Cabin in the Woods – Leavenworth getaway ideal for holidays

By CARY ORDWAY
of NorthwestTravelAdvisor.com

The holidays are the perfect time to trek off to that cabin in the woods, start a fire in the fireplace and settle in for some quality time with the family, right? Only problem is there is something called “cabin fever” and, when you’re vacationing as a family, even the best of intentions can result in a mini-disaster.

So what to do when you have parents, grandparents and sane adults wanting to take it easy and watch the snow fall while you have everyone under the age of 39 clamoring to go “do something.” This cabin in the woods stuff, the kids will tell you, is just not all that it’s cracked up to be.

Solution: The Edgewater vacation rental in Leavenworth, the fun little town in North Central Washington that has been reborn as a Bavarian village like you would visit in the Austrian Alps. Whether you’re seeking that quiet cabin in the woods or a busy holiday filled with shopping and dining, the Edgewater will fill the bill.

The Edgewater is located on the edge of the Wenatchee River, directly across from Leavenworth’s Waterfront Park and, from this riverside location – believe it or not – it feels like you’re in the middle of the woods. This vacation home is set apart from its neighbors and right on the river. With its view of the Enchantment Mountains, it’s easy to pretend you’re spending your holiday in some far-off location away from people, and away from the everyday hustle and bustle of your job.

The “elders” in your family group will enjoy this private lodge and its gorgeous views and may well settle in for the duration. The lodge actually is three separate, but interconnected buildings. The middle building is the great room with a modern fully-equipped kitchen, a gas log stove and an open area for dining or playing games or just sitting and enjoying the view through the large windows. It’s also where you’ll gather as a family to watch TV.

Outside, a breezeway leads to a master bedroom suite on one side of the great room and, on the other side, a “bunkhouse” that has three separate river-view rooms and sleeping quarters, along with a full bathroom and kitchenette.

Altogether the Edgewater sleeps 10 although we were able to squeeze in our two daughters, our son-in-law and eight grandkids. The separate buildings were useful in allowing separate activities when different people wanted to do different things, but the great room was ideal for bringing everyone together.

The wildlife in the area was a big attraction as we watched birds and even an otter make their way along the riverbank. It snowed heavily while we were visiting, so it was fun to put on the boots and make our way through deep snow down to the riverbank. Snowballs were flying, spirits were soaring and one could just imagine Santa and his reindeer flying over the treetops and parking in what seemed like three feet of snow piled up high beside the lodge. Once we’d drenched shoes and clothing in the wet snow, it was time to warm up in the outdoor hot tub that is conveniently located on the Edgewater deck.

The kids really did enjoy playing on the large park-like property available for exploration and, in general, cabin fever didn’t set in for the younger set until sometime the second day. But, unlike a real cabin in the woods that require a half-day’s hike to reach civilization, we just piled everyone in the car and went across the river to get our fix of the shopping, restaurants, events, music – and, of course the beer and brats – for which Leavenworth is so well known.

Cross-country skiing, inner-tubing and other winter activities were close by, so we had no shortage of options to fill our stay in the Leavenworth area. The Edgewater turned out to be a kind of cabin-in-the-woods with benefits – the kind of benefits that meant this particular holiday vacation really had something for everyone.

For more information on booking the Edgewater Lodge, contact Destination Leavenworth at 866-904-7368 or visit www.destinationleavenworth.com.

(For more information on other fascinating destinations throughout the Pacific Northwest, please visit www.northwesttraveladvisor.com.)