Lake Chelan is a popular place for adults to visit because of its numerous wineries, but it’s also a very family-friendly vacation destination. Chelan has over 300 days of sun per year, lots of outdoor recreation opportunities, and many kid-friendly attractions. I grew up visiting Lake Chelan, and I’ve continued that tradition with my own family. There’s something to do for kids of all ages! In this post, I’m sharing 14 things to do in Chelan with kids during the summer season.
Quick Version: Here’s a list of 14 fun things to do in Chelan with kids
| 1. Visit Slidewaters (a local water park) | 8. Watch a movie at the historic Ruby Theatre |
| 2. Head to the beach | 9. Go bowling |
| 3. Visit a kid-friendly winery | 10. Watch a laser light show |
| 4. Play miniature golf | 11. Go out for ice cream |
| 5. Ride the Go Karts | 12. Visit a candy and toy store |
| 6. Go for a stroll at the Riverwalk | 13. Visit the bookstore |
| 7. Pick fruit | 14. Take a day trip to Leavenworth |
Best Things to Do With Kids
1. Visit Slidewaters
As a kid, going to the water park was hands down my favorite thing to do in Chelan. Each year, my brothers and I couldn’t wait until it was time to go to Slidewaters. It was the highlight of our trip to Chelan year after year. Slidewaters has continued to expand and has numerous attractions for kids of all ages.
There are a total of 19 water attractions over 12 acres. Younger kids might enjoy the zero depth beach, lazy river, and aqua zoo. Older kids will enjoy the numerous water slides, the Purple Haze (pitch black water slide), and learning to surf on a huge stationary wave.
As a parent, I love how clean and well-manicured they keep the park. It really feels like an oasis in the desert landscape.
I recommend bringing a blanket to spread out on the grass. You can also bring soft shoulder coolers into the park for snacks and water bottles.
For the first time ever, we rented one of the cabanas during our last visit. If you have a larger party, it might be worth splitting the cost. Because of the cabana, we had shade all day as well as comfortable seating.
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2. Head to the Beach
There are several different parks that are located right on the shores of Lake Chelan. Don Morse Memorial Park is located within walking distance of downtown Chelan and has 2,000 feet of waterfront. The park also has a playground, skate park, and basketball court. Further up lake is Lake Chelan State Park. This park also has a playground and plenty of shoreline. You can even rent kayaks or paddle boards. Lakeside Park is located on the south shore of Chelan and has swimming docks. (For kids that like to jump off the dock into the lake!) The water at Lake Chelan is pristine and cold. Going to one of these parks is the perfect way to spend an afternoon during the summer with kids.
TIP: Don’t forget to bring your own flotation devices!
3. Visit a Kid-Friendly Winery
There are a handful of wineries that are super kid-friendly. If you want to visit one of the more than 30 wineries in Lake Chelan, you certainly can! If you need help deciding which one to visit, we wrote a full post on our favorite wineries in Chelan. Wapato Point Cellars is especially kid-friendly because they have a large lawn and a playground. They also have a full restaurant on their property, so you don’t have to worry about shuffling kids to a dinner reservation somewhere. Rio Vista Wines also has a large grassy lawn and was very kid-friendly.
4. Play Miniature Golf
I’m pretty sure all kids love putt-putt golf. Located adjacent to Don Morse Memorial Park is “The Green” putting course. There are 18 holes that have beautiful views of the lake. We recommend that you go in the early evening when it’s not as hot outside.
5. Ride the Go Karts
Right next to the miniature golf place is Rally Alley go karts. You can choose between a single or a double-seater and race around their course.
6. Go for a Stroll
Stretch out your kids’ legs and stroll along the Riverwalk. Chelan Riverwalk Park has a one-mile loop that will keep young children interested. You’ll walk along the river, over bridges, and along a boardwalk. You’ll often see lots of ducks, fish, and boats.
