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Message: Here's a great article I found at www.northwestnavigator.com: -- With only one week until Christmas, there’s certainly no shortage of holiday cheer across the Northwest. But if you’re looking for a truly unique Christmas experience to attend, away from the house or barracks, than the Bavarian village of Leavenworth might be for you. Tucked away in the Cascade Mountains, Leavenworth is the quintessential holiday town. It offers a breathtaking view of the Cascade alps when looking down the village’s main street and for those who need snow to call it Christmas, the white stuff falls often during the winter due to the high altitude. Like a theme park in town form, the village moves at a different pace as villagers stroll the wide streets in traditional Bavarian garb and a wiener schnitzel stand is never far away. The idea for the town’s Bavarian theme came in the early 1960’s. With the village’s lack of funding (24 of the main street stores were empty), the town knew they needed something to draw tourists in and jumpstart the local economy. The picturesque Alpine backdrop inspired the adoption of a Bavarian theme and storeowners began remodeling their storefronts at once to create the illusion of a true Bavarian alpine village. The villagers of Leavenworth celebrate all major holidays in some way but Christmas is by far the biggest event. Literally the entire town is decked out in holiday decorations complete with horse drawn carriage rides and miles of Christmas lights strung over every tree and house. The sight of all those twinkling lights at night could make even the biggest Grinch feel in the holiday spirit. If traveling to Leavenworth on the weekend, be sure to get there early. Parking in town is limited and the cheapest lots start at $10. During the Christmas holiday hundreds of tourists descend upon the town so be prepared for large crowds and long lines for everything. The drive from Everett to Leavenworth is almost as scenic as the town itself. The Bavarian village is located just off Highway 2 about two hours from Everett. Highway 2 winds along the sides of mountains, through tunnels and travels alongside rivers. Be sure to bring a camera because the snowcapped mountains along the way are a beautiful site as the road traverses through Stevens Pass in the Cascades. Despite the town being almost entirely a trap for tourists, prices on food and water aren’t the normal $4.50 for each but are set reasonably between one and two dollars. Don’t forget to try some of the traditional German fare the town offers. Bratwurst and Oktoberfest beer are the town’s specialties and for good reason. The only thing I didn’t like was all the little shops selling trinkets and other things you can buy anywhere else for less. But those who enjoy shopping will adore this town’s shops filled with everything from homemade fudge to grandfather clocks. Again, if the Christmas spirit is what you’re looking for, take the drive up to Leavenworth and enjoy the lights, food and holiday spirit of this small Bavarian village in the heart of Washington. http://www.northwestnavigator.com/index.php/navigator/regionalnews/leavenworth_a_perfect_holiday_town/
