How to Throw an Amazing Bachelorette Party in Lake Chelan
Last Updated on April 3, 2024 by Kelly
If you’re looking for a dreamy bachelorette destination in Washington, this post is for you! Today I’ll share why Lake Chelan is the perfect destination for a bachelorette party. (I’m speaking from experience, because my own bachelorette party was in Lake Chelan!) I’ve been to Lake Chelan dozens of times, and there are plenty of activities to keep any bridal party happy! See below for all of my recommendations! Cheers and congrats!
My Tips for Booking a Bachelorette Party in Chelan
- Timing: I recommend visiting Lake Chelan during the summer. You’ll be able to enjoy all the water activities the lake has to offer! (Plus, it’s super fun to sip wines outside with a view of the lake.)
- Book lodging far in advance: Lake Chelan is extremely popular during the summer, and vacation rentals fill up quickly! I recommend looking for lodging at least 6 months in advance of your trip. Larger groups may need to make reservations even sooner.
- Book wine tasting reservations: If you’re planning on wine tasting in Chelan, make those reservations ASAP!
Where to Go for a Bachelorette Party
1. Visit the Chelan Wineries
Did you know that there are over 30 wineries and tasting rooms in Chelan? There are wineries tucked into the hills, wineries with lake views, wineries along the river, and trendy wineries downtown. You could easily spend the weekend hopping from winery to winery! We wrote an entire article about the wineries at Lake Chelan if you are interested in further details for planning your wine trip.
The Lake Chelan region is classified as an American Viticultural Area (AVA), meaning that it has specific agricultural conditions for supporting vineyards. Consequently, there are over 300 acres of vineyards along Lake Chelan! You can read all about the Lake Chelan Wine Valley.
If you plan on visiting multiple wineries during the same day, you should consider booking a shuttle service. With a shuttle, everyone can drink responsibly and the whole group can ride together. You won’t have to worry about parking, designated drivers, or coordinating vehicles. We rented a shuttle for my bachelorette party, and it made for such a carefree and easy day! A few options are:
- Chelan Wine Tours and Excursions: You can choose between a 4 or 6 hour tour.
- Limousine Wine Tours: They offer a silver package (4 hours of wine tasting), a gold package (4 hours of wine tasting plus a two hour meal block), and weekday specials.
- Chelan Water to Wine: This is a unique company that will boat you to different wineries. When you’re not sipping wine at the wineries, you will be on the lake!
It’s helpful if you group the wineries you want to visit together (south shore vs. north shore, for example).
My Favorite Chelan Wineries
There are a ton of different wineries in Chelan, and we haven’t been to them all. (Yet!) But we have been to quite a few. We will share some of our favorites to generate some ideas for your own wine excursions. If you plan to book one of the wine tours, though, be advised that they often have a set list of wineries.
North Shore Wineries:
- Hard Row to Hoe: The perfect winery for a bachelorette party! The vineyard is built on land that previously housed a brothel.
- Lake Chelan Winery: In addition to excellent wines, they also host BBQ in the Vineyard and are home to Lake Chelan Cheese. Pretty much all of my favorite things combined in one place!
- Chelan Ridge Winery: The views of the lake are beautiful, and this winery is pet-friendly.
- Vin Du Lac Winery: This winery has a farmhouse vibe. Their bistro serves some excellent food to pair with your wines.
South Shore Wineries:
- Mellisoni Vineyards: With sweeping views of Lake Chelan, Mellisoni Vineyards offers an intimate setting to enjoy their wines. Limited indoor seating. Outdoor covered seating on the patio or out on the lawn.
- Tsillan Cellars: This is easily one of our favorite wineries. You’ll feel like you are in Italy! We recommend you stay after your wine tasting for dinner at Sorrento’s Ristorante.
- Siren Song Wines: A gorgeous property with an arbor overlooking the lake. Definitely add this winery to your list!
- Tunnel Hill Winery: This winery is set in small stone buildings with a backdrop of the lake.
- Nefarious Cellars: If you have a group of six or less, this is the place to go. They offer an intimate wine tasting experience for smaller groups.
