guide to group travel

GUIDE TO GROUP TRAVEL
Sponsored by Snohomish County Tourism
440 miles of diverse scenic views • Exceptional accommodations and dining • Unique and memorable attractions
Abundant shopping • Historic towns Turnaround access • Group parking • Rest stops
Beginning just 28 miles north of Seattle, the Cascade Loop is easily
accessible from the city.
Starting in Snohomish County, circle your way through the Cascade mountains, along the semi-arid Columbia
River Valley, past glacier-fed Lake Chelan, through the wildlife-filled Methow Valley and North Cascades National
Park, and into the Puget Sound. We are a path into nature, a road through friendly towns, and a rest stop at the
end of your day with comfortable lodging and delicious Northwest cuisine. The Cascade Loop is the best road trip
vacation in Washington State, and is an ideal, convenient tour for car clubs, biking groups, and motor coach tours!
Contact us with any questions you might have--we’d love to see your group on the Loop!
Cascade Loop Association: P.O. Box 3245, Wenatchee, WA 98807 (509) 662-3888
[email protected] cascadeloop.com
Snohomish River Valley
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Kick off your tour in Snohomish
County, home to fun, aviationfocused activities that showcase
the history and future of air travel.
Shop and dine along the Everett
Waterfront. Check out the historic
Mukilteo Lighthouse or take a ride
on a Washington State Ferry. Go
antiquing in historic Snohomish,
enjoy views of pastoral farmland,
and of course access to
amazing outdoor recreational
opportunities.
Group Activities
Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tours
Flying Heritage Collection
Shopping, dining and wine tasting
Western Heritage Museum and State Fairgrounds
Farm tours
Views
Mukilteo Lighthouse
Puget Sound & Washington State Ferries
Farmland
Mountains and rivers
Group Lodging
Inn at Port Gardner, Everett
Holiday Inn, Downtown Everett
Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Everett
Stevens Pass Greenway
Leavenworth/CascadeFoothills
Group Activities
Osprey Park, Sultan
Explore small towns - sample local fare
Picnic at Deception Falls State Park
WS DOT Rest Area - Nason Creek
Heritage Sites:
Iron Goat Interpretive Site
Skykomish Town Center Depot Park
Shopping and dining
Hiking and nature walks
Whitewater rafting
Ski & snowboard resort in Winter
Mountain biking in Summer
Travel into world-renowned,
Bavarian Leavenworth where
outdoor activities, shopping
and festivals are plentiful,
or take a scenic detour and
head toward beautiful Lake
Wenatchee and the remote but
charming community of Plain.
Just a few miles further and
you’ll reach the quaint, superfriendly town of Cashmere.
Group Activities
Shopping, dining and wine tasting
Hiking and nature walks
Whitewater rafting
Carriage rides and horseback riding
Zip Lines
Sleigh rides and guided snowmobile tours
Candy Factory tour
Breweries and distillery
Miniature golf
Heritage Sites: Barn Beach Reserve, Cashmere Museum
Views
Fall foliage
Mountain vistas, lakes, rivers, streams
Waterfalls:
Wallace Falls
Bridal Veil Falls
Deception Falls
Group Lodging
Mountain Springs Lodge, Plain
Icicle Village Resort, Leavenworth
Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort, Leavenworth
Bavarian Lodge, Leavenworth
Linderhoff Inn, Leavenworth
Enzian Inn, Leavenworth
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Head over the stunning Stevens
Pass Greenway for sweeping
mountain views, waterfalls,
lakes, rivers and streams. Visit
historic mountain towns, take
a quick nature walk and picnic.
Hike or mountain bike in warm
months; ski, snowboard or
snowshoe during the winter.
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Whether your group is traveling via motorcycle or motorcoach, unique and memorable activities are
abundant!
One of the reasons that Cascade Loop travelers come back year after year, is that they can travel the way they like. Guests seeking a restful respite enjoy leisurely garden
strolls, accessible waterfall viewing and waterfront R&R. Thrill seekers choose from zip lining, backcountry hiking, jet skiing, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, or kayaking
in Puget Sound. The Cascade Loop is a Foodie Paradise! Guests enjoy wine tasting, vineyard tours, locally-sourced cuisine, casual dining in small, family-owned eateries, or
world-class cuisine in elegant dining rooms with sweeping views. Culture buffs have a wealth of opportunites to choose from. We recommend these groups start out exploring
the history and future of aviation in Snohomish County at the Heritage Flying Collection and Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour. Then, take in live musical or
theatrical performances, explore historic sites and museums, outdoor art displays, galleries and even historic lighthouses. The Cascade Loop is the perfect destination to host
customized, “fun-packed” group tours!
Wenatchee/Columbia River Valley
Lake Chelan Valley
Travel along the Wenatchee
River, passing miles of orchards
until you reach the Columbia
River and Wenatchee, the Apple
Capital of the World. Located
at the base of the Cascade
foothills, and the confluence of
two rivers, outdoor recreation is
prolific! Travel past Wenatchee
and explore riverfront Entiat.
