Walking through Leavenworth, a quaint little town with Chalet style buildings nestled in the mountains you may think that you are in a Bavarian town in the Alps. However, Leavenworth is situated in the scenic Cascade Mountains in American Northwest. The town has a rather interesting history, unlike some other similar ‘Bavarian Villages‘, Leavenworth was not established by German Immigrants. Established as a timber town in the early 20th century, its fortunes declined by the ’50s and two entrepreneurs from Seattle thought of reinventing the place as a tourist centered town with a Bavarian theme around 1960.
I have had the good fortune of visiting Leavenworth at different times of the year. There is always something interesting going on. No town with a German theme would be complete without an Oktoberfest, Leavenworth is no exception. Great music and good beer are aplenty, along with a spirited crowd.
My best experience visiting Leavenworth has been in the winters. Every winter there is a light festival, the whole town is transformed into a winter wonderland, with half a million lights A light show and music on the weekends draws in large crowds, one can enjoy hot cider while roaming around the town taking in the sights and sounds.
Any excursion to the Northwest must include a trip around the Cascades Loop. There are many interesting places to explore on the loop, Lakes Diablo and Chelan, Wenatchee, the towns of Winthrop and Sedro-Woolly, and of course Leavenworth which is truly a town for all seasons!
The Open Roads 