Leavenworth Springtime Fun and Activities

If you don�t have much time or money for a far away vacation but still want to reward your family take a short trip to Bavaria� in the heart of Washington.

The snow is starting to recede back into the mountains and the sun is out� Pear, Apple, and Cherry orchards are budding and beginning to blossom� the hills are covered in bright yellow, white, and blue wildflowers. Spring is the season that you�ll see why the founders of Leavenworth�s theme were so strongly reminded of the mountains and villages of Bavaria.

Things to do as a family:

The Best Western Icicle Inn at the Icicle Village Resort is pleased to offer a �Spring Break Package� with the Icicle Junction Activities Center and Cinema beginning in March and continuing through mid-May. "The package has been so popular for the past number of years that we just have to keep offering it� It�s our best deal of the year!" The �Spring Break Package� includes a guest room for 3 nights, a complimentary European style breakfast buffet with hot waffles and biscuits and gravy each morning, swimming and hot tubing, and at the resort�s fun park four movie tickets to the current release playing, eight passes to play miniature golf, and 25 arcade game tokens. It also includes a 27-exposure single-use camera and �more cool stuff�. See their web for pricing for the current spring break season. Further information is available and reservations can be made by calling direct to 1-800-558-2438. Also see www.icicleinn.com or www.iciclevillage.com for more package information.

In April the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery releases millions of juvenile salmon and steelhead into the Icicle River. These 18 month old fish, called smolt, migrate hundreds of miles downstream to the Pacific Ocean where they will grow to adulthood, then return to their birthplace at our hatcheries 1-3 years later. You can also view younger fish, called fry, which were spawned the previous summer. www.fws.gov/leavenworth

One of the beautiful pieces of Leavenworth landscape is the popular Icicle Creek Nature Trail. This self-guided interpretive trail is an easy one-mile loop through riparian and upland habitat. Enjoy a peaceful walk, learn some hatchery history and discover the uniqueness of Icicle Creek.

Tour the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum, and discover the ingenuity of man in his quest to develop the perfect instrument to open the hard shell of a nut. Displaying well over 5,000 nutcrackers originating from over 40 countries, the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum is a definitely a place you will want to visit. www.nutcrackermuseum.com

Tour the farm and meet the animals at Smallwood�s Harvest �expect to see pigs, goats, llamas and chickens to name a few. Shop the country mercantile and choose from fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, hundreds of specialty goods�honeys, jams, pickles, sauces and snacks. The mercantile is home to numerous locally and regionally produced fine wines including Smallwood�s own private label. www.smallwoodsharvest.com

Horseback riding is always a favorite at Eagle Creek Ranch. Beginning the first week of April after the snow melts you�ll explore miles of trails climbing gently through sunlit evergreen forests to alpine meadows and spectacular views of the snow-capped peaks of the Cascades. www.eaglecreek.ws

From the Beginning of April to the End of May North Central Washington comes alive with color. The beautiful blossoms of apples, pears, apricots, cherries, peaches, and more can be seen from Leavenworth to Chelan and beyond. While you are here, be sure to visit the many fruit stands, farms, and wineries that are abundant in the area. www.icicleinn.com/springtours.htm

See real log houses and buildings from over 100 years ago, and get an idea of how your great grandparents lived in a Pioneer Village! There's also a museum with Native American tools and pioneer items. www.visitcashmere.com

Check out how they make world famous Aplets and Cotlets candies and get free samples at Liberty Orchards Candy Factory! www.libertyorchards.com

Look a salmon in the eye with a visit to the Rocky Reach Visitor Center where you might catch a close up view of fish passing through the fish way. The best months of the year to see Chinook salmon are May and August. Sockeye salmon are most visible during July, and it's September for steelhead. "Look a salmon in the eye" in the fish viewing room, located downstairs in the Visitor Center at Rocky Reach Dam. www.chelanpud.org/visitor-center.html

Watch candy makers hand-fashion Rocky Mountain Chocolates at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory 509-548-6525

Skiing is often still available at some local mountains so check out the weather at Stevens Pass (www.stevenspass.com) or Mission Ridge (www.missionridge.com) ski areas

The Icicle Village Resort offers a choice of accommodations. The Aspen Suites offer a selection of one, two, and three bedroom condominiums while the Best Western Icicle Inn offers 92 guest rooms and suites. At the resort you�ll also find Therapeutic Touch Massage & Wellness, J J Hills Restaurant and Wine Bar, and the Icicle Junction Activities Center with a game arcade, Movie Theater, soda fountain, and 18-hole miniature golf