Lakeside Lodge and Suites

Lakeside Lodge and Suites is an affordable destination for families who want to be in the North Cascades National Forest without actually going camping. On the shores of Lake Chelan and surrounded by an asphalt parking lot, the family-owned lodge offers rooms with balconies and views over the parking lot to the water. The lodge office is faux-rustic with a beamed ceiling, leather armchairs, a funky patterned banquette, and a long reception desk with pretty pendant lamps and a rack of nearby pamphlets. But it's the cheery breakfast room, with its floor-to-ceiling windows to the lake and timber tables and chairs, that packs the most personality of all the public spaces.

Chelan Washington, the site of Lakeside Lodge and Suites, is a three-hour drive from Seattle Tacoma International Airport, but it's just a three-minute drive from Lake Chelan Airport. Surrounded by mountains, lush valleys with wineries, and small towns, the area feels and looks remote. However, the Lake Chelan Municipal Golf Course is just a nine-minute drive from the lodge, while the Echo Valley Ski Area is a 17-minute drive. Tsillan Cellars -- one of about 20 local wineries -- is a three-minute drive away, and the quaint downtown of Chelan is a 15-minute walk or three-minute drive. Wenatchee, another picturesque town, is a 41-minute drive. Closer to the lodge, there is a public beach right next door that offers volleyball and basketball, as well as a playground. But guests report that it can be raucous and noisy.

Rooms at the Lakeside Lodge are spacious, with beige-patterned wallpaper, high ceilings, separate living areas with sofas -- many opening to beds and armchairs in uninspiring colors and patterns, but with sturdy upholstery that holds up to the wear and tear of generations of children. (The Family Suites in particular offer a flexible space with a king-size bed and sleeper sofa.) The beds feature white linens, orange throws, and fabric headboards. There are small tables and chairs for dining with views of the lake and flatscreen TVs propped on low, blond-wood bureaus. The kitchenettes are small and tidy, each with a microwave, a Keurig coffee maker, a refrigerator, and dishes and cutlery. Bathrooms feature beige-striped wallpaper, shower/tub combos with curtains, marble-counters, and modern fixtures. 

Breakfasts are hearty and free at Lakeside Lodge and served in a sunny room with views of the water, but visitors had better like a heavy dose of plain American food. From the bins of Fruit Loops to the cafeteria-style machines dispensing orange juice, this is not gourmet fare. There's a tennis court and a fitness center with windows and a wide range of free weights and exercise machines. The kidney-shaped indoor pool has windows to the outside pool, a scenic mountain-range mural, and a few chairs for water-logged parents. The outdoor pool is surrounded by a sundeck and green mesh lounge chairs; the mountains and the lake provide a pretty backdrop. A poolside beverage area is available, and shared outdoor gas grills and circular tables give a spot to picnic. There's also a small business center with two PC computers and a printer available for guests' use.