wonderful winthrop part i - autumn

I have been lucky enough to visit the town of Winthrop in Washington’s stunning Methow Valley twice in the last six months.  This is no small feat, as Winthrop is not really close nor on the way to anything, and it sits on a seasonal highway which is closed several months of the year.  The last time I can remember going to Winthrop was when I was probably 8 or 9 years old.  My family stopped through for only an hour or so, as a side trip on the way to our usual vacation at Pine Point Resort in the Washington Okanogan.   

Although brief, that first trip to Winthrop made a big impression.  After all, what kid doesn’t love a town with a Wild West theme?  I adored the frontier-style buildings, especially since I had recently seen and enjoyed An American Tail 2: Fievel Goes West.  What I loved the most about Winthrop, however, was the candy store we happened upon while wandering through town.  My sister and I were in awe when we walked in the door.  The store had candy canes of every flavor, multicolored marshmallows, giant lollipops, ice cream, fudge and more.  Everything was shiny, brightly colored and made of sugar; we were in heaven.  Our savvy parents, who knew that saying “no”to us at this point would certainly result in a meltdown, told us that we could each choose one item to take with us and eat in the van.   

After careful deliberation over every item in that beautiful palace of sugar, Sonja and I both chose giant rainbow-colored lollipops bigger than our heads.  We climbed giddily into van with them and were completely excited about the candy for about 15 minutes, until we got bored with licking.  As it turned out, giant lollipops are a lot more exciting in theory than in practice. I don't remember exactly what happened to them, but my guess is that they ended up as sticky messes on the floor of the van.

Winthrop: the Wild West of Washington

No matter what happened to my lollipop that day, the memory of the candy shop was burned clearly into my mind when I returned to Winthrop with Steve this past September.  I wasn’t sure it would still be there after all these years.  So imagine my delight when I discovered it was not only still there, but it had also expanded to include an outdoor snack bar, seating area and miniature golf course.  Honestly, it would have been hard to miss, as it turned out to be right on Main Street, with giant signs on the outside advertising ice cream, espresso and house-made fudge.  When Steve and I walked into the original candy store (after a round of miniature golf, of course), I was shocked at how small it seemed.  What I had remembered as an endless shrine to all things sugary now seemed more like a deliciously-stocked kitchen pantry.  Have I really grown that much?  Apparently so.

Steve looking smug after beating me at mini golf

Anyway, believe it or not, finding the candy store was actually not our primary reason for returning to Winthrop after so many years.  The primary impetus for this vacation was actually to cash in a voucher for the Sun Mountain Lodge, which we had received for our wedding.  Sun Mountain Lodge is a rustic luxury getaway, about fifteen minutes out of the main part of town.  Unfortunately, even with our gift certificate and a special promotional rate, we could only afford to stay at Sun Mountain two nights.  So, to extend our vacation at a more reasonable price, we decided to stay first at nearby Wolf Ridge Resort.  

Steve suggested staying Wolf Ridge, as he had wonderful memories of staying there on family trips as a kid.  We liked Wolf Ridge – and the price was definitely right for us.  That said, however, it was good that we decided to start the trip there and then finish at Sun Mountain.  Whereas Sun Mountain is rustic luxury, Wolf Ridge is just, well, rustic.  The cabin we stayed in was clean and comfortable, but very basic.   If you ever end up staying there, I recommend bringing extra towels for the bathroom, and bring some of your own pots, pans and utensils if you plan to cook.  Also, bring warm pajamas!  Although the days were still quite warm in mid-September, the nights got chilly both outside and inside the cabin. 

Rustic surroundings aside, we did enjoy our short stay at Wolf Ridge. Perhaps the best feature of the resort was its proximity to town.  It was very convenient to go into Winthrop for meals, shopping and entertainment (and candy!). The resort is also quite large, and there is a lot of space for walking, hiking and biking.  Steve has particularly fond memories of running around the resort with his childhood dog, Zoe (Wolf Ridge is pet friendly, something that cannot be said for Sun Mountain).  Usually, Wolf Ridge has a hot tub and pool available for guest use, but it was closed when we were there.  

After two days at Wolf Ridge, it was time to cash in our certificate and spend a couple days of country-luxury at Sun Mountain Lodge.  The resort offers spacious and comfortable rooms, and wonderful facilities (library, sitting area, pool area) from which to relax and enjoy the view of the surrounding mountains.  The restaurants – one fine-dining, one pub-style - offer tasty food and more opportunities to drink in the scenery. 

  

Taken during a hike near Sun Mountain Lodge

Much to my delight and to Steve’s chagrin, the guest rooms do not have televisions.  However, the resort does offer a wide variety of activities for guests (no screens required).  Some activities are free, like hikes around the resort’s extensive property, and a variety of games in the game room, from ping pong to chess.  Other activities are offered at a cost, such as horseback riding, mountain biking, and many snow activities in winter.  Due to our financial constraints, we had to be content with the free activities on this trip.  Thankfully, these activities were more than enough to fill a couple of days.  We indulged in some swimming, Steve played pool in the games room while I flailed around with a cue, and we hiked in the gorgeous September sunshine.

All in all, our September trip to Winthrop was a wonderful, relaxing getaway.  I came away wishing to return in winter, as the pictures of town under a blanket of snow made it look even more appealing and no less entertaining. As it happens, my wish was granted just a couple of weeks ago by Steve’s parents, who make an annual trip to the town with their biking club.  Be sure to tune in next week to hear all about our winter Winthrop adventure!