My husband and I are Wenatchee residents, me for almost 14 years and my husband for 9, and instead of going out of town and spending a ton of money, we thought it would be fun to make our Valentine’s Day this year a staycation and use a gift certificate we won at a silent auction for a one night stay and breakfast for two at the brand new Hilton Garden Inn in Wenatchee. So, on Valentine’s Day evening we checked in at the front desk, got our key and went to our room to check it out before heading out to dinner. The room was very modern, the bed and pillows were very comfortable and the bathroom was spacious, brightly lit and wheelchair accessible.
The best thing, however, was the view out of our window. I made sure to capture it the next morning. You can’t beat the hotel’s location right next to the Columbia River and just off the Apple Capital Loop Trail, as well as a short stroll on the path to Pybus Public Market. If you go the opposite direction from Pybus on the path to the pedestrian bridge, the accessibility to downtown Wenatchee, its businesses and restaurants is limitless by foot or bike. We were told that when the weather warms up, they open the large outdoor patio extending from the restaurant, which is literally feet from the Loop Trail with the Columbia River in the background. There is also a nice pool and a 24 hour gym for hotel guests as part of the amenities.
After dinner we went back to the hotel and decided to grab a cocktail and check out the snacks and desserts in the restaurant (Garden Grille & Bar) just beyond the lobby. The first thing we noticed was their Happy Hour prices were really good and competitive with some of the other bars in town. The pours were generous, too. The service was excellent, the waitstaff was helpful and cheery. Our server was very attentive, efficient and a genuinely nice person. Because we were enjoying the atmosphere and friendly service so much, we ordered a few things to try off the menu, like bone-in chicken wings and a rich, chocolatey mousse dessert in a mason jar with plenty of whipped cream on top. And, of course, a couple vodka martinis. Not a crumb (nor olive) was left, needless to say. The next morning we got up, and since breakfast for two was included in our package, we took the elevator down to the lobby again to see what it was all about.
Breakfast at the Hilton Garden is pretty great, I have to say. It’s buffet-style, except for menu items like omelets, special order eggs, pancakes and French toast, which you can order from the chef’s window next to the huge breakfast spread. Included in our breakfast was access to the coffee bar with dairy and non-dairy options for cream, milk, several fruit juices, yogurt, granola, fruit, hot oatmeal, sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, country potatoes, bagels, toast, an array of dry cereals and probably a few other things that I didn’t notice because there was just so much! All of the hot items were swapped out regularly, which is something I always keep an eye on if I’m eating at a buffet. Out of curiosity, I checked the price per guest and it’s $13 for adults and $6 for kids under age 12. We felt that was a very reasonable price for such an extensive, all-American breakfast buffet. The best part is that it’s open to the public, so anyone can go and eat at the Hilton Garden breakfast buffet (first come, first served), which is open Monday through Friday, 6-10 AM and Saturday and Sunday from 7-11 AM. It’s great to have another quality breakfast option that won’t break the bank here in Wenatchee. We will definitely be back sometime to eat with our family.
