Rascal's Roadshow: Leavenworth to Rockport, Washington

 🐾 Rascal’s Roadshow

We had an amazing time in Leavenworth and would definitely visit again—but we hit one little hiccup. Remember if you want to enjoy the beautiful Bavarian downtown, be ready to pay for parking!

On our last day, we snagged a great spot. Todd paid for two hours, and off we went for lunch 🥨 and some window shopping (okay, maybe a little spending too 😅). With over 30 minutes left, we headed back—only to spot a parking officer nearby... and a TICKET on our windshield! 😳

Todd was not happy. He opened the parking app, which clearly showed we still had time. I grabbed the ticket and set out to find the officer, but POOF—she was gone!

Determined, we tracked down the parking office. It looked more like a warehouse than a city building, with an address that didn’t match the GPS. Finally, I found a tiny window and flagged someone down.

I showed her the app and the ticket. She was super helpful and canceled the citation right away. At first, she thought Todd had entered the wrong lot number—but nope! Turns out the officer typed our license plate wrong, using a zero instead of the letter “O”! 🤦‍♀️

As retired police officers, we were both a little annoyed. Our plate is all letters—she should have taken the time to double-check. 🙄 Still, the fix was easy-ish. We had planned to explore more, but after all that, we just went back to the campground to chill. 😌

🥨 Authentic Bavarian Food!

Before the ticket drama, we had lunch at Andreas Keller, below The Gingerbread House. We each got a cup of Cream of Kraut Soup—a cozy mix of sauerkraut, carrot, potato, onion, and leek in a creamy broth. Todd loved his. Me? Not as much, but I did finish the whole thing. 😬 It was my first time trying sauerkraut, and the vinegar tang just isn’t my thing.

My always photogenic hubby ready for a
Bavarian feast!

There’s a reason I’d never tried sauerkraut before: a childhood memory (trauma?). My mom was on Weight Watchers in the 60s and once attempted a “faux spaghetti” using sauerkraut. The whole house reeked so badly that we had to leave while it aired out! 🚪💨 Ever since then, sauerkraut never seemed like something I was eager to try.

Andreas Keller is a beautiful restaurant with a Bavarian feel.
In the background you get a glimpse of our waiter, Tristan,
in his lederhosen.

For entrées, Todd had Bavarian Beef Goulash—a hearty brown sauce over tender beef—and I had the Jägerschnitzel “Swiss Style”: grilled pork cutlet, melty Swiss cheese, rich mushroom sauce, and yummy Spätzle noodles. Mine made two meals! 🍽️ Overall, it was a great meal—despite my sauerkraut skepticism! 😂

🎄 Shopping at Kris Kringl

After lunch, we hit a few more shops, including Kris Kringl—“Where It’s Christmas All Year Long!” 🎅 This whimsical, colorful shop is pure joy! Thankfully, I have no room for trinkets in our travel trailer, or I would've needed a sleigh to haul home all the loot I would have bought! 😂

I did pick up some stickers for my sticker journal (I promise that I’ll tell you more about that!) and a birthday gift for my little sister—even though her birthday isn’t until June. 🎁 She’s not super techy, so I doubt she’ll see this… shhh 🤫

My sister always has a flower garden and her favorite color is pink...
how could I resist buying this adorable little duck for her?

Definitely stop here if you're in Leavenworth. It’s guaranteed to put you in a festive mood! ✨

🧚 Fairy Tale Trail

On our way back to the truck, I spotted a gathering of gnomes in a planter box. I love gnomes! I love anything fantastical, magical, or whimsical. 🧙‍♀️✨🧙 Then I noticed a little red and white box tucked in a cubby—it held Fairy Tale Trail cards! Inside was also a box with a latch and inside was a gnome stamp and ink pad. So cute! 🐌

I wish I’d found it sooner so I could’ve played along. If you’re visiting, don’t miss this hidden gem! 👉 Fairy Tale Trail Info

🦌 Reindeer Regret

I really hoped to visit the Reindeer Farm in Leavenworth, which the website says is open all year, but for some reason, it wasn’t open during our March visit! I was a bit disappointed, but again, while traveling, we must adapt. An important lesson we’ve learned is that many tourist towns have “seasons.”

We tend to visit in off-seasons so we can avoid the crowds, but by doing so, we also miss out on some activities. So, plan accordingly. You may enjoy the hustle and bustle and get to see it all and do it all! We’ll take our slower pace and miss a thing or two. It works for us. 😊 

🐈 Local Visitors 🦌

While we didn’t get to meet the reindeer this time, we did have some adorable guests stop by our campsite! 🏕️

A small group of deer wandered through several times during our stay, casually nibbling and strolling like they owned the place. So peaceful and magical to watch them up close! 🦌✨

And guess who else showed up? Panther’s long-lost twin—a sleek black cat named Avocado! 🥑🖤🐾 He was very bold, curious (cat, duh!), and absolutely charming. I’m convinced he came just to say, “Hi, Rascal’s Roadshow!” 😄

Still no sign of that wandering bear, though... maybe next time. 🐾🐻 Or maybe not… and that’s okay too! 😅

Rascal alerted me to this gorgeous kitty. He looks like a fuzzy bobcat!
Rascal did NOT like this kitty and growled and barked from inside the trailer.

🚐 Onward to Rockport, WA!

The drive from Leavenworth to Rockport took us through snowy mountains ❄️, a light snowstorm 🌨️, and into lush green valleys and mossy forests. 🌲 After Arizona’s browns, the greenery felt like a breath of fresh air—literally! If green had a smell, it would be Rockport! 🍃

We’re now camped at Howard Miller Steelhead Park along the beautiful Skagit River. Just steps from our door, the river flows by—silent and smooth, since there are no rocks to rumble over. I kinda miss the sound, honestly. 😅

The campground is tree-lined, with lush grass and a kids’ park, maybe two. We have power and water, but no sewer—but there’s a clean (and warm!) shower house nearby 🚿. Within walking distance is a little restaurant/bar and the local Post Office. Handy! 📬

👇📷MORE PHOTOS BELOW:📷👇

Animals:

Todd took this photo while out fishing in Wenatchee. Neither of
us had ever seen this animal before, so it was a great find!
Google says this is a hoary marmot!

A slightly blurry Fuzzbutt, but still a cute pic!

Fuzzbutt doing what he does best...nap.

Todd covered the firepit to keep the kitties out...
...this isn't our kitty! 🥑

...also, not our kitty! 🥑

I saw this majestic beast outside a restaurant.
I don't know his name, but I would call him Winston!

The Drive to Rockport:

On travel days Rascal has decided this
is his spot when I'm bringing the slide in.
(You'll note all the things stuffed under the table for travel.)

If I were a magical creature, this is where I would live:
the moss-covered forests of Washington!

A cute little diner we found along the way.
They had room for RV parking, which is often hard to find.

A couple of cute menu item names.

Howard Miller State Park:

The Skagit River. Rascal sniffing all the sniffs!

Buckle up, road-trippers! 🚐✨ Next up, we’re diving into the magical wilderness of North Cascades National Park and winding our way along the enchanting Cascade Loop! 

🏔️🌲Don’t miss the next chapter of 🌲🏔️ 

🐾Rascal’s Roadshow🐾