Just south of US-2, Wenatchee (pop. 27,856) is the commercial center of the Wenatchee Valley, one of the world’s most productive apple- and pear-growing regions—it’s responsible for about half the nation’s annual crop. The Washington Apple Commission Visitor Center, a block north of US-2 below the Ohme Gardens, is the place to go to find out all about the state’s apple industry, and to enjoy free apples and apple juice (not to mention potent air-conditioning).
Wenatchee stretches south from US-2, with three miles of shopping malls, car dealerships, and anonymous highway sprawl before you reach the downtown business district. Many large fruit warehouses and a nice park line the railroad tracks along the riverfront; one place worth stopping is the excellent North Central Washington Museum (closed Sun.; $3), at 127 S. Mission Street, which contains extensive displays tracing the region’s prehistoric and pioneer past, from native rock art to a working model of the railroad route over the Cascades. An adjacent building houses a large exhibit on Washington’s apple industry, including an antique but fully functioning apple sorting and packing line.
Along with every fast-food franchise known to humankind, Wenatchee also has some great local haunts, including Dusty’s In-N-Out (509/662-7805), at 1427 N. Wenatchee Avenue, famous for burgers and shakes (and words of wisdom on their sign) since 1949; one block north is the Windmill (509/665-9529), a dinner-only western steakhouse at 1501 N. Wenatchee Avenue. There are also lots of motels, ranging from the low-budget Travelodge ($50; 509/662-8165) at 1004 N. Wenatchee Avenue to the business-oriented West Coast Wenatchee Center Hotel ($75–100; 509/662-1234) at 201 N. Wenatchee Avenue.
