Flipping the Switch in Leavenworth

Congratulations Leavenworth, WA on lighting up America! I was so excited when I found out that Good Morning America would be Flipping the Switch in your beautiful village. Leavenworth is a truly magical place at this time of year. Christmas lights adorn every building, and highlight each tree. During the daytime the setting is just as beautiful. snow has begun to blanket the village and surrounding hillsides. Day or night visiting Leavenworth during the Christmas Lighting Festival is like living in a Life-Sized Snow Globe!

Thank You, Leavenworth

Thanksgiving weekend is drawing to a close. There is so much to be thankful for. First and foremost I am grateful to be alive in the here and now. I am thankful for my family. My husband Scotte takes such good care of me. He was tremendous help on Thanksgiving Day. We hosted eleven family members and we couldn't have done it without teamwork.
I'm thankful for my lovely little house. It's warm and inviting. A pleasant place for my family and my friends.
I'm thankful for my church. Just like any family we have our relational challenges. But just like family, we're working through the challenges to become closer.
All weekend I've been thinking of Leavenworth and what I'm thankful about in our little bavarian village. I am thankful that there is a place where we can be at home without the to do's that are always present in our everyday home. I'm thankful for our last visit to Leavenworth. Short, but very sweet. Most of all, I've been thinking about Leavenworth's past. I'm thankful for people such as Pauline and Owen Watson who were instrumental in forming Project Alpine, forerunner of Projekt Bayern. It was because of the vision of the Watsons and others that the Bavarianization of Leavenworth was begun. Project Alpine was an answer to the fading economics of the former booming lumber and railroad town. The little bavarian village in the Cascades that we've come to know and love is a result of years of planning. And it was accomplished with private money. Leavenworth is a wonderful example of a community pulling together to make a dream a reality. Thank you to all Leavenworthers, past and present! You can read more about Leavenworth's past

See Leavenworth Today!

One of my favorite websites is www.leavenworth.org
It is the Leavenworth, WA Chamber of Commerce website. My favorite feature is the live webcam. It's trained on Front Street looking west. In the background are the Cascades Mountains. At the right time of day, in clear weather, you'll see the peaks just beginning to show signs of snow! What a beautiful view.

What we love about Leavenworth, WA Part 1

We love visiting familiar Leavenworth shops like, The Haus of Angels and Fudge Hut. There is always something new to see and old friends to visit. Haus of Angels has two locations. We visited with Marlyn at the 725 Front Street location and I found a lovely autumnal table runner. Last year one of my Christmas gifts, from Haus of Angels, was a beautiful Jim Shore musical angel entitled: And a Star Shall Guide Us. It has had a treasured place in my living room all year long. To see all of the angels you must visit both locations, this one and the one in the Motteler Village Shops, 9th and Front Streets. Each shop is unique. Different collections are at home in the two shops. Visit Haus of Angels to get a taste of what Marlyn has to offer.

We always make a stop at The Fudge Hut, 933 Front Street. To our surprise, this visit we found the shop under new ownership. The new owners, are new to Leavenworth. Besides the same great fudge the new owners have big plans for the future. Soon locals and tourists will have another place to purchase more mouthwatering goodies to enjoy along with their espresso. This visit we again took advantage of the shop special: buy one pound of fudge, get one-half pound free. Scotte chose chocolate, Butterfinger and amaretto fudge. I chose rum-raisin, chocolate marshmallow and maple nut. Delicious! Check out the Fudge of the Month Club. Don't forget to tell them that you heard about them from The Accidental Bavarian!

Leavenworth Lights

I knew you'd enjoy this photo I took of Front Street during a past Christmas Lighting Festival.

