You probably wouldn’t go to Winthrop, WA (pop. 373) on vacation if you were looking for elegantly dressed crowds or any crowds at all, swanky lodging, a fast pace or a full menu of choices in fine dining.  You might go for winter and summer sports, but if you happened to land there at the tail end of winter, just as the snow was melting and buds were starting to emerge, the sporting options would be limited.  You might have to be satisfied with cool, sunny days; silence day and night; eagles, magpies and deer; starry night skies; beautiful mountains; and spectacular cloud formations.  You’d have to slow down, cook for yourself since most restaurants close up before being overtaken by a new season, read a book or two, take long walks in the hillsides where you would find yourself turning in circles to take in the 360 degree views or waving to the locals as they move their trucks over to give you plenty of walking room.  You wish you didn’t have to go home tomorrow until you read the forecast of possible snow showers in the morning and decide you wouldn’t mind returning home to cherry trees in bloom.