Sit and stay awhile
Staycation brings all sorts of things to mind. For some it’s about staying home, catching up on long awaited chores and household projects. For others it means packing as much fun into a week at, or near, home as you can. Staycation can also mean avoiding long security lines and hours waiting to board an aircraft by planning your vacation for a destination within a day’s drive.
With increased gas prices and cutbacks in airlines services and routes, regional travel has been making a comeback and we have just the place: Leavenworth, Washington. An easy, scenic drive from just about anywhere in the state, Leavenworth provides a wide variety of delightful experiences and activities. Close enough for a day trip, yet far from the ordinary.
A traditional maypole dance
Looking for a party? Leavenworth has a year round calendar chock full of festivals and celebrations. From Oktoberfest in the Fall to the Christmas Lighting Festival in December, the fun never stops in Leavenworth. Drive up for the day or stay for a night or two. You’ll feel like you’ve traveled to another time and place. Because we love Leavenworth, and travel there so often that it feels like home, it’s our first choice for a staycation.
Blue skies and roadside orchards
Overdue for a romantic get away? After a leisurely drive with your sweetheart and some relaxing music, you’ll find your romantic hideaway at one of a number of intimate bed and breakfast inns or lodges in and around Leavenworth. Make a dinner reservation at one of the locally owned restaurants and schedule a couples’ massage at one of the area spas. Return home in a day or two rested and reconnected.
Creating family memories a priority? Kid-friendly activities and festivals abound in Leavenworth. There are a number of family and pet friendly walking and hiking paths, cross country ski paths, and white water kayaking runs.
Walk along Icicle Creek and the Wenatchee River
Maifest, Christkindlmarkt, and the Christmas Lighting Festival all provide fabulous parent-child activities. If you decide to stretch your “staycation” into a long weekend or even into a week or two long vacation, check out one of Leavenworth’s family-centered resorts or a rental cabin. We won’t be surprised if your family returns again and again.
Seeking a new connection with nature? Located on the eastern slope of The Cascade Mountain Range, Leavenworth is your gateway to the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Make the village or a nearby condominium or rental cabin your home base and explore the Enchantment Peaks and high Alpine Enchantment Lakes region. The Wenatchee National Forest is a treasure. Mountain and rock climbing, kayaking and canoeing, backpacking, hiking and camping are all available in the 4 million acre forest that includes many wilderness areas. Many areas are accessible by permit only.
Leavenworth is an enchanting place. It’s like nowhere else. Come for a day, a night or a week. Return home with new family ties and memories that will last a lifetime. It’s all about being intentional when you plan your very own staycation.
If you have a family pet, Leavenworth is a great place to visit with them. Our Pet-Friendly page is full of ideas and links for those traveling with pets.
To find lodging in Leavenworth, check out our Lodging Services page.
