Leavenworth, WA

Celea McInerny
Jan 7, 2016
4 min read

Updated: May 1, 2024

With my recent visit to Snoqualmie, I had caught the snow bug and was ready for some more time in the winter wonderland. With a few days off, I did some careful planning for a trip to Leavenworth, WA. The pass going eastbound was scheduled to close for a few hours the morning of my departure so I left mid morning to cross the pass. Leavenworth is a little more than two hours away from Seattle, and with Winter in full swing, I gave myself lots of flexible time to make my way there. A few years ago I crashed into the pass's guard rail and spun a few times in traffic. The weather was snowing and the roads were in terrible condition. Ever since that event, I have been terrified to drive in ice and snow. The lack of security I feel in winter weather is so uncomfortable. But with my planning, the pass was noted as clear and dry, so I couldn't have been happier. I took I-90 and then merged onto US-2. US 2 is one of the most dangerous roads in the mountains so I took every step necessary to avoid that route. Once I started to ascend into the mountains, the white glow of the snow instantly put a smile on my face. Winter is one of my favorites seasons and was the reason why I lived in Alaska for a few months in the past. I arrived at Leavenworth around 2pm with Mac. The city has LOADS of character that reflects its German inspiration. All of the buildings and signs are German decorated and even in the German language. One of the main attractions of Leavenworth in the Winter is their lights display which goes from November to February. Leavenworth is also located right in the middle of the mountains so the view from any angle is just superb. Mac and I enjoyed a very romantic time in this area. As we walked around the snowy and glowy town, I took many pictures of the buildings, lights, and Mac. We then decided to drive around the outskirts of the town until it got darker for the lights. We drove out past all the homes and came across snowed in wine vineyards and apple orchards. It was so much fun taking Frosty out in the snow, she handles the slips and slides like no other. Then, we drove out on highway 2 to check road conditions and find some scenic views. I was so in awe with the views I was seeing, I stopped every slow pullout that I could to take pictures. My Jeep is my muse these days and she is looking VERY good in the snow. After some trekking through the snow and down busy roads, Mac and I headed back to town to get a glimpse of the Leavenworth nightlife. The streets were filled with cheerful people, all doing the same as me-taking some shots of the Christmas lights. As Mac and I ran through the snow in cheer, I was feeling a kind of relaxation that I haven't in a while. The beautiful lights, my happy dog, the snow frosted town, and my ability to overcome my fears reaffirmed me of why I get out of town and push myself. My next independent challenge of my trip was to find a place to stay the night. I was more than excited to fall asleep in the snow and I had the sleeping bags and blankets to keep me warm. Once I found a quiet and secluded spot, I tied Mac to a tree so he could explore his territory. After a quick meal for the two of us, Mac and I went on a small night walk around the region. We didn't go far because Mac stopped and smelled everything, but the stars in the sky and the ice in my boots made this moment special. After the walk, I turned on my TV series "Scream Queens" on my laptop and cuddled under the covers. I love sleeping in the back of my car because it feels like a small dorm room. I have lots of storage to keep everything organized so I can maximize my indoor space.

After a restful night of sleep, Mac and I woke up and found a nice hike to go on. We drove 14 miles on US-2 and found a small parking lot to a trail head. There was a young couple snow shoeing so I asked for their opinion of the hike and then went for it. Mac absolutely loves the snow, he loves running on the icy terrain and tries to climb up any snow bank he sees. Unfortunately, I have to keep Mac on a leash, but he surely did keep me on pace with himself. We raced through the woods playing tag with each other and stopped every so often to take some pictures. I can't wait to take Mac back to the snow again, he and I share the same love for the winter wonderland. After a brisk two mile hike, we headed back home to avoid any climate changes. Mac slept quietly on my lap or on the center console as I navigated us through the mountains. Our last stop was back at Snoqualmie pass to do some quick house hunting. I absolutely love getting away and disconnecting from the world, it is the best thereby in the world.