Leavenworth is a favorite weekend getaway for Seattle residents. And it's easy to see why: The village, which has old-world charm and teems with creative restaurants and attractive lodgings, is a hub for some of the Northwest's best skiing, hiking, rock climbing, rafting, canoeing, and snowshoeing.
Leavenworth was a railroad and mining center for many years, but by the 1960s it had fallen on hard times. Civic leaders, looking for ways to capitalize on the town's setting in the heart of the Central Cascade Range, persuaded shop owners and other businesspeople to remodel their properties in a Bavarian gingerbread style -- even the Safeway supermarket and the Chevron gas station carry out the theme. Restaurants prepare Bavarian-influenced dishes, candy shops sell gourmet chocolates, and stores and boutiques stock music boxes, dollhouses, and other Bavarian items.
Location: In central Washington, 128 miles northeast of Seattle
Tasty treat: Warm apple strudel
Top outing: Dogsledding through the Cascades
Where to stay: The Sleeping Lady, a converted youth camp that now serves as an elegant ecologically sensitive retreat
Don't miss: The Nutcracker Museum, which displays more than 3,000 nutcrackers
Suggested sights & activities:
- More than 320 miles of scenic trails to hike, 20 miles of trails for cross-country skiing, and two major mountains for downhill, including one offering night skiing from late December through early March
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