Celebrating Spring in Leavenworth

March 22nd, 2013

The Gazebo in springtime

The Gazebo in springtime

Woot! Spring is finally here and Leavenworth is the perfect place to celebrate it.

One of the best things about the Wenatchee River Valley is the four distinct seasons. Everyone seems to have their favorite season in Leavenworth, but each really has their own charms, attractions and activities.

Springtime

Springtime

Leavenworth in spring is a great setting for a family vacation, a romantic getaway or for your company retreat or meeting. During the months of March, April and most of May, you’ll have a pretty easy time finding a great place to stay. There are hotel specials available throughout the season. Spring is a good time to enjoy the Bavarian-style mountain village without the crowds that you’ll find in the other three seasons.

Beginning in May you’ll find beautifully bedecked flowering baskets and boxes throughout the village. There’s an escalating competition amongst the business owners and visitors to town reap the benefits as the flowers grow more beautiful with each year.

For the always changing spring weather, dress in light layers. Check out our Weather page and click on the 10-day forecast in the Weather.com link to see if rain gear might be necessary. We usually find the weather in May to be bright and sunny. Keep in mind that Leavenworth is located on the “dry side” of the mountains and is at only 1200′ in elevation so is more temperate than other mountain villages that you might have visited. On the Weather page there are also several live webcam feeds so you can see for yourself what the weather is like in Leavenworth.

Some of our favorite places, festivals and activities in the Leavenworth area in Spring:

April is now the time for Leavenworth’s newest festival A Taste of Spring. It’s a month-long culinary event, kicking off the first weekend in April with a pear-centric food crawl, offering delicious taste of local Leavenworth favorites. Be sure you stop in at Schocolat on Front Street for a delicious hand-made pear-brandy chocolate. It’s one of Mitzi’s favorites. You can get pear balsamic vinegar at the Oil & Vinegar Cellar, too. All month restaurants throughout town will feature pears on the menu and have food and wine pairings to delight your taste buds.

April will have the Leavenworth International Film Festival. From their website, “Showcasing the best recent independent short films with an focus on outdoor recreation.” This is a fantastic way to get in on a new and fun festival right in our own backyard.

Beautiful flowers decorate the village of Leavenworth, Washington

Beautiful flowers enhance the village

Leavenworth Ale-Fest. “Beer tasting with brews from 20 micro breweries, popular Northwest bands, delicious foods” benefiting the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum.

Visit an orchard in bloom in the Leavenworth area: The Wenatchee Valley is home to countless fruit orchards. Check out our Fruit and Produce page for links to local farms, produce stands and farm organizations like the Cascade Farmlands Association.

Also coming in May: The Leavenworth Summer Theater box office will open at the end of the month and Leavenworth’s Village Art in the Park will return. Look for the Lions Club Pancake Feeds to return.

In May visit Leavenworth for Maifest and for the Leavenworth Spring Birdfest.

Throughout the spring months you’ll find wine and spirits tastings, community events, classes and activities for all ages. See our Events calendar for more to see and do. Events and activities are added as the information becomes available. A couple of other resources for events and activities are Leavenworth.org and Icicle.tv

For more on springtime in Leavenworth you might also enjoy A Taste of Bavarian Spring

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Leavenworth, Spring | No Comments »

Family Dinner at SOUTH

January 8th, 2013

SOUTH Fresh Mexican restaurant in Leavenworth WA

Our kids recently joined us in Leavenworth for dinner at SOUTH

On our recent trip to Leavenworth we had the fantastic opportunity to have dinner with all our kids, including our daughters-in-law and our daughter’s boyfriend. What a great time! We made reservations for Monday night at one of our favorite restaurants. We knew SOUTH with its great drink menu and fresh take on regional Mexican cuisine would appeal to all of them as much as it does us.

We’d already had German with a couple of the kids, having eaten at Munchen Haus, and the Soup Cellar earlier in the weekend.

