Out front, this market barely looks open—just dark windows and a sign that says "California Produce." Inside, fresh bounty is piled on tables and shelves, from mangos and limes to bags of tamarinds and chilis. Expect to walk away with a few things not on the shopping list.

Breakfast sandwiches to go, Reubens and chili burgers, piles of fries, rows of danishes, and baked goods: If you can't fill up here, you cannot be satiated. If the onslaught of handwritten menus overwhelms, know that the modest, pillowy maple bar is hard to beat.

Also known as the 'Bigfoot coffee place,' the roadside stand salutes Washington movie history with a 14-foot carving of the sasquatch from the movie Harry and the Hendersons. Despite the kitsch (and piles of merch), the biggest draw is actually behind the coffee window, where an outdoor patio faces the sweep of the Skykomish Valley, Mount Index, and Bridal Veil Falls. 

For kids, there's a miniature train at the Great Northern and Cascade Railway next to a restored depot that houses a gift shop. But the tiny town of Skykomish also boasts a grownup stop: a historic small-town bar. The decor is the haphazard blend that comes from decades of knickknacks and beer signs, and the vibe is pleasantly local.

For more than a century, the railway has shaped the history of this pass, none more so when a heartbreaking tragedy—a massive avalanche—stranded two trains in the mountains in 1910, killing almost a hundred people. Today an old train car sits at a trailhead, and a network of hiking trails leads to remnants of the old tracks and tunnels. As a bonus, cars can drive a stretch of Old Cascade Highway that preceded the current US 2.

The last heyday of these hot springs was back when railroad workers and timber crews populated the mountains; today, local owners have spruced up the pool to create a naturally heated escape on a steep hillside. Paid reservations are required, and it's a steep hike to the spot, but it stands as one of the state's best soaking options.

In winter, it's all about the snow. But the resort atop Stevens Pass doesn't close up shop the rest of the year; a lift operates for the downhill bicycle park in summer months, with rental gear available at the base. Hikers and sightseers can also catch a lift uphill, and a disc golf course utilizes the lower acres.

Located at the crossroads where highway drivers pull off for Lake Wenatchee, the hotel and restaurant here still hangs on to its original 1960s vibes. The diner fare is meant to refuel hungry campers and cross-state drivers—the tater tots come heaped with cheese and bacon—and a sizable back patio corrals restless kids.

Located along the highway's most scenic section, where it traces the banks of the Wenatchee River, the longtime candy shop is probably most notable for the striking view outside. Inside, there's enough saltwater taffy to outdo a beach town, plus fresh fudge and endless shelves of brittles and dessert sauces.

In the short distance between crowded Bavarian Leavenworth and the bigger city of Wenatchee, a pocket state park dedicated to rock climbing routes peeks out from between the grassy hills. Steep trails curl around the exposed sandstone rock, ideal for a brief ramble.

The red sign out front evokes the Pike Place Market, but Wenatchee's waterfront market is a lot more cozy. There are fresh ingredients at a fish counter and cheese shop, plus it's the site of a regular farmer's market. But travelers will most appreciate that the repurposed warehouse now houses restaurants and gift shops.