Did you know that one of the best Christmas towns in the U.S. is in Washington state? Nestled in the Cascade Mountains, this Bavarian town makes you think you are in an alpine village in Germany. Leavenworth offers festivals all year-round, but the Christmas season’s Village of Lights is the best. As a Washingtonian, finally I made it there solo for some holiday cheer. I love sharing tips on my adventures. So, read on to learn about or plan for a Leavenworth Washington winter getaway.
About Leavenworth
The town of Leavenworth has gone through many transformations. Originally, the area offered bountiful resources for the Wenatchi, Chinook and Yakama tribes. By 1890 settlers came here, made possible by the railway nearby. The logging and sawmill industries boomed, until the railroad rerouted out of town. Leavenworth became a ghost town for decades.
In the early 1960’s, the town reinvented itself as a German Bavarian village to attract tourists. Additionally, they created festivals, such as, Octoberfest and Christmas Village of Lights (VOL). The VOL Festival starts after Thanksgiving going through the last day of February every year.
Leavenworth lies along the confluence of the Wenatchee River and Icicle Creek in the Cascade Mountains. It’s 117 miles east of Seattle and just 20 miles from Wenatchee.
Best Times to Go
Leavenworth is a very popular tourist destination, attracting more than a million visitors a year. Especially during Village of Lights Festival (December through February) and Octoberfest, I would highly suggest coming on weekdays. The weekends can be very crowded. Leavenworth offers something for anytime of year. It’s always a wonderful German Bavarian Village with lots of outdoor recreational activities nearby.
Getting to Leavenworth
In the wintertime, this takes planning because of the unpredictable weather conditions. From Seattle, Highway 2 stretches along a popular route going through Stevens Pass. However, it’s known for getting snowstorms. Be sure to check the weather and road conditions for Stevens Pass before going.
I went during an Atmospheric River, when the road closed from mudslides after I arrived. Overall, it’s a beautiful drive, but if you are a nervous driver, just take the bus from Seattle’s King Station or Everett.
Where to Stay
Leavenworth is filled with cozy hotels, B & B’s and resorts in town. This is especially a good choice if you come by bus without a car. Also, there are cabins, vacation homes, lodges and RV parks on the outskirts of town. Wenatchee is just 30 minutes away with a free shuttle to Leavenworth with even more options.
I loved my stay at the Loge Leavenworth Downtown, just a block from the Riverfront Park and the Village of Lights. The Loge offers private rooms with shared bathrooms in town or cabins near the river. It has a fire pit outside, ideal for s’mores.
Here are some other good options in town:
Bavarian Lodge (in my awesome rainbow photo)
Hotel Leavenworth – Named Best Romantic Getaway by Seattle Times in 2023
Icicle Village Resort & Spa
Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort & Spa
Blue Elk Inn
Things to Book Weeks in Advance During Winter Season
Before arriving in the winter months, it’s best to reserve accommodations and popular activities. The Leavenworth Reindeer Farm and Sleigh rides book up weeks in advance. I can’t recommend enough the Reindeer Farm. I ended up being glad that I didn’t reserve the sleigh ride because there was no snow for my trip.
My Trip to Leavenworth
My getaway in Leavenworth during Christmastime was a unique experience. I arrived by bus from Seattle through Highway 2. I went in December, the week of the Atmospheric River leading to terrible flooding. So, I did not experience a white Christmas. I did all the activities mentioned here, except the sleigh ride.
Highway 2 closed during my stay, so I had to reroute back to Seattle through Wenatchee and Ellensburg to Seattle. It ended up being quite the adventure, but I lived to tell the tale. Afterall, true travel is about the journey, not the destination.
Leavenworth Washington Winter Getaway
Top Things to Do
Village of Lights
The first thing to do is see the Village of Lights on Front Street. This constellation of lights run from Thanksgiving to February 28 everyday from 6 am to 11 pm. It’s a festive sight with plenty of stunning photo ops. There is a small hill next next to a gazebo, where people sleigh down when there is snow. Carolers or Christmas music plays at the gazebo.
Foodie Tour on Leavenworth Front Street
This popular Bavarian restaurant is a favorite for locals and tourists alike. You feel like you are in Germany with live music and cozy seating. They do not take reservations, but create a waitlist.
I loved the Bavarian Beef Goulash with homemade spatzle noodles along with a pilsner. The beef was tender with the homemade spitzel alongside.
Munchen Haus Bavarian Grill
& Beer Garden
This popular German restaurant is popular with lines around the block during busy season. Being there on the weekday, I enjoyed no lines for my first stop on Front Street. I ordered the German sausage with apple cider vinegar sauerkraut and spicy-turmeric mustard with a pilsner. They offer more than 10 different mustard flavored choices. It’s cozy outdoor seating with fire stands to keep you warm.
Seattle Times claims Rhein Haus offers “The Best Pretzel in Leavenworth.”
