Leavenworth

I stayed in a rented cabin in the hills near Leavenworth. There was a main lodge with about 6 individual cabins with fireplaces, kitchens, outdoor barbeques and each had a hot tub on the porch. Hiking trail nearby, cross-country skiing right there, and good road back to town. Very nice weekend!

Yes, it’s “fake” (but in this world, what is real?). But I think it’s interesting and postmodern that the tools of corporate mediocrity (branding, homogenization, advertising) have been co-opted in a minor way. Leavenworth could have turned into another highway stop with just a McDonalds, Chevron, and Motel 6, but now it’s got an ironic Bavarian McDonalds, Chevron, and Motel 6 (imagine the call to headquarters when the franchise owner had to ask for the gingerbread version of the logo), and more importantly, an identity and a reason to exist. The corporate logo theme town might be more authentic, but if you’re going to sell out anyway, why not have some fun?

It was mid-July and 100 degrees. We spent most of our time in the pool just to keep from melting.

I’m sure this is a fine location from which to set off on river rafting, skiing, and hiking adventures, but as a town, destination, attraction, etc. it leaves much to be desired. I don’t understand the appeal of the mock Bavarian village motif. And shouldn’t there be a mock Bavarian castle to go with?

Highlights: big public pool right in town; nice public park along the river; small, compact, walkable “village”. (A village in which only the tourists live.)

Lowlights: tourist traps galore; everything is fake; not so good restaurants; scant parking; really hot in the summer; did I mention the fakery?

Come here either in the middle of the summer or the middle of winter.

In the summer it is sunny and warm enough to go river rafting or hiking and afterwards enjoy a beer outside in one of the beer gardens. In the winter there are 3 different cross country ski areas less than 10 minutes from downtown Leavenworth. There is also Mission Ridge and Stevens Pass which are each downhill ski areas about 1.5 hours from Leavenworth.

I love little german type towns! Especially the ones in America.. haha.. this is the CUTEST town.. but only in the winter!! I wouldn’t go in the summer.. it also used to be better when they had an outdoor iceskating rink, but last time I went, it was gone :( Maybe they built a new one though??? Anyway.. I went on a sleigh ride, a carriage ride.. went in a pool filled w/ snow w/ my good friend Sarah and had a blast!!! I’ve been twice and both times were great!