Skiing

Just 12 miles from Wenatchee [1], Mission Ridge Ski Area (7500 Mission Ridge Rd., 509/626-5208, www.missionridge.com [2], lift tickets run $50 adults, $32 seniors, $44 ages 13–17, $30 ages 7–12, $9 kids age 6 and under) is the area’s largest slope and Washington’s east-side secret, with drier powder and more sun than other Cascade ski areas. It has 36 runs (plus a snowboard half-pipe) spread across 2,000 acres and a base elevation of 4,570 feet.

At the base, you’ll find a restaurant, lounge, ski and snowboard rental shop, ski school, and child-care facility. Mission Ridge is generally open Thanksgiving to early April. Night skiing is $15 for all ages.

A SkiLink bus (509/663-6543, www.linktransit.com [3], $3 round-trip) operates from Wenatchee [1], Leavenworth [4], or Chelan [5]. Your skis are safely stowed in racks attached to the side of the bus.