Chelan, Washington: a girls weekend on an Italian-feeling lake

Lake Chelan is 50 miles long and very deep, and the hills that come down to it are planted with vines. In autumn the water goes dark and the hillsides go gold. It looks like the lake towns of northern Italy, and the wineries lean into it, planting Italian grapes rather than the Cabernet everyone else in Washington grows.

This is the more grown-up weekend of the four. It costs more and it is worth it.

When to go

Mid-October for the colour. Late September if you want the wine celebrations, when the harvest is on and every estate is doing something.

One thing worth knowing: after Labor Day the prices drop 20 to 30 percent. Same lake, same wineries, fewer people, less money.

What a weekend costs

$225 to $600 or more per person per day. This is the most expensive town on this page. The range is wide because the lodging is: a room at Riverwalk Inn is a different trip from a suite at Trouvaille.

Where you would stay

Trouvaille Guest Inn has European-inspired suites with their own entrances and kitchenettes. The private entrance matters with a group.

Campbell's Resort is the historic one downtown, with marina access and a spa. You can walk to dinner from it.

The Landing Chelan has waterfront rooms with patio fireplaces in season.

Riverwalk Inn and Cafe is the budget-friendly one, lakeside and near the Ruby Theatre.

Every decision, already made for you

Where to stay, where to eat, what to do, and a ready made 48 hour plan for every town. Pick one, send it to the group, go.

See the handbookOne time payment. Love it or full refund.

Where you would eat

Vin du Lac Bistro does wild mushroom flatbread and pumpkin-spice cocktails in autumn. It is a winery and a bistro, so you can make an afternoon of it.

The Lookout at Lake Chelan has autumn truffle pasta and spiced wine, and the sunset view.

Blueberry Hills Farm is an orchard with a kitchen. Berry galettes and apple cider slush.

Even Keel Roadhouse does a pumpkin pancake breakfast on weekends only.

What to drink

Tsillan Cellars is a 135-acre estate specialising in Italian varietals. Tastings are $12, and it is the place that most makes the Italy comparison land.

Lake Chelan Winery runs $20 harvest vineyard tours with barrel samples.

ChelanCraft Cider pours $10 flights, including a pear-ginger.

Lake Chelan Brewery has a chai-spice porter if the group is not all wine drinkers.

The parts most visitors miss

Chelan Evening Farmers Market runs Thursdays through October with harvest vendors.

Art at the Lake Fall Exhibit is a free gallery crawl of seasonal work.

Pumpkin Palooza at Sunnyslope is $12 and the entry includes a pumpkin.

What the weekend looks like

Friday is a wine blending workshop at Lake Chelan Winery, a sunset cruise and dinner at Vin du Lac. Saturday is vineyard yoga in the morning, an e-bike tour through the harvest-ready vines and whatever the Autumn Wine Celebration is running. Sunday is an apple-pressing demonstration at Blueberry Hills, the local art, and a pub dinner before the drive.

The full plan, with the bookings in order, is in The Girls' Trip Handbook.

This town is one of 80 on the Feels Like Europe Index, all of which pass the same five points.

Frequently asked questions