Greetings and welcome to our river retreat. Your hosts, Tim & Cathy, hope you enjoy your time here very much. Below is information about our place, Sunland Estates, and some of our favorite things to do in the area. Please also review the safety and house rules on our Airbnb listing to ensure that your experience with us is wonderful. We will provide the address, your entrance access code and WIFI password through an AirBNB message near your expected arrival. Please use the AirBNB messaging service for all normal communication. If it fails to meet your needs or if urgent contact is required you can call, text or use WhatsApp to connect with us at (509) 906-3634.
Trail along the Shoreline of Wanapum Lake
One option for getting to the water is directly in front of the patio sliding door. It may not seem obvious at first but if you go through the path in the raised rock bed you will come to a trail that winds through the sage down to the river. If you prefer, you can also follow the path at the northwest corner of the property by the neighbor's (Jeff & Jen) fence and connect with a much larger trail. Once you are down by the water you will notice a trail that follows the river all along the shoreline of Sunland. If you go south the trail continues along the park (large grass field). You will see a sign over by the basketball court where it picks up again. If you continue you will find yourself at the marina and from there you can walk the beach to RattleSnake Cove when the water level permits. If you go north from the cabin, when you get to the river trail, it will end at the road. If you follow that road further north you will come to a dead end that has a trail entrance to the bird sanctuary and a nice beach when the water level is right.
Amenities and their SAFE USE
The Weber Gas Grill is secured to the picnic table with a bungee cord to avoid issues with the wind. It can be moved as desired but please lock the wheels, turn off the gas when not in use and return it to its secured location before you leave.
There are misters that run along the outside edge of the patio. They can be turned on with a valve on the post at the southwest corner of the patio. If you use the misters be very careful that no one slips on the patio as it will become slippery when wet. Please do not leave the misters running when not attended by an adult.
There is a Corn Hole set that is stored outside at the southeast corner of the house. To get it out you can raise the lids by releasing the hooks and leaning them up against the house or you can move the ladder and slide them out. If you lift the lid, be very careful not to let it fall unexpectedly. Please return it to its storage location before you leave.
Water Recreation and YOURSAFETY
Wanapum Lake is normally pretty calm with a slight current as the waters of the Columbia River flow through it from north to south. Often winds will be calm in the morning and pick up in the afternoon. From time to time these winds can be very strong and you should pay attention to the direction so that they will blow you towards Sunland if they pick up while you are on the water. This is especially important if you are on a human-powered craft such as a kayak or paddle-board. That said, we love to paddle board. We normally head into the wind, North towards the Bird Sanctuary and Sandy Beach or South towards the Sunland Park and Rattlesnake Cove.
The Gorge Amphitheatre Concerts
This is a beautiful venue for concerts with the backdrop of the Columbia River and its canyon walls. Here are a few things you should consider when attending. The parking lot is a huge grass field and it can be fifficult to find your car after the concert so be sure to pick out some landmarks. There are some Shuttle Services that I have heard positive comments about but we have never used them. If yo have festival seating then you will be in the grass overlooking the stage. A blanket or low chairs to sit in can make it much more pleasant and you may end up quite a ways from the stage so bring some binoculars. They won't allow you to bring in fluids but if you bring an empty water bottle they do have filling stations. If you come early to avoid the crowds and get a good seat it may be comforting to know that they have cooling stations with misters and a pretty good beer garden. On the way out, be patient and avoid the push and shove at the exits. It will be comforting to know that your cabin is not far away.
Wine Tasting
The vineyards of the Columbia Basin has become a significant player in the production of fruit for wineries of the northwest and there are a few wine makers in the area that bring it together to produce some fantastic wine. Our favorite is the Cave B Estate Winery which is just a short drive from the cabin. They have a lovely tasting room with territorial views and they host many fun events throughout the season. Another lovely estate winery in the area is the Jones of Washington winery. They have a tasting room nearby in Quincy.
Groceries & Gas
There is a convenience store and gas station called Captain Ron's that has a good assortment of beverages and essential food items. They also serve coffee and ice cream. It is located in the middle of Sunland. Look for a Large flag. If you need more selection then you'll need to take a short drive into Quincy's Akins Foods or you can drive to Wenatchee or Ephrata if you need greater selection.
Restaurants
There are dining options in Quincy and Crescent Bar has a nice pizzeria called Tower Pizza. Another option that we enjoy is stopping in Ellensburg and getting a couple of pizzas from Cornerstone Pie. Check out their concert series in the summer. If however, you are looking for something a bit more refined then check out the Tendrils Restaurant at Sage Cliffs and consider a wine tasting at Cave B Estates Winery. We love it there and don't forget to check out their Stage B events.
Notice: Phoenix Pizza is closed indefinitely. It and Captain Ron's Grocery are up for sale and although the grocery is open the pizzeria has closed.
You can enter the trail system from the parking area at the top of the switchbacks that bring you down to Sunland Estates. The map doesn't show it very well but you can follow that trail to the Cave B Estate Winery or continue on all the way to the Quincy Lakes Wildlife Area. Many of these trails are better suited to mountain bikes but several can make a nice day hike as well. Our favorite hikes are the Ancient Lakes and Dusty Lake trails. You can get to those trail heads from the Quincy Lakes road. Note that the south end of that road is closed to cars.
The Feathers at Frenchman Coulee is another fun spot that it popular for rock climbing. There are a few trails in the area suitable for mountain bikes or hiking that can be beautiful in the spring when the wildflowers are in bloom and small waterfalls appear on the cliffs. If you continue down the Old Vantage Highway you will come to a boat launch at the end of the road. There is a small trail that follows the shoreline and some benches and picnic tables there too.
Palouse to Cascades Trail - Beverly Bridge
The drive south passes through huge farms following the water to the Wanapum Dam. The tour shares some interesting history about the dam and area. Not far away, you will find the Beverly Bridge. It is part of the larger trail system but makes for a nice walk with nice views of the river. If you want to stop for lunch or a libation check out the Tumbleweed Bar & Grill in Desert Aire. May not have great street appeal but we had some good luck there.
Day Tripping
If you're up for a nice drive then Steamboat Rock State Park has a lot to offer. On the way there a stop at Sun Lakes and Dry Falls State Park. The visitors center is pretty interesting with lots of history about the area and its formation. Then if you're up for it you can continue to Banks Lake and Electric City. The tour of the Grand Coulee Dam is pretty good.
Golfing
Nearby is the Colockum Ridge Golf Course and the Crescent Bar course in Quincy. Not too much further is the course at Desert Aire.
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Best Regards
Tim & Cathy