Tumwater Dam has a fascinating history for as small of a dam that it is.  It sits just a few miles west of Leavenworth in Tumwater Canyon.  The historical marker out front says that it at one time was the largest hydroelectric dam west of Niagara Falls.

Learn more fun facts about:  Tumwater Dam

Check out this very cool video showing off the raging water going over Tumwater Dam!

Leavenworth Makes It On Huffington Post!

North Central Washington's little Bavarian community of Leavenworth, home to great shopping and food, made it onto the pages of the Huffington Post recently.  How'd they do that?  Well, by getting listed as one of the top ten "quirkiest" places to visit in the United States, of course.

Check out the rest of the list here:  10 Quirky Places You Need to See in 2016

Seattle to Leavenworth in Just 10 Minutes! A Video Tour

How long does it take to get from Seattle to Leavenworth?  Not long really.  Probably just a little under two and a half hours.  Want to make the trip in record time?  Check out this cool video game style trek from Seattle, over the mountains, to the Bavarian Village of Leavenworth.

The Washington State Department of Transportation Takes Care of Tumwater Canyon

The Washington State Department of Transportation is tasked with taking care of Tumwater Canyon just west of Leavenworth.  They do a darn good job too.  This area typically gets a lot of snow and there isn't a lot of room to get rid of it all in the canyon.

Snow plows are a regular sight inside Tumwater Canyon.  Busting g out heavier equipment like snowblowers and road graders is sometimes necessary though.

A much deserved tip of the hat to the crews that takes care of this beautiful, popular, important, and sometimes dangerous section of road.

A Nutcracker Collector in New Orleans

Here's a story out of New Orleans about a nutcracker collector.  It's nice to see this interest from so far away.  It also mentions the extensive collection found right here though in Leavenworth's Nutcracker Museum.

New Orleans Man Has More Than 100 Nutcrackers

A Look Back At Leavenworth When Times Were Hard

Leavenworth is known as a shopping mecca with great specialty shops and phenomenal restaurants.  The lodging options there are top notch too.  Leavenworth wasn't always this way though.  There was a time, long before the conversion to the Bavarian theme, that times were a little tougher there though.  Here's a great article looking back at Leavenworth's history.

Leavenworth's Hard Times Before Bavarian Success

Leavenworth Christmas Lighting Video

The Christmas Lighting Festival is one of the more popular times to visit Leavenworth.  For those who haven't gone and seen the splendor, here's a great little video that shows off the incredible atmosphere the town is filled with.

It really is something to experience.  Go for the day and stay into the evening or try your luck at booking one of the hard to find lodging options there.

Leavenworth Christmas Lighting is out of this world.