Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth is modeled after a Bavarian village, themed during the 1960s. The city relied heavily on tourism and two businessmen wanted to revitalize the town after seeing Solvang, California (a Danish themed town). The town began to remodel their buildings and turned into a full fledged Bavarian themed town.
getting to leavenworth
Most blogs will give you directions from one to three locations to the final destination. All I am here to say is that no matter where you are coming from, the drive to Leavenworth is most likely going to be longer or more tiring than you initially thought. Leave enough time in your schedule to allow for a little bit of rest time after your drive to recharge.
things to do
Visit a Reindeer Farm
The Leavenworth Reindeer Farm hosts educational tours where you can feed the reindeer or get hands on for a sleigh ride. They are open year round and require advance reservations for tours.
Nutcracker Museum
Check out a very unique museum hidden amongst the shops. There are over 9,000 nutcrackers from over 50 countries to see. The display contains nutcrackers that range from the size of an average human to miniature. It is a great stop to check out.
Brew Tours
Foodie Tour
Take yourself on a foodie tour through town. It is easy to restaurant hop if you want to try one thing or another at one location, and try something different at another spot. You could even make this go hand in hand with the self guided brewery tour. Leavenworth has amazing German style food at their numerous beer garden style restaurants.
Shopping
Small shops selling everything from oddities to everyday items line the streets. You can find traditional German souvenirs like nutcrackers, cuckoo clocks, steins, music boxes, and Christmas ornaments as well as t-shirts, necessities and basic items. You won’t need to leave town to find what you need.
Seasonal Events
Your experience in Leavenworth will vary depending on the season you visit. In the fall the famous Oktoberfest takes over the town. If you visit in winter the town is a small distance from ski mountains, and is a winter wonderland of its own. During the spring and summer there are beautiful flowers and landscapes along with outdoor summer activities.
Leavenworth is a truly beautiful little town. If you are looking for a weekend away or a vacation with adventure and relaxation, this is your spot. For a bonus recommendation we suggest the Sleeping Lady Resort, just outside of town. We stayed during our visit and it was a fantastic spot.