When the weather finally settles into a pattern of warm summer nights under starry skies, it’s hard not to think about camping trips and getting out in nature. No better place than Lake Wenatchee, Plain or Leavenworth. Although camping is a broad term, the whole idea of ‘camping’ opens up so many memories but can be a challenge to fit into our busy schedules. It is not always easy to pack and get organized for a weekend camping trip, so considering a cabin can be really appealing. There are numerous cabins to choose from that will take you back to the ‘gool ole’ days and remind you of visiting grand parents, playing til the sun goes down, fishing off a dock, trolling from the back of a row boat, s’mores and those starry nights. Many shining moments of my childhood are easily recalled whenever I daydream of summer camping trips. While crowed campgrounds actually have a flavor all their own (and drum up a multitude of happy memories), the idea of recreating family getaways can be daunting simply trying to manage all the gear and necessary items. I love being able to choose cabins in various areas that have all that we need already on site and available for our use. The kids love to choose their beds before tossing their stuff down and heading outside. We love teaching them some of the outdoor games that we enjoyed with our cousins (kick the can) and even cooking up some of the comfort foods we inhaled after playing hard and running free. As we grow older, recalling these moments became part of our family holiday gatherings, to reminisce about these adventures, laugh out loud and buildi on the stories year after year. My kids reminded me just the other day, the best part of family, was sitting around the table at Thanksgiving or Christmas and re-hashing the memories of childhood moments and adventures. They bond us to one another and keep our feet planted on the ground. Memories cannot be bought and cannot be shared around the dinner table, unless they actually happened and we were all there to remember them later.
Camping and memory making, Lake Wenatchee and Leavenworth
Finding a lodge in Leavenworth, Lake Wenatchee, Plain area
Picking a Lodge for your Leavenworth getaway
There are so many options to choose from when selecting a Comfy Lodge in the Lake Wenatchee, Plain and Leavenworth area, but knowing what will make your trip more enjoyable helps to make your time the very best it can be. We have lodges that offer privacy and river, lake or mountain side locations. Some offer large yards for outdoor activities that encourage team building for families/peers, to share moments of friendly competition or just laughter and comradship. When it comes to making memories NW Comfy Cabins truly has something for every group and family. Location is key to making this your best getaway. Horseback riding, sleigh rides, building an igloo or running through the sprinkler. We are near to may wineries, stables, mountain climbing, biking, cross county skiing, downhill skiing, tubing, river floats or white water rafting, all of these and so much more are in your backyard when you are staying here with us. Let us help you make your trip as active or lazy as you want it to be. Nearly all of our properties have private hot tubs so whether you are seeking action or relaxation, we have you covered.
ALE fest in Leavenworth
Good times are happening at the 13th Annual Leavenworth Ale Fest on April 13, 2019. Enjoy a great mix of breweries, cideries, music and all-around fun in Leavenworth’s beautiful alpine setting. New for 2019, the festival now serves as a benefit for local non-profit Icicle Creek Center for the Arts, helping to bring the arts to families and communities across North Central Washington.
Traveling with pets.
Tips for traveling with pets.
Getting away for a weekend is always so much fun. Bringing my pups makes it even better. Not all cabins will allow my fur babies, and while that is totally understandable, it is also harder for me to find a place that fits my needs and provides a safe and comfortable place to relax, adventure and still have time with my babies. One of the best options we have discovered is the Leavenworth Pet Lodge and Grooming. They are a wonderful place to keep my pets when they are not out hiking and spending time adventuring with us (when we are at a non-pet friendly, or not secure pet location) and my pets love it. They also provide additionally, grooming and other pet services. The cost is preferable to boarding on the west side of the mountains and I have the confidence that they are safe, nearby, and when I pick them up, they are clean and happy. So I can still travel with my girls, enjoy the places that we love to stay, and take them out for fun and adventure as well. It is a vacation for all of us.
Staying cool with the kiddos
What to do with kids while in Leavenworth:
When we are in Leavenworth, we walk the streets and remember the many adventure that we have had and how they have evolved since we first began coming here. The kids were ‘littles’ then, and we were always looking for ways to enjoy family time. Many a hot summer day was spent at Nason creek floating the short rapids where the kids could run back and forth as they ride the shallow river past all of us adults basking in the sun. It was so easy to find little private beach areas, that to this day, the kids (all grown now), still consider ‘our private spot’ . We would generally end the day with a milk shake from the 59er diner. Admittedly, that might be our second trip there in a day because breakfast, lunch or dinner, at the dinner, was a must for every weekend. Oh the memories the old 59er provided our families. We are only now beginning to make new memories now that the diner has been rebuilt from the fire and becoming familiar again.
When we wanted to spend the day in town, we would often pack up a picnic and spend afternoons at the city pool. Long before it was made into the adorable water park that it is today, the kids would splash and enjoy a pool day, while we occupied a lounge chair and relaxed in the sun. People watching, as the other vacationers stroll along by, the atmosphere is always one of enjoyment and fun. At the end, the kiddos tuckered out, we would go back to the cabins and prepare for an evening of cocktails around the fire, s’mores and stories. It really never got old.
Then we found the River Park along the backside of town. The walk to the rivers edge echoed with tales of bears hiding in the woods. Of course, one of the dads would stage himself somewhere behind a tree, somehow capturing a moment when the bears seemed not be hungry that particular day, and all thought of being eaten slipped away, out pops a scary beast and sets 4 little girls a screaming. Fear and fantasy lives on for the next trip to river park.
Last but not least, day trips to Chelan water park. This became an annual event and one that was widely anticipated by kids and adults alike. Another picnic lunch, sun screen, towels and we were off. Running in circles from the bottom to the top of the next slide, and the joyous screams as each one made it to the bottom, one after another. These are the things that summers are made of.