First, the question of best swimming holes came up, and Pat recommends: 1. Black Pine Lake—it’s east of Twisp, so it’s a bit of a drive, but not so far. You will be passing a sign for if you take the Columbia River route to get there. It’s somewhere between Twisp and the town of Methow. 2. Patterson Lake is good, and 3. Lots of swimming holes are coming into condition for the Methow river, including tubing on the gentle part from W to T. There is one swimming hole on the upper river along Lost River Road as you go near Goat Wall. 4. Twisp River Park is an option because swimming holes develop there in mid-late summer. Drive toward the river if you turn at the side street that the Twisp River Pub is on—and that takes you to the Twisp City Park.
Fruit Stand: The nectarines Pat brought us back from the area last year were phenomenal. S dried most of them, and then we had this awesome fruit snack for months. We're out now, but luckily they're still in season and we asked Pat which fruit stand to buy nectarines from. She recommends Estes, along the Columbia. They have both peaches and nectarines—and— green beans, and tomatoes. It is a big fruit stand, between Orondo and the Beebe Bridge. It’s not on the river side of the road, kind of nestled into the other side of the road. It's easy to find it because they have foil strips hanging from their fruit trees in the orchard. And they have a lot of hanging flowers along the front of the fruit stand, lots of parking.
Other places to eat and see:
In Twisp:
The Twisp River Pub—OK food, and lots of people hang out there, and good beers, and outdoor seating.
Twisp Bakery, on Grover Street (next to health food store)—good breads and baked goods
Confluence Gallery—about a block up from the Bakery—always great local art and jewelry and craft
In Winthrop:
Great Pizza—name of the place is Highway 20 Pizza—small place, between the Red Apple Grocery and the Methow River Bridge (if you are coming from Twisp direction)—on the river side. Really very good, the ART pizza is the best says Pat.
Rocking Horse Bakery—good coffee and delicious scones, open at 6 am (Right across from the bakery—the old gas station—has a great selection of imported chocolate bars, really. And licorice varieties too.)
Bookstore and Mountain Sports store—The bookstore now has a great book selection, and Winthrop Mountain Sports has great outdoor clothes selection. Both are just a few doors down the street from Rocking Horse Bakery.
Sun Mountain Lodge—their small restaurant, off the side from the spendy restaurant, has good food (also acceptably good small pizzas, for a small town), small menu, and really really great views. Moderately priced.
Hiking - Half way up to Sun Mountain Lodge, off to the left, there is a sign for Chickadee Trailhead (Sun Mountain Maps and other valley maps are online on Methow Valley Sports Trails Association site)—there is a really nice short hike around Beaver Pond off that trail head, and longer mountain bike trails.
Places to stop on your drive:
If you got over N. Cascades/HWY 20—you have to stop at Cascadian Farm Fruit stand—blueberries in season, and great smoothies!
If you take Blewett Pass way—stop in Cle Elum at Pioneer Coffee Roaster for coffee (coming from Seattle, it’s on the right side of the road, just off the main road at one of the traffic lights, just past the Exxon station I think).
Just past the town of Cashmere, look for a highway sign for Anjou Bakery (small green sign with a sprig of wheat)—great tomato toasties for lunch, and terrific French bread and pastries and pies to die for…
