Tourist Information for Leavenworth, WA

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.

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.