Group Activities
Ohme Gardens
Pybus Public Market
10-mile riverfront Apple Capital Loop Trail and park system
Shopping, dining and wine tasting
Hiking and nature walks
Boating, fishing and watersports
Public outdoor art installations
Rocky Reach Dam Visitor Center and Gardens
Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort
Heritage Sites:
National Historic District, Downtown Wenatchee
Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center
Rocky Reach Dam Museum, Wenatchee
Columbia Breaks Fire Interpretive Center, Entiat
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Group Lodging
Holiday Inn Express, Wenatchee
Springhill Suites, Wenatchee
Super 8, Wenatchee
Driving along the mighty
Columbia River, make your
way to Lake Chelan, home to
acclaimed wines and its own
AVA, beaches, watersports and
the historic towns of Chelan,
Stehekin and Manson. Play in
the water or simply take in mindblowing lakeside views!
Group Activities
Wine tasting and vineyard tours
Lady of the Lake boat tour
Manson Lakefront Park and Marina
Swimming, jetskiing, waterskiing, tubing
Boating and fishing
Golf
Waterslides
Shopping and dining
Colville Tribal Casino
Echo Ridge skiing and snowshoeing
Snowmobiling
Heritage Sites:
Buckner Homestead, Stehekin
Historic Downtown Chelan
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Group Lodging
Campbell’s Resort, Chelan
Darnell’s Lake Resort, Chelan
Lakeside Lodge & Suites, Chelan
Mountain View Lodge, Manson
Methow Valley
Methow Valley is Washington
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State’s Wild West, complete
with high alpine desert, ranches,
and wildlife. Travel along the
Columbia River and stop at
Pateros before heading North
towards the arts community of
Twisp, western-themed Winthrop,
and super scenic Mazama. The
Methow Valley is also home to the
nation’s largest cross-country ski
trail system.
Group Activities
Horseback riding
Hot air balloon rides
Art studios and galleries
Shopping and dining
Golf
Mountain biking
Whitewater rafting
Heritage Sites:
Pateros Museum, Pateros
TwispWorks, Twisp
Shafer Museum, Winthrop
Views: Fall Foliage, and Washington Pass Overlook
Group Lodging
Freestone Inn
Pateros Lakeshore Inn
Sun Mountain Lodge
No matter what time of year your group travels the Loop, sweeping scenic views will knock your socks off!
The number one reason that Cascade Loop vacationers hit the road with us year after year is the stunning, jaw-dropping views that are easily
visible from the roadside. If your group likes to hit the trail and explore the backcountry, there are certainly boundless opportunities, but for the
average traveler, there’s an amazing amount of diverse, natural beauty to be taken in without getting off the beaten path. Each season also
brings its unique twist to the landscape. Spring welcomes the opening of the North Cascades Highway (closed typically from Nov.-May, weather
depending). Expect to see gleaming snow-topped alpine peaks, lush fields of Spring flowers, and rushing waterfalls and streams as highmountain snows melt away. Summer heralds brilliant swaths of wildflowers, butterflies, wildlife viewing and tons of opportunity for tidepooling
and beachcombing. Fall foliage tours are hugely popular with prolific stands of quaking aspen, maple and tamarack. Fall is also wine crush
season, apple harvest and great annual festivals such as Oktoberfest in Leavenworth -- all must-see activities for your group tour.
North Cascades
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The North Cascades is home to
one of America’s most spectacular
mountain drives. Characterized by
rugged beauty, this steep mountain
range is filled with jagged peaks,
deep valleys, cascading waterfalls,
mountain lakes and hundreds of
glaciers. It’s no surprise that it is
often labeled the “North American
Alps.”
Group Activities
North Cascades National Park
Skagit Boat Tours
North Cascades Visitor Information Center
Shopping & dining
Hiking & nature walks
White water rafting
Views
Fall foliage
Mountains, lakes, rivers and streams
Ross Lake & Diablo Dam Overlooks
Mountain vistas, rivers, streams, waterfalls
Group Lodging
North Cascades Institute Base Camp
Three Rivers Inn
Skagit Valley & Fidalgo Island Whidbey Scenic Isle Way
Skagit Valley is home to acres
of blooms during the Spring
and beautiful pastoral scenery
year-round. Expect to see
fields bursting with produce,
and depending on the season,
Trumpeter Swans and Snow
Geese. Then, head out sea
kayaking or catch a whale
watching tour after exploring
downtown maritime Anacortes!
Group Activities
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, April
Wildlife viewing: birding and whale watching
Shopping and dining
Sea kayaking
Farm tours
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Views
Fields of tulips, daffodils and produce
Mt. Erie, Anacortes
Puget Sound, Anacortes Ferry Terminal
Group Lodging
Hampton Inn, Burlington
Holiday Inn Express, Burlington
Skagit Valley Inn, Burlington
Fairfield Inn, Burlington
Majestic Inn & Spa, Anacortes
Starting at jaw-dropping Deception
Pass, travel down Whidbey Island,
the 55-mile long island, whose
slower pace and natural beauty
have dubbed it “The Shortest
Distance to Far Away” ®. Watch
for whales, birds and amazing
beachfront photo-ops!
Group Activities
Tidepooling and beachcombing
Wildlife viewing: birding and whale watching
Shopping, dining and wine tasting
Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens
Greenbank Farms
Farm tours
Hiking and nature walks
Heritage Sites:
Fort Casey and Fort Ebey State Parks
Fort Ebey’s National Heritage Reserve
Island County Museum, Coupeville
Views
Deception Pass
Fort Casey and Admiralty Head Lighthouse
Beaches, tidepools, fields of produce
Group Lodging
Best Western Plus Harbor Plaza, Oak Harbor
The Coupeville Inn, Coupeville
The Quintessa Inn, Clinton
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