We were so right about the kids enjoying SOUTH’s delicious and generous portions. To start we ordered two pitchers of Sangria and enough of the chips samplers for all to taste the fresh corn and flour chips and accompanying Oaxacan black bean dip, salsa fresca and yummy guacamole. The Sangria is light and refreshing and a great drink to share. The chips and salsa went fast. The kids enjoyed visiting the salsa bar and trying the offerings there.

The service at SOUTH is friendly and personable. The food arrives quickly and the portions are generous. Scotte ordered tiny tacos. A couple of the kids ordered the Mole enchilada. Fajitas where enjoyed, as well. I really enjoyed the smoked salmon tacos. Great food and great company.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Eat, family | No Comments »

Spaaaaaahhhh

September 6th, 2012

A quiet place at the corner of Commercial and 8th Street in Leavenworth

On a recent trip to Leavenworth I had my first ever spa treatment. My visit to Solstice Spa was a belated birthday gift and a reward for four hard weeks working on a movie set. (If you’ve ever worked full-time on a film set, you know how much I deserved that reward. If you never have, then just take my word for it–it’s harder work than I ever imagined.) I made my appointment for a Dead Sea Mineral & Hot Stone Foot Massage after reading the description: “…Dead Sea mud treatment, hot stone massage and enriched foot cream soothes dry, cracked skin and conditions and restores tired feet and legs.” With the shape my feet were in after a month of being on them for 12-14 hours per day, it sounded like paradise.

We arrived in Leavenworth late one evening and my appointment at the spa was scheduled for the next afternoon. We enjoyed a fun day in Leavenworth, shopping, eating (lunch at SOUTH of course!) and generally relaxing. After a nap back at our hotel room, we headed for the spa on Commercial Street. I realized when we were part-way there that I’d forgotten the discount coupon I’d received by email after signing up for the spa’s email list. Scotte went back for it, but the receptionist assured me that she would have honored it had I just let her know I had it in the room.

Once there I was given comfy spa shoes and a fluffy robe to wear during my stay. I was greeted by my massage therapist, Tammy, who ushered me upstairs to a room with soothing music and lighting. I received a tasty drink of iced raspberry green tea and given a yummy bit of dark chocolate to nibble upon. Tammy donned exfoliating gloves and gave my feet and lower legs a lovely rub down, after covering a broken callus with a bandage. (I told you my feet were in terrible shape!)

A warm water soak was followed by the application of warm mud. Once my feet and legs were covered in mud and wrapped in plastic to hold in the warmth, I read a local magazine while drinking my tea and nibbling at the chocolate.

Another scrub down was followed by a lengthy hot rock massage. It was soothing and relaxing. I could feel the warmth sinking down into my muscles, joints and bones and simply leaned into the scrumptiousness. How does a foot and leg massage make you feel relaxed and healed all over your body?

It was all over far too soon. Next time, I think I’ll schedule a pedicure too. Once back downstairs I spent a little time shopping the boutique while other spa patrons were being waited on. I texted Scotte to let him know I was through and biding my time shopping. I received an urgent text message back, “I’m on my way, your bill is paid. No need to shop!” My lovely husband had already taken care of the bill and arrived quickly, leaving my shopping for another day.

I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon at Solstice Spa & Suites and will put it on my list of must do’s in Leavenworth. And I can’t be the only one. Solstice Spa and Suites is the recipient of TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Award two years running (#7 on the list of top relaxation resorts in the country!) and consistently comes in in the top of the list for Best of the Northwest poll on Seattle’s KING5.

Solstice Spa & Suites offers some delicious relaxation and romance packages including girls’ getaways, romance packages and new, a Brew Lover’s Package that includes a hydro-therapy suite, brew-tastings, locally made gourmet chocolate and beer soap.

For more about spas and other great ways to relax in Leavenworth see our Health and Fitness page. Also check out our Romance page if you’re thinking about visiting Leavenworth for a special anniversary or just a get-away weekend.

I was inspired to share my spa experience with you when reading my friend Kerri’s review blog. In it she reviews a new Dove Hair Care product. There was also a link to a give-away. The prize for that is a gift-certificate for SpaFinder. I entered the contest and I’m getting a second entry for letting you all know about it. Let me know if you win!

