Our Quick Trip to Leavenworth

Last weekend we took a super quick trip over the mountains and through the snow to the cute little town of Leavenworth. It had been a long time since we'd gone to Leavenworth and if you remember last year we almost got there. So I was pretty excited. 

We arrived on Sunday afternoon and checked in just in time to watch the last of the Seahawks game (GO HAWKS!). We stayed at the Enzian Inn and I would highly recommend it. The rooms are comfortable. The lobby and the rest of the hotel is pretty sweet. Decorated like a Christmas lodge it was so warm and cozy, complete with a sleigh and a two story tree in the lobby (literally a tree went through the floor!). You even get free snowshoeing and the continental breakfast is amazing (complete with a make-your-own-omelette bar). 

After the game, we bundled up and went downtown for the last Tree Lighting Ceremony of the season. The main drag was blocked off so people could walk freely down the snowy street. There were even a few free standing fire pits in the middle of the road for people to warm up. We stopped and got some hot cho and wandered through all the cute shops. All the shopkeepers are so nice! 

There were so many people, especially for the tree lighting. The street was packed, the snow was falling, and we were freezing! It was so cold! Tons of kids were sledding down the small hill in the park. They had a stage set up in the main park with the high school carolers singing Christmas tunes. When the tree lighting ceremony began, the whole crowd joined in and sang along with the carolers. It was pretty awesome when they first lit the big Christmas tree, then the row of shops along the main street, then the rest of the trees in the park. I loved it! If you don't know by now, I LOVE Christmas lights! They make me so happy:). 

After the tree lighting, we grabbed some yummy sausages at the Munchen Haus. Then we had to go back to our room to warm up! It was so cold (did I mention that?)! I just brought my rain boots so I was dry but freezing. We hung out for a while and then went back downtown after the crowds had cleared to take some pictures and walk around.

The next morning, we had amazing omelettes and coffee, walked around some more downtown and then packed up to head home since the passes weren't looking great. We ended up driving through a blizzard on Stephens Pass! It was quite the experience, but Curvy did great with the All Wheel Drive (and Z was a rockstar driving!). 

Here's some pictures of our trip!

We had a great (quick) trip and we can't wait to go back. Leavenworth at Christmas really is amazing!

P.S. 4 Days til Christmas!!! Hope you are enjoying the holiday season with your families and friends!

Zoolights

Hi there! How was your weekend? I hope it was filled with lots of Christmas lights, hot chocolate, warm fires and maybe some shopping (I definitely prefer shopping of the online variety this year). We had such a fun weekend. I took Friday off to catch up on life and use up some of my vacation days. It was much needed, especially this time of year when we are crazy busy, but in a good way. 

Saturday we had our friends, Kim and Jake, over for dinner and then went down to Tacoma to Zoolights. None of us had been before and it was so much fun! They sell discounted tickets online and at Fred Meyer, which I would highly recommend since the line was really long when we got there. Also, there's not a lot of parking. We got in the park about 8 and stayed until 9:15 even though the park closed at 9 (there were still lots of people there). 

I was in love with this green and purple tree. When we walked by, we even saw a couple that had just gotten engaged by the tree! So sweet.

The best part was the baby tigers! There were two baby tigers and right as we walked up the zookeeper went in their cage to feed them! When we saw them, Zach and I both thought they were just like Brody. Haha. Huge, gangly, clumsy, rambunctious. They were so cute! 

We had such a great time! We would highly recommend going to check out Zoolights. Hot chocolate, Christmas music blasting throughout. It was pretty busy, but you could definitely just walk around at your own pace. The only bad part was the penguins... if you know me, you know why... and they smell horrible! 

Go check out Zoolights (here's a link to buy them online).

The Great Wheel

We took advantage of the sun on Saturday after Zach's shift at the hospital (and so it begins...) and went downtown to hang out. Our first mission was food. I'd never been to Ivar's down on the pier, so I suggested we go there. It was so busy! And it was so weird the way you order and pay there. Everyone stands in line, you give them your order (your fried order only!) then you step back and wait. Then they call out your fried order and you go up and tell them you want a drink, etc. and pay. It's just really weird and hectic when it's so busy because everyone is confused, then you have to get back in line and everyone huddles towards the counter in fear that their order won't be called. Weird, Ivar's. Just weird. Anyways, we both got fish and chips and they were pretty tasty. 

From there we were on a mission to The Great Wheel! I was so excited (as I mentioned here)! I was prepared to wait in line for hours, but the whole process (from getting into line to getting off the wheel) only took about an hour and fifteen minutes. Not as bad as I thought. One way to save time (we realized after it was too late) is to buy the tickets online before you get there (tickets are $13/adult). That way you can skip the ticket line and head straight to the wheel line. Since it was such a beautiful day it wasn't so bad standing around in line though. 

We figured a few things out while we were standing in line (we're like that). There are 42 gondolas (we may have counted) including one VIP gondola (it's the black one and it has leather seats and a glass bottom!). Six people can fit into each gondola so if you are with a smaller party, be prepared to share. We were in a gondola with three other lovely ladies and chose to face towards the city.

The ride was surprisingly smooth and very sturdy. Very little swinging at all and there was even A/C! The last time I was on a Ferris Wheel was at California Adventure and it was so scary! The gondola rocked and there was nothing to hold on to so I thought I was going to fly right out! The Seattle Great Wheel was nothing like that (in case you are afraid of heights). Super smooth and while it is high, the views are worth it. We were constantly twisting and turning to see everything around us. 

Oh, and you go around five times - once to load, three full times, once to unload. Overall, it's about a 15-20 minute ride. 

After the Great Wheel, we hit up the Seattle Antiques Market (under the viaduct) and then went up to Pike's Place (we like being tourists in our own town:). I love Pike's Place Market. Just walking around, seeing all the different people and art and flowers and fish. Especially on a nice day, it will never grow old for me. :)

We picked up some delicious raspberries (and later made some delicious raspberry cobbler!) and the mister even bought his lady some sweet peas for the road (they smell so good). The peonies were also out in full bloom and were gorgeous!

On our way through Westlake Center, I noticed the trees in the courtyard had their trunks painted bright blue. Crazy, huh?

The whole day was awesome and perfect and everything that I love about being in Seattle. Such a great city. We love you, Seattle!