7. Pick Fruit
Explore the local orchards and pick fresh fruit. Chelan Valley Farms offers apple picking during the weekends when the apples are in season, and Blueberry Hills Farm offers u-pick blueberries. Kids will love “being helpers” and picking the best fruit to take home.
8. Watch a Movie
If you have older kids, you may enjoy taking them into town to watch a movie at the historic Ruby Theatre. The theater was built in 1914 and has a single screen.
9. Go Bowling
Chelan Lanes is located within walking distance of Don Morse Memorial Park. As a kid, we would often go there on rainy days to burn some energy. Check the hours in advance of your visit. We were disappointed they were not open during the afternoon on a rainy day.
10. Watch a Laser Light Show
If you’re up for a little drive, you can visit the Grand Coulee Dam. There is a visitor center and impressive views of the dam. But if you stay for the evening, they put on a laser light show across the dam. It’s a pretty impressive sight!
11. Go Out for Ice Cream
After a day at the lake, head into town for some ice cream. Lakeview Drive In offers milkshakes and ice cream, and it’s located right next to Don Morse Memorial Park. Also within walking distance is Froyo Earth. Choose your frozen yogurt base and your toppings.
12. Visit a Candy and Toy Store
At Chelan Toys & Sweets, you can pick out a new toy or browse their candy selection. Their rice krispie treats are pretty impressive!
13. Visit the Bookstore
One of my favorite things to do as a kid (and still today!) is visit Chelan’s bookstore: Riverwalk Books. Each year I’d pick out a book or two and then I’d get to bring it to the lake and read. They have a great kids selection!
14. Take a Day Trip to Leavenworth
Leavenworth is located a little over an hour away from Chelan. The alpine Bavarian town has plenty of things to do with kids.You might enjoy visiting the Reindeer Farm, checking out the nutcracker museum, or walking around Blackbird Island.
Kid-Friendly Hotels in Chelan
Growing up, we would always stay at the Lakeshore RV Park and go camping. The campground is located right next to Don Morse Memorial Park and is within walking distance of downtown Chelan.
If camping’s not your thing, there are plenty of hotels in Chelan. We would recommend Campbell’s Resort. The resort prides itself on being family-friendly, and they have their own beach and swimming pool. The resort has been a mainstay of Chelan since 1901. Some children might not like swimming in the super-cold water of the lake, so having a heated pool can be a great amenity for families.
We have also stayed many times at the Grandview on the Lake. This collection of condo units is also within walking distance of downtown. If you want to be centrally located and have a kitchen, this is the place we would recommend. Their pool has a beautiful view of the lake. You can read all about our stay at the Grandview. It’s where we’ve visited several times with our own young children.
The last few years, we’ve taken multi-family trips to Chelan. We typically rent a vacation home right on the water. During our last visit, we stayed at this awesome home which had a hot tub right on the lake.
Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Chelan
Some restaurants that are especially kid-friendly in Chelan include:
- Blueberry Hills Farm: Great spot for breakfast! Kids might also enjoy blueberry picking or exploring the farm. When we went there was a long wait for breakfast, and we liked that they brought our blueberry cinnamon roll right away. It was a nice snack to keep our kiddo busy while we waited.
- Lakeview Drive-In: Burgers, fries, grilled cheese sandwiches, milkshakes, ice cream… everything a kid likes to eat! We like that it’s a casual spot right on the water. Kids can run around in the grass and don’t have to be confined to the table.
- Local Myth Pizza: All kids love pizza, right? The pizzas at Local Myth Pizza are super delicious and easy for families to share. We had Local Myth Pizza delivered to our AirBNB and it was an easy dinner that everyone liked.
Be sure to see our full list of our favorite restaurants in Chelan!
Summary
There are so many fun things to do in Chelan with kids. We honestly prefer some of the more simple things, like spending a day at the lake. We’ll bring sand castle supplies and floaties. One of our kids’ favorite things to do is to visit Slidewaters. We always go at least once each year, and our daughter talks about it all year long! We hope this post inspires you to plan a trip to Chelan with your family!
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