Visit Leavenworth

We may not have missed it after all! I have to admit I thought there was no way for Scotte and me to get to Leavenworth, Washington for the Christmas Lighting Festival this year. We were there just a few weeks ago. And between hosting Thanksgiving and our son returning from a tour of duty in the Gulf, it seemed there was no way to fit it into our schedule. Then there was the problem of no reservations. That is a huge issue. There are any of number of great hotels, motels, and inns in Leavenworth. But get your reservations in early. And nearly everyone requires a two-day minimum stay.
But great news! Leavenworth has extended the Christmas Lighting Festival to Sunday night for each of its three weekends. If you've never been, you're really missing something. The Festival begins on Friday evening. The village is in quiet darkness as the crowd gathers at the Gazebo in the City Park on Front Street. As parents, children and grandparents gather the true spirit of Christmas builds during the singing of Silent Night. There is a collective gasp as the village suddenly lights up with thousands upon thousands of beautiful Christmas lights. Leavenworth is aglow against the backdrop of the dramatic Cascade Mountains. This same scene is repeated at dusk on Saturday, and now Sunday.
On Saturday and Sunday during the daytime the streets are filled with food vendors, street entertainers and Christmas characters. There is continuous entertainment at the Gazebo. Children sled on the hill at the city park. There's no place like it.
If you haven't made reservations this year, do it today. There are rooms available on Sunday night. The Leavenworth Christmas Lighting Festival is November 30-December 2, December 7-9, and December 14-16. For more information on Leavenworth and the Festival go to the Chamber of Commerce website.

Staying in Leavenworth

Enzian Inn is a favorite of long time Leavenworth tourists. It’s privately owned and really caters to its lodgers. Starbucks coffee is available in the lobby 24 hours a day. In the evenings a pianist plays while guests sing along or simply sit in the beautifully appointed lobby and listen. During the fall and winter seasons this is the coziest place in town. A welcome respite from the happy hustle and bustle of shopping and site seeing. Next visit Scotte and I will make time to swim in the indoor heated pool.

The morning after checking in we enjoyed a complementary full breakfast on the 4th floor of Enzian Inn. Made to order omelets, eggs, sausage, hot oatmeal and fresh baked cakes and breads are standard fare. Twice during breakfast we’re treated to the music of the Alphorn. Visit the Enzian Inn website, www.enzianinn.com, to read about the Proprietors, Bob and Nola Johnson, and how they made their dream a reality in the Enzian Inn. When you go be sure you tell the Johnsons that you heard about Enzian Inn from the Accidental Bavarian!

Reduced speed ahead

As we drove east on Washington State Highway 2 I groaned inwardly at each new “reduced speed” zone. Each small town was a speed bump between our desired destination, Leavenworth, Washington and us. Finally, a few miles past the summit of Stevens Pass, there it was. The final “reduced speed ahead” sign. This 35 mph zone marked the outskirts of our little "Miracle Town”. I was nearly beside myself with excitement as we checked in at Enzian Inn. The beautiful lobby with its massive fireplace and grand piano is always a welcoming sight.
We’d arrived in Leavenworth on Sunday of the final weekend of Oktoberfest. The town was quieting down. We timed this season’s visit for a quiet time. At the end of Oktoberfest we could book a room for just one night (never truly enough) and not compete with the party atmosphere that we’ve encountered in past visits. The party atmosphere is loads of fun, but at the end of an 8-day road trip we knew that the quiet Leavenworth was the one we needed.

Home Away From Home

1ac·ci·den·tal Pronunciation: \ˌak-sə-ˈden-təl\
a: occurring unexpectedly or by chance b: happening without intent or through carelessness. Syn: fortuitous: coming or happening by a lucky chance

After over a quarter of a century of visiting as a tourist to the lovely little town of Leavenworth, Washington, I’ve come to the conclusion that I really do belong here.

Leavenworth feels like home. Our most recent vacation took my husband, Scotte, and myself over 1500 miles of some of the most beautiful roads in the United States. We left our home on a beautiful October morning. We couldn’t wait to get to the mountains. On an 8-day trip we toured mountains, lakes, a rainforest, harbor towns, ocean beaches, and our state capital. But all the while there was an unspoken urgency: to get to Leavenworth. When we asked ourselves what we should have for dinner, German food was never a temptation. After all, Leavenworth was waiting. Should I buy a Christmas gift or ornament? I could, but Leavenworth waits.

What mysterious hold does Leavenworth have on me? While I always appreciate a good Reuben sandwich, nowhere else does sauerkraut smell or taste so good! The sausage dogs at Costco never tempt me, but a visit to Leavenworth wouldn’t be complete without one. In Leavenworth, Scotte willingly follows me through shops, doing what we call the shopping shuffle. The air is fresh, the food delicious, and the folks friendly.