorable in their swim trunks, Kyle got to try his first ice cream, and both enjoyed the favorable weather and I think they relaxed, too. 
One big sell for Chelan, next to the nostalgia of the small city, is the water park called SlideWaters. It is a smallish park, but so much fun! The babies and Michael and Claire started on the small kiddie slides. It didn't take long for my two crazies to want to go on the big slides and off they went. We first took them on a double tube ride which is no small feat! Up the sides of the slide we flew and all I could hear was Claire's giggling as I tried to see through her hair which was flying back in my face. Next to the double tube ride is a slide called the Purple Haze. I went on it a few years ago and remembered it to be a little rough and scary, but not too bad. Claire had absolutely no interest in it, but Michael begged and begged to go on. Michael knows that when we wants to push the envelope, he should ask me because Damien is more conservative when it comes to rides and scary-ish things. So, after seeing the hopeful glimmer in 
Michael's eyes and after talking to Damien about letting Michael go on it, he agreed. Up the hill we climbed to the entrance to the ride. The whole time in line, Michael was asking me if it was going to be scary. I said that it was a little scary, really dark, but a lot of fun. As I confidently answered Michael, I started to get nervous because I really didn't remember the ride much except that it is pitch black in the tube the whole way down. I was going to go first so that I could be at the bottom to catch him. I waved goodbye to Michael and told him to be brave. Off I went. Man- was it dark. Gees, the pace was fast and the water was rough. I was swished around and seriously couldn't see anything. The air in the tube was warm and I am embarrassed to say- I started 
hyperventilating. All I could think about was my Michael- who was so courageously handing his fear but was doing it because Mommy said it would be okay. And here I was- a grown woman freaking out! I pictured him crying, I thought of him choking on the water. I was now in a full blown panic and thought that maybe if I yelled loud enough up the tube to my brother-in-law Brian, he would hear me and spare Michael from the terrifying ride. As soon as I came up with this brilliant idea (not) I was splashed with overwhelming daylight and thrown into the pool of water. I knew that my splashing in the wading pool was the signal for Michael to go. Brian gave him a push and off he went. The ride only lasts about 45 seconds, but it seemed like an eternity. I pictured him coming out hysterically crying. I bit my nails and felt Damien and the rest of the family's eyes peering through me to the opening of the tube to see Michael come out. I brainstormed how I would handle Damien's anger as he held his frightened son and how it was all my fault. As soon as I began to formulate my plan, the tube spit Michael out into the water. "I'm coming Michael! Mommy's coming!" 
Once he wiped the water from his eyes, he yelled out, "That was awesome! I want to do it again!" All my worrying- thinking Michael couldn't handle it and I was the only one hyperventilating. In my eyes, this very moment propelled Michael to a new level in my mind. He is growing up and he did a great job at handling his fears. A lot better than I did! The whole day at the park was so fun, hysterical, and perfect. SlideWaters lived up to our expectations, again. Can't wait to go back in a few years!
Our trip was great! There were no snags with our ever-growing family, and we all felt satiated on day 4 when it was time to return home. Yes, Chelan lived up to its promise and the delicious ice cream at Pat & Mike's on the way out of town left us wanting more!
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