Other:
- Rio Vista Wines: This winery is located a little further from the others on the Columbia River, but it is definitely worth the drive! It’s one of our favorite wineries. The winery is located right on the water. (You can even drive your boat up to their dock!) This is one of our favorite wineries in Chelan.
For my bachelorette party, we focused on the South Shore wineries and we ended at Tsillan Cellars for dinner at Sorrento’s. I wouldn’t change a thing!
2. Rent a Party Boat
Chelan Parasail offers party boat rentals for up to 22 guests. The boats come equipped with sunshades and lots of water toys. There’s nothing better than being out on the water with your best friends.
3. Go Kayaking or Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Visit Lake Chelan State Park and check out their equipment rentals. I rented kayaks during our last visit and had a blast exploring the lake during the morning when it was still calm and quiet. For a bride that likes to be active, this is a great daytime activity.
4. Visit the Casino
Enjoy a night of gaming at the 12 Tribes Lake Chelan Casino! The casino has lots of different slot machines and gaming tables. If you’re looking for a night out on the town, it’s a lot of fun. Just be sure to gamble responsibly.
5. Go Bar Hopping
In the downtown area of Chelan, there are several bars. If you want to have a dive bar experience, I recommend Senor Frogs. For a craft beer, you can then walk to Stormy Mountain Brewing.
6. Relax at the Beach
Within walking distance of downtown Chelan is Don Morse Memorial Park. The park features plenty of grassy areas and beach along the lakeshore to relax and unwind. Bring your beach blankets and pack a picnic. There are some trees for shade and plenty of space to go swimming.
7. Go Miniature Golfing
If you’re looking for a fun outdoor activity, you should visit “The Green” Putting Course. There are 18 holes all with a view of the lake. This is a good group activity if you’re looking to do something fun.
8. Visit Slidewaters
If you’re visiting during the warmer months, I highly recommend that you spend an afternoon at Slidewaters. There are dozens of waterslides, as well as a lazy river and lots of swimming pools. Your group will definitely have a blast at the water park. I’ve been to Slidewaters dozens of times and I always have a great time.
9. Practice Some Yoga
After a busy weekend, it might be nice to schedule in some self-care time. There are several yoga studios in the Chelan area.
10. Go Bowling
If it rains unexpectedly, we highly recommend checking out Chelan Lanes for some indoor fun.
11. Check Out a Comedy Show
Rotten Apple hosts comedy shows on the weekends. This is the perfect activity for a bachelorette party to keep your group laughing and having a good time!
12. See a Movie in a Historic Theater
The historic Ruby Theater is located in downtown Chelan. There is only one screen, so there is only one movie selection each night.
13. Take the Lady of the Lake to Stehekin
If you have time for a day trip (or if you’d like to add on a night or two to your Chelan stay), we highly recommend visiting the remote town of Stehekin.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.
Looking for a place to stay? You can stay overnight at Siren Song Wines! The winery has a villa that sleeps up to 6 people. The Lookout in Chelan also has vacation homes that can accommodate larger groups.
Where We Ate
We had an amazing brunch at Blueberry Hills Farm! They don’t take reservations, so be sure to give yourself enough time to wait in line. This restaurant is super popular! I ordered a blueberry cinnamon roll, and they were kind enough to bring it out before the brunch entrees. It was the perfect starter to share with my friends!
One of the nights of the bachelorette party we decided to have a nice dinner. We made reservations at Sorrento’s Ristorante. It felt like we were dining in Italy!
Bachelorette Party Favors
If you’re planning on making goodie bags filled with party favors for your guests, here’s a few things you might want to include:
- Gold eye masks (a little bit of luxurious self-care)
- Champagne glitter (this edible glitter will really glam-up your champagne toasts)
- Plastic Sunglasses (great for the beach and for group photos)
- Metallic temporary tattoos (easily removable but super fun)
- Drink holder pool floaties (you can choose based on your theme, including diamond rings, cacti, pineapples, or gold rings)
- Pink tumblers (You can even personalize them with a Cricut if you have one!)
Summary
Lake Chelan is an ideal location for a bachelorette party because you can spend the day swimming in the lake, you can visit multiple wineries for tastings, and you can enjoy fine dining with a view! We hope this post was helpful as you plan a bachelorette party in Lake Chelan!
Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.
