Leavenworth: Washington town gets all decked out for the holidays

LEAVENWORTH, Wash. — Make no mistake. There are two notable cities named Leavenworth in the United States. The more well-known is Leavenworth, Kan., that state's first incorporated city and home to the Army's Fort Leavenworth, Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary and various historic sites.

The other is Leavenworth, Wash., a still undiscovered treasure for many travelers.

Leavenworth, Wash., some 100 miles east of Seattle and north of Ellensburg and Yakima, is a Bavarian-themed community — boasting European-style shops in the midst of the rugged Cascade mountains.

This Leavenworth was named the Ultimate Holiday Town USA by the Arts and Entertainment Network.

There's some real magic here. Indeed, Christmastime is the busiest season, but this resort community is popular year-round — with some 1.5 million visitors annually.

Sauerkraut, bratwurst and oompah-pah music dominate. But it's no imitation Bavaria. Germany may be more than 5,000 miles away from Salt Lake City, but this Bavarian paradise is only about 800 miles from Utah.

"Washington's Little Bavaria" is how the town bills itself.

According to Sherry Schweizer, media relations director for the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce, the festivals are truly German.

Leavenworth, a former railroad town, was economically limping in the early 1960s. With help from the University of Washington's Bureau of Community Development, a plan was made to give the town a Bavarian flavor. Without state or local money — only pride — everything possible was mortgaged and European architecture began to materialize, piece by piece.

Although that 1960s Bavarian start came with zero German population, today Leavenworth boasts 28 percent of its population as German.

"We make sure the festivals are authentic," Schweizer said.

With a population of only 2,250 people, the town is home to some 100 shops and businesses and is a shopper's dream, but it has a low key, hometown atmosphere that's both friendly and relaxing.

While Leavenworth's main street can get busy at times, it's a laid-back change of pace place compared to the Seattle area.

Front Street, where most parking is free, but crowded, is where shoppers go. It has spilled over onto adjacent streets — quaint little stores offering Christmas decorations, novelties, clothes, jewelry, toys and more.