WE, AS travellers, are very
important people.
Sometimes we aren’t treated
like valued customers, but I
like to think that it’s more
the exception than the rule.

Tourism is one clean industry,
Travellers gencrally have money
and aren't cheap with it, providing
they are getting decent value.

The power of tourisin to bolster
a flagging economy is never more
obvious than in small towns, espe-
cially those abandoned by the one
major industry that established the
place.

Take a look at Chemanius.
Abandoned by the logging indus-
try, it became “The town that
wouldn't die” — inviting artists to
paint the town, literally, with glori-
ous murals, The travellers dropped
by to look at the paintings and
stayed to visit the stores. Soon,
more stores, more jobs, more pros-
perity.

The town that may have been
the prototype for this kind of
rebuilding is Solvang, California.
They weren't doing too well back

in the depression years so they
built and rebuilt the whole town
around the Danish roots of early
settlers, Prosperity! (To visit
Solvang, it’s about 30 miles north-

. west of Santa Barbara, about four
miles off the #101).

Closer to home, in Washington
state, is another rebuilt little town.
Leavenworth, near Wenatchee.

- When the Great Northern
. Railway was built, Leavenworth
‘ became a hub.

That doesn’t mean a whole lot
to us today, but when railroads
were the niain transportation link
in North America, the hub was a
major stop. Crews would change - .

‘there, workers lived there and there
would be major switching of cars.

- The passengers would take a long
break — dining and shopping.

At the end of WWII, all that
stopped. Wenatchee became the
hub, the lumber mill went out of

COMMUNITY EVENTS
CALENDAR
_ Compiled by Ann Hamilton

Kido’ Stuff is a free service provided for
non-profit groups. Submission requests
should be made on an official What's
Going On form, which Is available at
reception, and recelved by the News at,
least one week prior to the event. The News
endeavors to cnsure items appear in the
paper at least once before the event takes
ploce, but space constraints may limit the
number of submizsions printed. For guar-
anteed publication contact classified (996-
6222) er display advertising (980-0511).

MONDAY, AUG. 8

Quaint Bavarian town amuses

Barbara _
VicCreadie

TRAVELWISE

business and the town nearly
became one of those sed little
ghost towns, so frequent along the
railway lines.

All they had left was dozens of
empty storefronts, rubble and bro-
ken windows. Who needed shops
when you could drive to
Wenatchee in a few minutes?

But those who lived there, and
loved the town, didn’t want to
move. You can’t blame them —
it's one lovely-spot, surrounded by
mountains with 'the Icicle River
running through.

They studied Solvang, chose a
Bavarian Alpine theme and went to
work, Refusing to tolerate trash,
they insisted that the new buildings
were right — demanding authentic
Bavarian finishing and sturdy con-
struction. As the idea grew, they
scraped together enough cash to

-send people to Bavaria to see how
it ought to look.

The University of Washington
contributed skills as did various
old-country-trained builders. They
trashed the neon and back-lit signs.

Today, Leavenworth is a great
little weekend destination. The
whole town has co-operated with
the general theme. Front Street is
Bavarian with overhanging bal-

Send in your event listings.
ONGOING EVENTS

Stories and activities on a variety of
topics relating to the history of West
Vancouver are offered at 11:30 a.m. at
the West Vancouver Museum and
Archives, 680 {7th St, W.V. Program
runs to August 30, Info: 926-9254.

Junior Forest Wardens, Outdoor-ori-
ented youth club for ages 10-18; boys
and girls welcome. Forestry, ecology,
outdoor recreation and leadership. 7-
8:30 p.m. Info: 926-5660.

conies, flower boxes, carved
benches and all.

During the summer, the
Gazebo, in the middle of town,
hosts performing artists (hope you
like yodeling!) and various arts and
crafts exhibits.

Of course, Leavenworth has
fallen into the same trap as aff
other touristy locations — a lot of
the shops are a pain in the butt, Get
your beads and trinkets here! We
found that the shops that interested
us were more apt to be off the main
drag, on the two small side streets
— eighth and ninth.

Restaurants! This is a great
place to visit if you enjoy
Bavarian-style food (and entertain-
ment). There are beer gardens,
many with outdoor seating.
Irresistible bakeries and delis are
everywhere — and lots of places to
sit and munch (remember those
carved benches).

If candy — or ice cream -— is
your downfall you won't have to
look very far. The Leavenworth
Brewery caters to beer lovers and
you can get low-fat sausage and
sauerkraut at the Soup Cellar.

So, what can you do besides
shop and eat — especially if you're
bringing the kids? Eight companies
offer whitewater rafting. Five oth-
ers will provide hay rides, pack
trips and barbecues. During the
winter there are sleigh rides, skiing
(both downhill and cross-country),
snowshoeing and snowmobiling.

The first festival conceived by
the town planners was the State
Autumn Leaves Festival, now in its
31st year. That is Sept. 23 to Oct. 2
this year. The Cultural Fair (crafts
“n’ stuff) is Oct. 8 and 9 and the
Square Dance Weekend — with
“nationally known callers” is Oct.
14, 15 and {6.

If eating is one of your main
pleasures, visit on Nov. 12 fora
massive dine and dance ($22.50
per person).

