Is Leavenworth dreary?

[PS90]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

OP, what draws you to Leavenworth? IMO the issue isn't winter dreariness. It's that for much of the year, tourist season overcomes the town, whose residents decided many years ago to reinvent itself as a quaint Bavarian village for economic development, because the population was shrinking.

Streets and alleyways were given German names, the buildings in the downtown core were refurbished to look like the old-time timbered houses of German villages, AND last but by no means least, groups of residents had to dress in traditional German clothing and organize oom-pah bands to perform on street corners to create the right ambience. But rural Americans aren't 19th Century Germans, and their musical skills are a bit wanting, so on weekends (especially during Oktoberfest), the town floods with tourists strolling among the shops accompanied by anemic-sounding "Bavarian" live music.

This would be your environment. You might even be pressured to pick up a tuba yourself, to staff one of those "colorful" and "quaint" bands to keep up the town's image, and wear the black knickers (or dirndle, if you're female) all weekend. And in winter, the town is so scenic with a nearby snowy mountain in the background, just like in Bavaria, that the whole scenario repeats itself for the holiday season for holiday shoppers from urban areas in Western and Eastern WA. Got to re-create those colorful German Christmas markets, you know.


Still interested?

I have no idea why people love to hate-on the Bavarian theme. I mean, it's obviously a tourist thing - nobody actually thinks that they are suddenly being transported to Germany. So who cares if it's fake? Apparently not the tourists that pour into the town every weekend from the coast.

And no one "has" to dress-up. I was there 2 weeks ago, and not a single employee we saw at any of the tourist shops was wearing lederhosen or any other "German" clothes. There were a few street performers in various costumes, but I'm fairly sure that no one is "pressuring" them to perform or wear the clothes.

I do agree, however, that the OP probably shouldn't choose Leavenworth if weather is a detrimental factor to them. I would recommend Cashmere or Wenatchee, which are just east of Leavenworth, have more amenities and slightly less tourists, and have much better weather.

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by PS90

....
I do agree, however, that the OP probably shouldn't choose Leavenworth if weather is a detrimental factor to them. I would recommend Cashmere or Wenatchee, which are just east of Leavenworth, have more amenities and slightly less tourists, and have much better weather.

The Bavarian theme is fun to visit for tourists.

Anyone looking for milder weather needs to think long and hard before moving to eastern WA. If they don't want snow and cold, it might not be the best fit. Additionally, I would be more concerned with fire season during late summer/fall. That's not just concern for one's own property but all the fire smoke one must learn to live with. Hopefully, this year won't be as bad as last. But with all the fires burning out east and in Canada already, its going to be touch and go until rainy season starts back up again. This is an increasing problem year over year in the PNW whether folks attribute it to global warming or not.

Derek

[rkcarguy]

There doesn't seem to be any escape from the smoke. Fires pop up in Eastern/Central WA, Canada, or Oregon/California, and no matter the wind direction we get it one way or another.