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Tree Top Orchard Tour & Overnight Trip to Lake Chelan, WA

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The second invitation I accepted while attending Blog Her Food ’12 a few weeks ago came from Tree Top Inc. The company was taking a small group of food bloggers to famous Lake Chelan in Washington to enjoy an orchard tour. Following the tour would be a wine tasting of regional wines, an orchard to table dinner and a night spent at Campbell’s resort in Lake Chelan.

You had me at “night away from the kids with adults and wine after 4 straight weeks of travelling through the States”.

Granted, the invitation didn’t exactly word it that way, but you can surely see how I spun my own interpretation.  Luckily my Dad was travelling along with us and stayed back at the Fairmont Olympic to watch the kids , so I gleefully accepted.

Sunday morning we took off from the hotel stopping along the way in the adorable town of Leavenworth which reminded me so heavily of Banff, Alberta that I felt at home immediately. Katie from Epicurean Mom and I wandered around town, picking up little toys for our kids at home.

Table of Contents
two ladies at the town of Leavenworth with the view of mountains on their background

We settled into our rooms at Campbell’s Resort and had some time to ourselves to nap, relax, read, whatever we decided to do.

Big Room at Campbell's Resort with Two Large Beds

I spent most of the time enjoying the view from my room. How incredibly beautiful is this?  Lake Chelan is now on my list of places to go back and enjoy with the family and Campbell’s resort had perfect rooms for a family, large with lots of seating and sleeping room.

view of Lake Chelan from the room

After we were refreshed, it was time to head out on the orchard tour. We had a great time learning about the processes behind harvest, growing and tending of the orchard and I managed to sneak in a few questions of my own about apple tree care.

group orchard tour

The view was astounding and this little snippet of Washington is known for producing the best apples around.

view of plantation, lake and mountains

After the orchard tour it was time for the travelling circus to get on its way.

We paused at the winery to have a group picture taken so I present, in no particular order, the motley crew that we were:

The Epicurean Mom (Katie), Kevin and Amanda (Amanda), Reluctant Entertainer (Sandy), Food for my Family (Shaina), Kim Sunee, The Healthy Apple (Amie), The Novice Chef (Jessica),  Picky Palate (Jenny), Mom Start (Louise) and Mommie Cooks (Julie).

group picture of ladies taken at the winery with the background of mountains

The view from Benson Vineyards Estate Winery was one of the most spectacular I’ve enjoyed in a while. I was truly excited to experience an “orchard to table” dinner, since living here in Edmonton, Alberta it’s not something I get to participate in regularly. Farm to table, yes, but there seems to be a lack of orchards in our subzero winter climate and those that we have aren’t participating in this area. Yet.

beautiful view of mountains, lake and plantation from Benson Vineyards Estate Winery

Just when you thought you had found the most beautiful view, you turned around to find another presenting itself to you.

another beautiful view of plantation, lake and mountain from the other side of winery

We were escorted into the winery to find a virtual feast of appetizers awaiting us.

food presentation at the winery

I really wish I had taken pictures of the action. What happens when 11 food bloggers enter a room full of beautifully presented food?

We swarm it with our cameras.

La, we must have been a sight to behold!

No one touched the food.

No one stood in front of the window blocking the amazing natural light streaming through.

food presentation at the winery

All you heard was the  “click”….”click”….”click” of camera shutters going mile a minute.

How could we not when everything was so gorgeous?

spring rolls at the food presentation

When our cameras were full of shots of the gorgeous food it was time to move on to the wine tasting and feast upon the appetizers.

poring wine into the wine glass for tasting

After some lovely socializing it was time to move downstairs in the winery for our dinner.

table set up in the winery for dinner near the window

We enjoyed the scenery while chatting, waiting for our amazing meal to arrive.

mountain view from the table set up for dinner

The table setting was gorgeous and set a great tone for the evening. Simple, natural yet luxe.

close up of wine glasses and red lighted candles

We started with a strawberry apple cold soup, which was beautifully done and I would love to recreate at home.

strawberry apple cold soup in a white bowl plate

The rest of the menu was equally as good, with delight after delight appearing before us, paired with perfect wines.

the complete list of menu

After our ravenous travelling appetites were replete, it was time to head back to the resort. All of us tired ladies tumbled into our respective beds, slipping into blissful slumber until the morning, when we loaded up our gear and started the drive back to Seattle.

I’d like to thank Tree Top Inc for such a lovely trip, especially since the topic of orchards and growing food is one I am avidly interested in. It was lovely meeting so many different food bloggers ,Tree Top and Zeno Group employees and the trip is one I will remember for a long time!

Love,

The Still Waiting To Plant My Own Apple Tree Magpie

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Karlynn Johnston

I’m a busy mom of two, wife & cookbook author who loves creating fast, fresh meals for my little family on the Canadian prairies. Karlynn Facts: I'm allergic to broccoli. I've never met a cocktail that I didn't like. I would rather burn down my house than clean it. Most of all, I love helping YOU get dinner ready because there's nothing more important than connecting with our loved ones around the dinner table!

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  1. chrisbryan22 says

    Rooms of hotel with lake view looks fantastic and well maintained. Menu is also looking delightful full of tasty dishes which i never eat before. I like that place and think to go with family for 2-3 days trip.Sorry to say but right now i have to go for one week trip of Spain with family. Already Booked villas in cambrils spain which is also beautiful city of beaches.

  2. Sharon Miracle says

    So glad you could join us! It was great getting acquainted with you and hearing of your family travel adventures.  I so admire your photography skills.   Until next time, Sharon @Tree Top

  3. ACanadianFoodie says

    Absolutely stunning! Guess someone is looking at your KLOUT score to score THIS invitation! WOWSERS! I was excited to see you met Shaina! She is a site I have followed for about 2 years and I really respect her commitment to her family table every day. There are a couple of others I stop by at now and then. What a coup!

    The scenery blows me away. I want to stand up and sing “Oh Beautiful, For Spacious Skies,,,” but I just got back from our Canadian Okanagan and am still bound to “This land is your land…. this land is my land.”

    But, I did find myself ROTFL at the gorgeous iris and herb garnished platter over – is that? Is that?… OMGosh! It IS! American Cheese and White Bread. hhhhhhhhha

    I guess the wine was definitely the star!

    XOXO

    Valerie

  4. visitlakechelan says

    @KitchenMagpie Thanks for the great post about Lake Chelan. We’re glad you had a good time here and hope you come back soon w/ your family!

    • KitchenMagpie says

      @visitlakechelan I can’t wait to return, it’s on my list!

      • visitlakechelan says

        @KitchenMagpie Well definitely let us know if you come back. We’d love to see you!

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