Rhein Haus for a Giant Pretzel
Taking the advice from Seattle Times, I got my German pretzel fix at Rhein Haus. I enjoyed my seating outside alongside fire stands. Because I was solo, I ordered the smaller warm pretzel. Keep in mind the larger one is big enough to share with another person. The pretzels come with beer cheese or chocolate Nutella.
This popular café is known for its festively decorated gingerbread cookies and houses. They also offer other pastries and desserts along with hot drinks. They can have long lines during busy times.
Once again, because I was there on a weekday, my line was short. I ordered a gingerbread cookie with some hot eggnog. The 2 go deliciously together!
This has a great reputation for its locally made beer choices and pretzels. I didn’t make it here, but walked by many times. In their beer production, they use the water from the nearby Icicle Creek and malted barley from Vancouver, Canada. The hops mostly comes from the Yakima Valley and yeast from Columbia River Gorge. They offer outdoor seating with cozy fire stands to keep you warm.
Nutcracker Museum
For a $5 entrance fee, you can observe the largest collection of Nutcrackers in the U.S. The museum touts having more than 9,000 nutcrackers. It’s fun to observe the eclectic displays of nutcrackers with themes, such as Elvis Presley, Napoleon or Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. They also offer a short film on the history of nutcrackers and this museum.
The Nutcracker Museum opened in 1995 by the original collectors, Arlene Wagner and her late husband. Arlene is still alive at 101 years old and usually at the front desk of the museum.
Shopping in Leavenworth
Downtown Leavenworth offers a plethora of shops to spark your holidays or Bavarian spirits. Shopping for gifts or souvenirs is easy here with ideas, such as, nutcrackers, holiday decorations, ornaments, beer steins, cuckoo clocks, wines, cheeses and chocolates. For some festive Christmas cheer, check out the Kris Kringl Store.
I loved the Leavenworth Rocks Store a block from Front Street. It displays many colorful gemstones and crystals, some made into jewelry by local artists.
Waterfront Park
I enjoyed a nice 1-2 mile walk at the Waterfront Park along the Wenatchee River. It was unseasonably warm this December. The park follows along the river to Blackbird Island and Enchantment Park. If the temperatures are below freezing, it’s best to snow shoe or use ice cleats.
Leavenworth Reindeer Farm
Just a mile from town is the incredible family-run Leavenworth Reindeer Farm. This was my absolute favorite activity that I did in Leavenworth. Definitely, you need to reserve your time weeks in advance during the winter season. The tour lasts for about 45 minutes. First, you watch a short film introducing you to the family and reindeer that live on the farm. Also, you learn safety tips on how to interact with the reindeers.
Reindeer Fun Fact: The fastest growing tissue in the animal kingdom is the reindeer antlers, growing up to an inch/day during their velvet phase.
After the film they separate the 2 groups, one for children and the other adults. I enjoyed over 20 minutes interacting with a herd of about 20 reindeers. They give you a cup of food to feed the reindeer. You are allowed to pet them only on their backs. You should never touch the reindeer’s head. Many of them approach humans, as they are used to people.
I absolutely fell in love with the sweet reindeer. This encounter is so much fun for both adults and children. We even got to see the rare baby reindeer (calves) twins, Hansel and Gretel.
Leavenworth Adventure Park / Alpine Coaster
This is a fun adventure park open rain, snow or shine. It sits on Highway 2, about .75-mile from downtown. It offers a climbing wall, mining sluice and alpine coaster. I loved my adrenaline-filled experience on the Alpine Coaster called the Tumwater Twister. You can control your speed with levers, that hands need to stay on at all times. This adventure includes a 236-foot drop and three 360-degree loops.
If you want to film on the alpine coaster, your device needs to be attached. I used my head strap and put a GoPro on my head. The footage turned out fantastic for my YouTube video above.
Sleigh Rides
If there is snow for your trip, taking a sleigh ride is the ultimate way to enjoy it. You will need to reserve weeks in advance during the winter weekends. I didn’t enjoy this on my trip, as it was too warm for snow. Many people rave that the sleigh ride is the highlight of their whole trip in Leavenworth. This give me an excuse to return.
Two Reputable Companies:
Leavenworth Sleigh Rides
Eagle Creek Sleigh Rides
Lake Wenatchee State Park
Near Leavenworth is the Lake Wenatchee State Park. It includes the glacier-fed Lake Wenatchee and River. When there is snow, it’s a winter wonderland for cross country skiing, snow-shoeing and skate skiing. Also, it’s a natural wildlife area, so be aware there are bears here.
Enjoy Leavenworth!
This Bavarian village brings a European Christmas Market to Washington state. There is so much to do in this town all year-round. The winter season is a feast for food, shopping, holiday and winter recreation. Rain, snow or shine, there is no room for “Bah Humbug” here!
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