Archive for June, 2011

Bloggers love to blog about Leavenworth, Washington

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011
City Park, Front St., Leavenworth, WA

Leavenworth, Washington

I love reading blogs! I subscribe to a wide variety of blogs, in subjects ranging from writing, to blogging, recipes, travel and theology. I read blog posts everyday from the Pacific NW, the West Coast, all over the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. And doesn’t count posts from blogs like Lonely Planet, which come from all across the globe.

Some of my favorite bloggers I discovered because they wrote about Leavenworth, Washington. Scotte has a Google Alert set notifying him of any new news item from, or about, Leavenworth. He passes along blog posts he knows I’ll find interesting. If the blog post is particularly entertaining, intriguing or well-written, I’m likely to subscribe to their blog feed.

On my iPad, I use the app, FeeddlerRSS. This app allows me to follow all of my subscriptions in one place, syncing with Google Reader, and all RSS subscriptions. On my iPhone I use the MobileRSS free app. The two apps sync together so I only have to add my subscriptions to one.

Here are some of my favorite blogs. Some are Leavenworth area specific, but most are cover a variety of subjects and came to my attention because they wrote about Leavenworth at least once.

Cakespy. I know I’m coming late to the dessert buffet with this one. Writer and illustrator, Jessie Oleson is based in Seattle and has written on sweet goodness available in bakeries and sweet shops from all over. Cakespy.com describes the mission better than I can: “Cakespy.com is a Dessert Detective Agency dedicated to seeking sweetness (literally) in everyday life. We do this by writing about bakeries, conducting baking experiments, and picking the brains of bakers and food artists, and finding awesome products for lovers of baked goods.” The site is filled with whimsical artwork, and a link to coloring pages drawn by Jessie O for Taste of Home Magazine. Two recent posts at Cakespy caught my attention: Via Delicious, Via Dolce Gelato, Leavenworth, WA; and Sweet Sandwich, Bavarian Waffle from The Danish Bakery, Leavenworth, WA. Be sure you check out the link to Cakespy’s upcoming book, CakeSpy Presents: Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life.
Thanks, Cakespy for visiting and writing about Leavenworth!

The iconic Willkommen in Leavenworth sign on US Highway 2

Willkommen in Leavenworth

Northwest Cheapsleeps-favorite places for budget travelers. Love travel and like it cheap, cheap, cheap? So does Lauren, a midwesterner transplanted to the Pacific NW. Follow her to get cheap travel tips. You’ll find campground ideas, hostel and motel reviews, restaurant and farmer market reviews, and itineraries for inexpensive weekend travel. Cheapsleeps found me on Twitter. So, I started following her blog.

Sometimes I find interesting articles and posts in unlikely places. This post, The Restaurant Business That Changed the World, on the Restaurant Marketing Ideas Blog, gives a really good thumbnail history of Leavenworth from a different perspective.

Looking for blogs especially about Leavenworth? Check out the blog at Icicle Creek Real Estate for Leavenworth real estate news and information. Whether you’re buying or selling or simply curious about the possibility of relocating to the Leavenworth vicinity, Geordie and Allyson’s blog will give you all sorts of information including upcoming events in Leavenworth.

At this blog and on the rest of the website we work to give you this most up-to-date and complete information about what’s happening in Leavenworth and the surrounding area. If you have suggestions that would make Accidental Bavarian and this blog more helpful please let us know. You can leave a comment or send an email to info@accidentalbavarian.com.

Washington State Scenic Byways & Road Trips

Friday, June 24th, 2011
Washington State's Scenic Byways and Roadtrips

New Publication

The new publication from Washington tourism, Scenic Byways & Road Trips, is a a full color, full-sized travel guide, now available from ExperienceWA. Washington State is unique in its diversity. Travel from the Mountains to the Sound or take any of the mountain pass greenways and byways. Travel a coastal byway or be mesmerized by the rolling hills of the Palouse Scenic Byway.

The road through the Palouse

The Palouse Scenic Byway

The travel guide includes State Scenic Byways, National Scenic Byways and All American Roads. To be designated a National Scenic Byway by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, a route must not only have natural beauty and breathtaking vistas, but also must demonstrate varied historical, cultural, archeological and recreational qualities. Beyond the designation of National Scenic Byway (of which there are five in Washington State) a byway can be further set apart as an All American Road.

