I moved to Seattle in 1994, and my sister came to visit me for the first time with her daughter and first son in the early winter of 1996. Looking for things to do, we decided to take a jaunt over to this charming Bavarian town. In truth, I had driven past Leavenworth a couple of times on my way back from Lake Chelan but really hadn’t thought much about it, other than, Cute place, I should come here sometime.
Christmastime in Leavenworth
After we pulled into town, we decided to park and walk around. It was right before Christmas, and a nice snow had just fallen. The place was really starting to fill up with Christmas cheer, and the vibe felt infectious.
As the day went on, we shopped, bought some crazy hats, had a delicious bratwurst and a beer, grabbed a cup of hot cider, checked out the Christmas store, and then scooted back to Seattle. I headed back home with a day full of fond memories and some ornaments for the tree.
About 6 years later, I had a friend come into town from the East Coast. Wanting to be a good host, I rented a place in Plain (about 35 minutes from Leavenworth through a vacation rental site that I’d somehow managed to find at the dawn of what is now the Internet. The place was gorgeous and sat right on the river. Again, it was the Christmas season, and we had a fantastic time! One year later, I went back again and had another great time. Being from Chicago, I love and miss the snow, and Leavenworth has no shortage of it!
After that, I became busy with work and didn’t make it back for some time. But in 2007, it hit me like a ton of bricks that I needed to buy a place in the area. I felt it would be a great investment over the long haul. Although the real estate market plummeted right after I purchased The Cabin at Eagle Creek, with a little persistence, tenacity, and good fortune, it seems to be working out well.
Leavenworth: More than just a Bavarian town
Now that I had my own place in Leavenworth, I really began to explore. I’ve had some wonderful experiences at the Eagle Creek Winery, which makes excellent wines and just happens to be walking distance from The Cabin at Eagle Creek. I’ve taken a sleigh ride through the snow down at the Eagle Creek Ranch and was mesmerized by the experience. I’ve played golf at Kahler Glen and couldn’t believe how beautiful and inexpensive it was.
I’ve found these magical little places where you can just sit and absorb more beauty than the mind can handle. One of those places is on the Icicle River, to the left of the bridge on the trail to Snow Lake. Another is a private, secluded beach on North Lake Shore Drive, next to an old abandoned-looking red cabin. And yet another is the very top of Sugarloaf Mountain Lookout. All of these places are easily accessible, can be driven to, and literally take your breath away when you get there.
Frankly, Leavenworth is a lot like the island of O’ahu. You can go to O’ahu, but if you never find your way out of downtown Waikiki, you will never truly come to understand the beauty of the island. I’d say that 99% of the best parts of O’ahu aren’t downtown. The same goes for Leavenworth. Don’t get me wrong, because I love the downtown area; it’s what drew me here in the first place. But to truly experience Leavenworth, you need to venture outside of it.
Enjoy your trip to Leavenworth, and please come stay with us!