From Dec. 3 to 10 Christmas
lighting gets going with costumes,
sledding and sleigh rides.

W.V. Youth Band mecting. Beginners
and intermediates — all levels wel-
come. Irwin Park school. Info: 925-
4562.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 10

T-shirt printing workshop. 3:30 p.m.
W.V. Recreation Centre. Info: 926-
3266.

For more Coming Events see Classified
Community Notices. For arts and enter-
tainment listings, see the Around Town
column in Wednesday's North Shore
Now section.

Each of these events will
require advance booking for
accommodation but there's plenty
of that available, Your best bet is
to contact the Chamber of
Commerce, P.O. Box 327,
Leavenworth, WA, 98826 or phone
(509) 548-5807,

‘There are three lodging services
— Ican’t recommend one over’
another so here's three phone num-
bers (all area code 509): 548-44 10,
548-5402 and 548-4171.

There is a wide range of accom-
modation available — Bavarian
hotels, motels, B&Bs, cabins and
condos.

Of the four-RV parks, we chose
poorly. Avoid the Chalet R.V. park
-— horrible washrooms and gravel
sites, Garbage all over the place!
So bad, in fact, that we expected
the Teddy Bears Picnic to happen
overnight. It's a Good Sam, too —
usually a mark of quality.

Leavenworth will take you
about five hours by car, including
whatever you meet at the border
(Aldergrove). Take highway #2,
East off the 15 at Everett.

If you have time, and like
antiques, stop in at Snohomish on
your way back, It’s on Highway
#2, about six miles east of Everett.

Allow a minimum of two hours
there if you enjoy antique shop-
ping. The entire main strect is one
shop after another — guaranteed
you'll find something you collect.

We'll definitely return to
Leavenworth — my major criteri- -
on is Brian's reaction to a place
and he liked it.

THE FORECAST?

A GREAT CRUISE HOLIDAY!

Operatic Tenors & Baritonos
plus Sopranos, Chorus & Dancers
QVOS AUDITIONS
Auditions Sept. 7th & Sth
7:30 pm Ryerson Church (45th & Yow)
Equity by appointment Call 879-0430
“The Most Happy Fella"

Sept. 3 to Nov 2
7 nights
from Cdn. $599 pp/dbl
Waikiki Grand Hotel

Maui.
Sept 7 to Nov 1
_ 7 nights —
from Cdn. $699 pp/dbi
Maui Sun Hotel

Honolulu & Maui {|
Oct 5 to Nov 2
14 nights _
from Cdn. $979 pp/dbl
Holiday Isle/Maui Sun

“ Piices are inclusive of alrfare from

Bf Vancouver and Hotel Acconimodation. Taxes I

&ro extra, Fiesarvations are subject to
availablity. :

Join BCTV & KISS - FM weatherman
Wayne Cox, Jan. 5/95, for 11 fun filled §
days cruising the Mexican Riviera. This
exclusive cruise aboard the luxurious
Golden Princess features stops in Cabo
San Lucas, Mazatlan, 2 full days in
Acapulco...plus all meals, world class

entertainment nightly, casinos, sandy

beaches and so much more.

f

All from $2,145 Canadian per person.. BCTV weatherman Wayne Cox

Book now. Space is limited,

1325 Marine Drive
North Vancouver

with North Van Cruise Holida
owner & cruise specialist, Kelly
O'Sullivan. :

984-6122

| CATHEDRAL LAKES.
tooGeE

Our Guests Always Comment 0% the... ORCHESTRA SOLOISTS
“SPECTACULAR HIKING!” ; 7 : JAZZ CHAMBER MUSIC
“GREAT FISHING!” Wy A

and including

A
at CATHEDRAL LAKES LODGE

We still have cabins and lodge accommodation available, so you can enjoy the
alpine flowers in August or the fall colours of September, 6800 feet above sea level
in the center of CATHEDRAL PROVINCIAL PARK.

Enquire about our SPECIAL MID-WEEK RATES!

From $237/person based on double occupancy
Includes: 2 nights accominodation, return transportation
from base camp to lodge and all meals.

Rates subject to GST & 8% Provincial hotel tux.

Vacation Bible schoo! for children
aged 3-11. Aug. 8-12. 9 a.m.-noon.
Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, N.V.
Info: 986-7370 or 980-8285.

Roller Hockey Camp for kids aged 8-
13 yrs. Aug. 8-12. Inter-River Lacrosse
Box, Inter-River Park, N.V. 1-1:30 p.m.
Camp runs Mon. to Fri. lafo: 987-

PLAY.
Michaef Palmer, Artistic Director

The American Sinfonietta * Pepe Romero
The Miami String Quartet * Jack Sheldon
Garrick Ohtsson » Heidi Grant Murphy

AUG.20-SEPT.4

Storybook Pop-up Workshop for stu-
dents aged 9-13 yrs. 1-3:30 p.m.
Seymour Art Gallery, 4360 Gallant
Ave., N.V. info: 929-5744.

TUESDAY, AUG. 9

Aug. 9 & 11. Emergency Leadership
for kids aged 10-13 years. 1-4 p.m.
Info: W.V. Recreation Centre, 926-
3266,

For reservations at B.C.’s unique high country lodge
Telephone 604-499-5848 or Fax 604-499-5899,