All American Roads

An All American Road is named such when it’s determined that no other road exists like it and it is scenic enough to be a destination in and of itself. Two of the 31 designated All American Roads are in Washington State. These are: Chinook Pass Scenic Byway and the International Selkirk Loop.

Stevens Pass Greenway

The Stevens Pass Greenway is a designated National Scenic Byway and is a part of the Cascade Loop Scenic Byway. Leavenworth is at the heart of both routes. We have traveled the Cascade Loop and use the Stevens Pass Greenway often. The Stevens Pass Greenway follows the route of the old Great Northern Railway. It follows closely the routes of the Skykomish and Wenatchee rivers. Along the route you’ll find small communities, waterfalls, and day hike trails. The planner lists the drive-time for the greenway as 2 hours for a 90 mile stretch. There are a number of roadside produce stands, orchards and wineries and vineyards along the drive. You can also download a pdf of a Leavenworth itinerary at Savor Washington, the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s Culinary AgriTourism program.

The 440 mile Cascade Loop is described as, “a love letter to Washington.” It follows the Columbia River to Lake Chelan, treks through Winthrop and the Methow Valley. You’ll find amazing mountain views and journey right down to the Puget Sound at Whidbey Island. Our choice would be to start and end in Leavenworth. Visit the Cascade Loop Association for more information on the communities along the route.

The Cascade Loop is also home to a series of electric-car fast-charging stations. Read more about the Plug-in Stations and the first of the stations installed at Stevens Pass.

Washington State Scenic Byways & Road Trips is a great resource. Send for the free publication, or download the pdf if you’re not into the paper thing, and get all kinds of ideas for road trips and weekend getaways. Make Leavenworth your home base and explore Washington State and all of its beauty and diversity.

Dry Falls State Park, Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway

Dry Falls State Park, Coulee Corridor National Scenic Byway

Pop in to this shop!

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011
A gourmet popcorn shop off the beaten path in St. Augustine, FL

Pop N Off, Inc. 59 Cuna St.; St. Augustine, FL

Have you ever been to a shop, boutique or cafĂ©, far away from your hometown (and I mean far, far away-like as about as far away within the contiguous 48 as you can get from home) and not been able to get it out of your heart. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that Pop N Off, Inc., in historic St. Augustine, Florida, has an online shop!

We strolled past the little shop, off the very beaten path of St. George Street, on Cuna Street, early in our day in the historic district. It was our plan to come back to Pop N Off after taking a survey of the rest of the district. We just about skipped it later in the day, when it suddenly seemed hard to find. (We’re so glad we persisted in our search.) Renae had been to St. Augustine’s once, two years before. Scotte had never been. Cuna Street is right in the heart of historic St. Augustine’s. It’s one of the main ways to walk from the public parking garage right to sights like the Oldest School House and the Spanish Military Hospital. Get a map at the Visitors Center or official website. The Historic District is pedestrian friendly. You can drive through much of the area but walking it is the best way to see it all.

The henna tattoo Kaarin got in a little shop in St. Augustine

Kaarin's henna tattoo

The shopping in St. Augustine is fun and varied. On Renae’s trip in 2009 our daughter, Kaarin, got a henna tattoo in one shop. There are chotchkis and Pirate themed souvenirs galore. We enjoyed touring the Oldest School House, the St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine.

Basilica of St. Augustine

Downtown St. Augustine, 2009

After a long day walking through the historic district we found our way back to Pop N Off. It’s a friendly little shop in a Victorian cottage. The Mau family runs the delightful popcorn shop. From talking with Jim and his daughter, Bella, it’s clear that they’re passionate about their delicious product, made by their own hands, from their own recipes. At the present time they have 59 sweet and savory flavors, 20 of which they offer in the store at any one time. By rotating the flavors they keep the offerings fresh. On the savory side you’ll find the expected flavors like Garlic & Parmesan and Bacon Cheese, along with new and unexpected flavors like Dill Pickle, Coconut Curry and Beer Cheese. On the sweet side of their menu we tried Cinnamon Bun, Birthday Cake and Chocolate Covered Cherry. There are also unusual sweet flavor combinations like Bourbon Pecan Pie, Elvis (PB & Banana), Peach Cobbler, and Coconut Cake. Every kernel is well coated with flavor. Try several before you buy. You can mix the flavors in the bags. Everyone in the family can walk away with their own custom flavor combinations.

