Our little drive around what is called the North Cascade Loop was a fun adventure, but in some ways didn’t go exactly as planned. The bottom line is that we were too late for some of the fruit. Although a phone call to our favorite fruit stand a few weeks ago indicated that they should still have peaches, the peaches were all gone before we made our trip. We did get a case of apples and some pears, but if the purpose of the trip is to get fruit, we will need to plan to drive the loop earlier next year. There are reasons why we delayed our trip this year, chief among which was our trip to South Carolina which was timed for our daughter’s birthday.

Nonetheless, we had a good time. Yesterday we got in a lovely hike in the high country as well as a beautiful drive through the mountains. We got home before dark and counted our ability to take such a fun trip as one of the benefits of being retired. We could have done the same trip on the weekend, but we would have encountered more crowds. Leavenworth, the town where we stayed overnight is starting its Oktoberfest weekends and will be busy with way more people in a couple of days.

One of the things about the trip that I have been mulling is the contrast between tourist towns. Since I live in a tourist area, I’m interested in how visitors are treated and what small towns can do to make themselves attractive to tourists. The contrast between Leavenworth and another town, where we ate lunch yesterday couldn’t have been more stark. I won’t put the name of the other town in this entry because my reaction to it was so negative. And, to be honest, comparing the two towns is not fair. They are not at all the same size and have different histories. Both, however, are very dependent upon tourist trade. The historic industries of those towns - farming, ranching, logging, railroad - are no longer major economic drivers. Both have tried to make themselves over as tourist destinations.

The town were we have lunch has a bit of a physical challenge. It is more isolated than the first, more than an hour farther away from the large population base of Seattle, though the two towns are very nearly the same distance from our home. And, frankly, although it claims to be a mountain town, it is a bit too far out on the desert plains to have a mountain feel. You can see the mountains from there, but the town isn’t in the mountains.

What struck me, however, wasn’t the distinction between Bavarian style architecture and wooden boardwalk old west themes. It wasn’t the difference between mountains and high plains. It wasn’t even the obvious difference in size. In one town we had our choice of dozens of places to eat. In the other we walked around town trying to decide which of three options would offer the kind of lunch we prefer. Our choices were greasy burgers, overpriced pub food, and paninis warmed in a grill that should be cleaned more often.

The difference that was so obvious to me was the people. In own town we were met by locals who were smiling and who appeared to like their jobs. In the other, no one smiled at us. No one welcomed us. Even the tourists on the street were more somber, less likely to engage in conversation, and rushing about. There were quite a few people walking up and down the streets, but not very many going into the shops. Things were a lot more run down and it was easy to see why. They need more tourist dollars to support the local economy.

We’ve visited that small tourist town multiple times over the years. We drove through the north Cascades a couple of times each year when we lived in South Dakota and our son lived west of the Cascades. We visited the town before Covid, so the challenges it faces are not entirely the result of the pandemic, though I’m sure it took a hit from people staying home for a couple of years. Each time we have stopped in the town, we have been eager to get out of town and up into the mountains. While we can imagine making Leavenworth a destination for a fun trip, we’d not plan to stay in the other town.

I could go on and on about the things that were off-putting about our visit yesterday. However, I don’t want to make this journal entry all one bit complaint. What I hope I am learning from the experience is that how I treat other people in my town can make a difference for them and for the overall health of our community. When I meet strangers on the beach or walking along the paths in our town, I am going to be conscious of smiling and saying “Hello.” If I know they are from out of town, I resolve to find words of welcome for them. I will thank them for visiting and say I hope they are enjoying themselves. If they ask, I’ll tell them were we locals go for good seafood or a quick cup of coffee. I’ll offer directions when asked.

I’m just one person and the impression that visitors have of our town depends on more than my attitude. Our town has fewer services than the smaller of the two towns I’ve been comparing in this entry. We don’t have many choices for a quick lunch, either. But we are blessed with the beauty of a delightful bay on the sea, the abundance of seafood and people who know how to responsibly harvest it, and weather that is delightful most of the time. If we can add the key ingredient of people who offer a warm welcome it should help all of the shops and restaurants in our town.

And, as I travel, putting a smile on my face even when I’m in a town that isn’t as much fun as others, might make a difference, too. I’m sure it is no fun working in a business where the customers are all grumpy.