Beauty Spot Bosch Garten, Near Leavenworth, Has Several Kinds Of Gardens In A Setting Of Colorful Comfort
It can be strange to return to your home town as a visitor.
When I was growing up in Leavenworth, Washington state’s premier faux European burg, I used to venture downtown only to gawk at the polyester-clad, camera-toting tourists. For an adolescent, this was high entertainment.
Now, when I visit, I skip the tourist scene downtown altogether and concentrate instead on the area’s stunning natural beauty. Hiking up to the Enchantment Lakes or floating on a lazy stretch of the Icicle River is far preferable to listening to the incessant oom-pah beat downtown.
Staying at Bosch Garten proved to be a natural extension of my mission. This huge contemporary home, designed as a bed and breakfast, is set amid lovely, perfectly manicured gardens.
Hosts Cal and Myke Bosch invite guests to explore the alpine garden, a rose garden, a small herb garden and a lovely Japanese garden, complete with a small waterfall and bridge. A hot tub is enclosed in a Japanese-style teahouse.
Inside, the handsomely furnished living room has an impressive view of the Stuart range of the Cascades from its cathedral-ceiling sized windows.
Upstairs, the three guest rooms offer a degree of comfort not usually associated with a B&B. All rooms have private baths, king-sized beds and color cable TV.
We stayed in the Northwest room, so named for its knotty pine furniture, cozy quilt and open, airy feel. My daughter was delighted to find the room decorated with a huge collection of teddy bears. A guest book was marked with a sachet, a fragrant reminder that guests can take home.
The other rooms are slightly smaller, but they enjoy a great view from a deck area.
After a restful night, breakfast was a gourmet feast. Light, fluffy French toast, smoky sausages and baked apples were served in the pretty dining room. We watched finches dart in and out of birdhouses hanging from the deck.
After the delicious morning meal, we took our last stroll through the garden, vowing to return to this comfortable spot.
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MEMO: Room rates at Bosch Garten range from $85 to $95 for the Northwest room. A twonight stay is required on weekends and during the summer season. For reservations, call (800) 535-0069.