The Cascades - Washington State - page 281

IN MAZAMA
For gourmet groceries, decent deli food, and espresso drinks, drop by the
Mazama Store, 50 Lost River Rd. ( & 509/996-2855; www.methow.com/

mazamastore).
Freestone Inn Dining Room NORTHWEST The Freestone Inn
is one of the two luxury lodges in the valley and its restaurant is, not surpris-
ingly, one of the two best restaurants in the valley. Located pretty much in the
lobby of the lodge, the dining room benefits from all the rustic styling that goes
with the cathedral ceiling, while the menu is decidedly modern in focus. A
recent menu included among the appetizers a skillet-roasted black tiger shrimp
and Riesling-butter braised leeks. Main courses likewise include plenty of hearty,
innovative dishes, such as pancetta-wrapped sea scallops, and pan-fried pecan-
crusted rainbow trout.
31 Early Winters Dr. & 800/639-3809 or 509/996-3906. Reservations recommended. Main courses
$17-$24. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Sun-Thurs 7-10:30am and 5:30-8pm; Fri-Sat 7-10:30am and 5:30-9pm
(shorter hours in winter).

3 Lake Chelan ¡
166 miles E of Seattle, 37 miles N of Wenatchee, 59 miles S of Winthrop
Formed when a glacier-carved valley flooded, Lake Chelan is 1,500 feet deep,
55 miles long, and less than 2 miles wide in most places. This land-locked fjord
is the third-deepest lake in the United States (reaching 400 ft. below sea level)
and is the longest natural lake in Washington. Only the southern 25 miles of the
lake are accessible by road, yet at the northern end, the community of Stehekin
(reachable only by boat, plane, or on foot) has managed to survive for more than
100 years despite not being connected to the outside world by road. Plenty of
summer sunshine, clear water, and blue skies have made the lake one of the top
destinations in eastern Washington, and today the town of Chelan has the feel
of a beach town despite the rugged mountain views all around.
At the southern end of the lake, apple orchards cover the foothills, while at
the northern end, forests and rugged slopes that are home to mountain goats
and black bears come right down to the water's edge. While the southern end of
the lake is the domain of ski boats and personal watercraft, the northern, remote
end is as idyllic a locale as you could ever wish to find and feels as if it is com-
pletely cut off from the outside world.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE Chelan is on U.S. 97, the main north-south highway in
central Washington. From Seattle, take U.S. 2 to Wenatchee and then head north.
GETTING AROUND Although it is not very convenient for visitors, the
Link bus system ( & 509/662-1155 ) services the Lake Chelan, Wenatchee, and
Leavenworth areas.
VISITOR INFORMATION For more information on this area, contact the
Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce, 102 E. Johnson St. (P.O. Box 216),
Chelan, WA 98816 ( & 800/4-CHELAN or 509/682-3503; www.lakechelan.
com). For information on Stehekin on the Web, check out http://stehekin
choice.com , which is the website of the community newspaper. This site has
lots of information on things to do in Stehekin.