Sausage and Pastries

I am on my way to Seattle for a concert and some nursing school friend hangouts!

I decided to stop in Leavenworth, Washington for the night per recommendations from a few friends back in CDA. 

Leavenworth is a Bavarian town located about two hours east of Seattle in the mountains. 

Everything in this town is decorated in a German style.

I have never seen anything like it!

I arrived here last night to buckets of people.

I felt like I was at Disneyworld!

People were speaking a plethora of different languages, and the hustle and bustle make this small town feel like a crowded city.

When walking around this town, the most obvious thing to spend your time doing is shopping.

I went in a two-story Kris Kringle store, which was entirely Christmas decorations. They were all so intricate and beautifully made.

I made it through a few local craft stores, some clothes stores, a book store, and smelled some local chocolate shops before I realized that I was starving.

I decided to go to the Bavarian Bistro and Bar for dinner. 

I got some sweet potato fries, broccolini with a blueberry balsamic glaze, and a beer. 

All was delightful and delicious. 

I people watched here for a while, savoring my amazing food.

To finish off the night, I decided to get some ice cream. People had been wandering around the town with delicious-looking ice cream cones, and I just couldn’t help myself!

I got some chocolate ice cream made with coconut milk from a local store, and it was to die for! Some of the best chocolate ice cream I have ever had. 

Looking on Google Maps, I found a “less expensive” hotel for the night. 

My original plan was to camp in my car, but the weather decided to let me know that I did not have the necessary equipment to stay warm through the night. 

I stayed at the Evergreen Inn. It had a basic bed, shower, heater, all I needed really. 

This morning, I awoke early to try and experience this cute little town without crowds of people. 

At 7am, I was wandering the deserted streets at dawn. It was magical, peaceful, serene, inspiring, calming. 

I found a little downstairs cafe on one of the side streets, and that’s where I sit now. 

I enjoyed a veggie scramble with tons of vegetables, and sprinkled feta, and a delicious cup of coffee to warm me up from the frigid 26F outside. 

This cute little cafe uses all local, organic products for their meals; something I am trying to support more and more.

Today, the plan is to explore Leavenworth for a while longer, then drive over to Seattle in the afternoon. 

I have never been to Seattle, and I am bursting with excitement to see and explore this new city! I’m excited to get to tour around with a local, and to be in a big city for a while.

Before I go though, I wanted to discuss something that I have been noticing a lot lately- and that is the looks that I get when I travel alone. 

I get looks of pity, confusion, and worry all the time when I am out and about. This especially happens when I take myself out to eat, or get a hotel.

It makes me wonder why society has made it less okay for women to do things alone. Even with increasing importance and pride with female independence, I still find myself getting asked things like, “Are you sure it’s safe?” “Are you waiting for somebody else?” “Your parents are ok with you traveling alone?”

This doesn’t particularly bother me, but I wish that more people understood that it is ok for young women to travel alone and to experience life alone.

I am comfortable with myself, I get to think about my personal growth, I get to choose how I spend my time everyday. It’s truly amazing, and I consider myself so lucky. 

I hope that more knowledge is spread about female solo travel, so that we can normalize it and encourage it, allowing young women to build confidence and grow as they see lives different than their own.

Cheers,

Rach