The crew of the popular Spam wagon, driven by Lee Jarolimek of East Wenatchee, head for the grandstands during the annual demolition derby at the Waterville Fairgrounds.
The crew of the popular Spam wagon, driven by Lee Jarolimek of East Wenatchee, head for the grandstands during the annual demolition derby at the Waterville Fairgrounds.
Stroll through Waterville’s historic downtown and little shops, check out the Waterville Historic Hotel, Douglas County Courthouse and Douglas County Museum.
The biggest show of the year is the North Central Washington Fair and Rodeo, which books in top-notch country music acts that attract big crowds. It runs from Aug. 22-25 at the fairgrounds (douglascountywa.net).
Waterville can also be a base for exploring the sweeping, wheat-covered Waterville Plateau.
Drive north and see “erratics,” epic-sized boulders dropped by a retreating ice sheet long, long ago. There’s a particularly striking collection of the giants along the modern highway to Chelan down McNeil Canyon Road.
Just south of town is the Badger Mountain Ski Area, a family friendly place where a day of gentle skiing will cost you just $10.
Drive east on Highway 2 to tiny Douglas and lovely, gleaming St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and then through Moses Coulee where you the Nature Conservancy studies bats on its Moses Coulee/Beezley Hills Preserve.
Under, big, big skies, head east to Dry Falls State Park and its dramatic overlook and smart visitors center.
Turn right and head south on Highway 17 and take in the beautiful, dramatic drive on the edge of the Chain Lakes, south to Soap Lake.
Turn left and head north about 30 miles to Grand Coulee Dam.
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