Tourist Information for Leavenworth, WA

What is the one drawback to French onion soup? Running out of bread and cheese before the broth runs out! Pavz Cafe Bistro in Leavenworth WA has taken French onion soup and turned it on its head.

At lunch in Leavenworth recently I ordered the French onion soup on a stick, not knowing what to expect. The “soup” came in a little dish usually reserved for stuffed mushrooms. The beefy broth is covered with toasted crusty bread and topped with melted, browned cheese. It was so delicious, rich and filling. This dish isn’t on the online menu so look carefully or ask the server.

Scotte had the fondue appetizer and enjoyed it very much.

Don’t be put off by the small size of Pavz. They have a second dining room behind the first with lots of room. They have plenty of room for your small or large party.

Over looking the Icicle Valley

Besides traveling to and from Leavenworth and writing about our favorite Bavarian village, I (Renae) am also the Spokane Eastern Washington Travel Examiner. As an Examiner I get to write on anything and everything to do with tourism in and around Washington, east of the Cascades. My favorite topic is Leavenworth and the surrounding area. I’ve published several Examiner articles about Leavenworth and have many more planned.

Picnicking along the Wenatchee River
Small town museums: the Upper Valley Museum
Small town museums: Nutcracker Museum
Staying in Leavenworth
Signage adds charm to Leavenworth
Festival town
Agritourism
Chelan County farmers’ markets
More about Leavenworth festivals
Romance in Leavenworth

Leavenworth from above

I hope you’ll enjoy, comment and share the articles. Click subscribe at the top of my profile page and receive alerts regarding continuing coverage of Leavenworth, Wenatchee River Valley and travel in Eastern Washington.

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

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 in 2007 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.

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.