Pop N Off's shop in a Victorian cottage on Cuna St.

Jim and his daughter serve up tasty popcorn

I recently placed an order on the Pop N Off website. We’ll be getting a shipment soon with several flavors we loved plus a few that intrigued us as we looked over their list. The popcorn itself is reasonably priced at $4.75 for Savory flavors and $6.75 for Sweet. It’s a very good sized bag. They also offer tins of popcorn on their website and in the shop. The shipping is a little pricey. You must order a minimum of 3 bags. Shipping cost didn’t seem to change whether for 3 or 5 bags. After 5 bags it went up. Teresa emailed me back as soon as she’d processed my online order. Shipping will take awhile (after all we’re about as far from St. Augustine as we can get, right?) But Teresa’s email assured me that the popcorn is well sealed and should arrive fresh tasting. I’ll let you know how it is as soon as it arrives.

Bella and a bag of flavored popcorn

Mix it up!

We ate a lot of tasty food in Florida but nothing quite captured our hearts like the little popcorn shop on Cuna Street in St. Augustine.

How about you? What little shop have you discovered in your travels that you can’t get out of your mind? Have you eaten at a little hole-in-the wall diner that you go out of your way to stop at, whenever you’re anywhere near? Does your family have a favorite souvenir stop or roadside attraction? Share, please!

What are your favorite shops, stops and eating spots in Leavenworth, Washington? In an upcoming blog post I’ll let you know what our personal favorites are. We’d love to hear about yours.

The new photo books are here!

Saturday, June 18th, 2011

My Shutterfly photo books arrived!

The bright orange packaging of a Shutterfly delivery

Shutterfly

I ordered them last week, Tuesday and Wednesday. They arrived 8 days later. If I’d ordered them on the same day they’d have been even less expensive, but at only $8-9 for shipping on each, that’s a fantastic deal! As I mentioned in my previous post, I had two coupons for free 8X8″ photo books. One from TripAdvisor and the other from Shutterfly.

I’m so happy with the quality of the photo books. They’re exactly what I expected from the preview on the website. The pictures turned out great. The pictures are sharp and clear and the color is completely accurate. It’s so much fun to hold the books in our hands and relive our trip to Florida and visits to Leavenworth.

I received an e-coupon this week for 40% off future Shutterfly order. This offer ends June 22, 2011, so hurry! Sign up for an account at Shutterfly and get these great offers in your own email. If you sign up right now, you’ll also get 50 free 4X6″ prints.

Need inspiration and ideas for your own photos and photo books? Visit the Shutterfly Community Blog, Picture More, for lots of ideas from real users of Shutterfly.

The bright orange packaging of a Shutterfly delivery

Shutterfly!

Our Shutterfly photo book

Photo book

Leavenworth Photo Book

Inside pages

MaiFest Flower Awards

Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
Beautiful flowers decorate the village of Leavenworth, Washington

Beauty blooms all summer

The Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce recently announced the MaiFest Flower Awards.
Be sure to click on each photo in Visit Leavenworth’s Facebook album, to see it in detail.

Congratulations to the winners:

Munchen Haus: Most Spectacular Spring Flower Display

Innsbrucker Building: Oodles of Blooms

Pension Anna Hotel: Bountiful Blooming Balcony

Heidleburger: Burgers and Shakes: Great Flowers

We were in Leavenworth in April and saw the beginnings of the flower boxes being planted. It’s been a cool and wet spring for the area. It’s lovely to see that the flowers are blooming and putting on their usual show.

Flowers enhance the romance of the Gazebo

Dancing at the Gazebo

A recent comment on our Facebook page gave us a little perspective:
“I remember the day when it was the Women’s Garden Club only. Then plastic flowers flourished as year round decorations. Ernie Bielitzer and I lobbied loud and long for the real thing. “No one will take care of them”, “It will never work” “It’s too damn much trouble!” was my favorite. Once Don May joined the fray, well, look what you’ve got now. Way to go!!!!”

Wow, Karendawn, thank you for this insight. More importantly, big thanks to you and others who made this happen. I know that Leavenworth is a more beautiful place because of your work.