Half-Price Gas

Yup.

Just returned from another late winter getaway to my favourite place to get away to:  Wenatchee, Washington state.

This year's visit took place a week later than last year.

And, yes, you guessed it.  Regular gas is half the price of ours.


Forget the smaller U.S. gallon, forget the currency exchange rate, forget the smoke 'n mirrors about our fuel being on a "spur" line (away from the main).

Rather than tons of text, let's tell it in photos:

Credit/visa/debit cards are at a 10 cent premium over the listed price.  This was just south of Omak, WA.  Most prices in the Okanogan Valley, including Wenatchee, varied by no more than seven cents a gallon from prices shown above.

What's (happily) missing in the above?  (Time's up!)  Parking meters!  Parking meters were removed several years ago in order to support local business (the old downtown...away from where Wal-Mart and Target set up shop...just like in Vernon!)

Free parking for 3 hours has led to a busy downtown with shoppers and pedestrians sauntering along the sidewalks.  No-one rushing to plug money into a meter...people browsed the shops at their leisure.  What did Vernon do?  Vernon doubled the parking meter price!

Alternate streets are one way, with excellent signage.  It's absolutely incredible how much traffic can be moved on streets that are four lanes in one direction, with parking on only one side.  Wenatchee's downtown (easily three times the length of Vernon's) can be travelled in 5 or 6 minutes...the time we spend at two traffic lights here!

One downtown, one public market, conveniently accessible in a park downtown.

And lovely historical buildings, in superb condition, mix well with new construction.  Some examples follow:

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"Numeris" Performing Arts Centre

The massive civic centre building...

The whimsical is not out of place in Wenatchee.  Here, "Coyote Reading a Candy Wrapper" graces the museum stairs.

This bronze is an adjunct to the museum's popular geneology sessions.

Large public parking lots, also free, are located around the corner down any street.  Angle parking allows more parking per block than conventional systems...and yes, Wenatchee still provides bus stops every two blocks as well.

And here, one block behind main street, is more parking...free parking.  Block after block of free parking.

  Tons of it.

Oh, and if you're ever in Wenatchee and need anything golf-related, visit my friend Ed Paine, owner of Golfer's Edge (on a one-way street 5 minutes south of the old downtown).

Ed Paine's golf shop, includes computerized swing analyzer and retail store.

Oh...and let's not forget that 40-pounder of alcohol at $16.50 at the Duty Free, versus approx. $35.00 in Vernon!

The weather was incredible, 60F.
The people of Wenatchee are always warm and welcoming.

There's something about Wenatchee that truly feels like home away from home.  I'm drawn there each year at this time.

"You probably missed seeing parking--and water--meters," grins Kia.

Slap of reality.