Leavenworth: Washington town gets all decked out for the holidays

Yes, it does snow here, but its low-by-Utah-standards elevation of only 1,100 feet above sea level produces a hot spot in summer and keeps freezing or below days to about 30 days on average per calendar year. Ditto for the number of snowy days. The town has an average of 33 days annually above 90 degrees, so it can get hot here in the summer.

Leavenworth is famous for its German-oriented festivals and parades; it is home to a major Nutcracker museum and offers a wealth of dining and lodging options. There's also more than German here. There are stores that focus on Switzerland and Australia, too. Even if you don't like European food, there are 14 restaurants offering American options. Best pizza in town is at the Kodiak Haus.

Even the McDonald's is built in a Bavarian style.

There are also some candy stores, like Leavenworth Chocolates, but one downside was I was unable to find any Bavarian chocolates in the entire town!

Schweizer said there are 684 rooms in Leavenworth and a total of 1,158 in the market area, ranging from motels to suites to condos to bed and breakfasts. There are also campgrounds, like the Pine Villages.

Guest books reveal visitors here come from all over the world.

"We get a lot from Seattle, Texas and California," Schweizer said. "They come from everywhere."

In the holiday season, Leavenworth excels at open-air markets, Christmas carriages, Santa Claus and loads of lighting.

Schweizer said everything will be in full holiday swing this year by Dec. 3. The Christmas Lighting Festival this year is on three weekends — this weekend, Dec. 10 and 11 and 17 and 18.

Christmas lovers will also find Kris Kringl, a two-story holiday shop, irresistible (www.kkringl.com). Kids will love the toy stores.

Icefest is planned for Jan. 14 and 15. (Leavenworth's original name from the 1880s was "Icicle.") There's also a big Oktoberfest and Fall Leaf Festival each autumn.

Those who don't favor shopping, or grow tired of it quickly, will find other opportunities here. There are art galleries, bakeries, wine tasting and more.

Spectacular mountain scenery and the Wenatchee River combine to create a natural setting for this unusual town. Skiing, hiking, river running, rafting and golf are all a mainstay in the Leavenworth area. Stevens Pass is a nice drive, and the Icicle Fun Center features miniature golf, bumper boats, a climbing wall, replica train, summer theater productions and first-run movie theater.

Riverfront Park accesses the Wenatchee River and is an escape from suburbia. Foot paths are excellent and Blackbird Island is a nature lover's paradise. Deer and birds are plentiful.

Indeed, bird-watching is another rising activity here, and seasonally, rafts float people down the river to see wildlife.

Golfing, horseback riding and hayrides are also popular.