What about you? What’s your favorite spa treatment? I’d love to hear about your spa experiences.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Leavenworth, Romance | No Comments »

This weekend in Leavenworth

April 19th, 2012

In Leavenworth, Washington for the weekend? Take a look at some of the events and activities for April 20-22

Among Penguins: A Birdman in Antarctica Friday, April 20, 7pm. In the Barn at Barn Beach Reserve. A lively slide-show by Oregon birder and author, 26 year old Noah Strycker.

Leavenworth Ale-Fest Saturday, April 21, 2-10pm. Leavenworth Fest Halle. Beer tasting with beers from 20 micro-breweries. $25 admission at the door. Admission is free for active duty military. 21 and over only. Benefiting the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum. “An Ale of a Party!”

Weddings and Wine Open House Saturday, April 21, 11am. Silvara Vineyard. Visit Silvara along with select wedding professionals from the Upper Wenatchee Valley. Door prizes all day.

Brazil and Beyond Saturday, April 21, 7:30pm, $10. Icicle Creek Center for the Arts. Enchanting Brazilian music and more from the duo, Hilary Field and Gwen Franz.

Earth Day Fair Sunday, April 22, noon-4pm at Lions Club Park. “Many Hands, Many Voices, One Community.” Music, food, Health Fair, Farmers Market Showcase, booths and displays, and hands-on activities.

Live music this weekend at:
Andreas Keller
King Ludwigs
SOUTH
Alley Cafe
Tumwater Inn
Icicle Brewing Co

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Leavenworth News | No Comments »

May in Leavenworth

April 17th, 2012

Village Art in the Park Begins May 4 and runs each weekend through October 21. Village Art in the Park began in 1966 and is the longest running outdoor art show in the state. It’s a non-profit that provides art education funding and scholarships. Hours for Art in the Park are 9am-6pm Friday-Sunday. In July and August they’ll add Thursdays, too.

May 5 Bavarian Battle: “The Bavarian Battle is a gnarly 5k obstacle run held in the Bavarian village of Leavenworth, Washington. Racers will jump, slide, run, climb, hop and crawl their way to the finish line.” Billed as the “dirtiest event of the year.” Follow them on Facebook, too!

May 11-13 MaiFest: Celebrate spring in Leavenworth, Washington at a traditional Bavarian folk festival. The free, family oriented festival is filled with tons of entertainment and events. Folk dancers twirl and dance in front of and around the Maibaum (May Pole) in Front Street right in the center of Leavenworth. The village goes all out to welcome spring. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate Mother’s Day, too. Read more about Maifest on the Maifest page.

May 12, 7am, Lions Club Park. Lions Club Breakfast: all you can eat pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee and milk. A fundraiser for Leavenworth Lions Club. $6 for adults.

May 17-20 10th Annual Spring Bird Fest: “The Leavenworth area features spectacular habitats ranging from snow-capped mountains to sunny ponderosa pine forests, to lush riparian zones, to shrub-steppe. All our field trips are led by experts and professionals in their field. Learn about the wide variety of migratory birds that come here for a brief, but important part of their year: the breeding season. Hear the songs sung only during the breeding season while you stroll, bike, boat, or van during the height of wildflower season. While birding is the heart of the weekend, activities also include wildflower walks, arts events, and family activities to ensure fun and learning for everyone, and for birders of all skill levels, with enough built-in “down time” to explore the friendly Bavarian village that we call home.” Check out this year’s events. Because it’s the 10th annual fest, special events are planned.

Ohme Gardens is open. Hours 9am-6pm daily until Memorial Day, then 9am-7pm daily through Labor Day. Mother’s Day Tea noon-4pm, Sunday May 13.

If you haven’t yet made lodging reservations, check our Stay page for a complete listing of accommodations, where you’ll find places to stay for every taste and budget. Looking for more to do in Leavenworth? Check out our Play page for activities, events and things to see and do for everyone in the family.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Maifest, Play | No Comments »

« Older Entries