Things to Do in Leavenworth, Washington
5 Activities Not to Miss on Your Weekend Getaway
Are you looking for a vacation that is enjoyable for the whole family, won’t break the bank, and does NOT require waiting in long lines at a crowded theme park? How about an escape to the mountains? A trip abroad WITHOUT a passport or transatlantic flight? How about mouth-watering cuisine?
If this sounds like your kind of vacation, you must visit Leavenworth, Washington! A beautiful 2 ½ hour drive east of Seattle through storybook forests will lead you to this quaint town in the Cascade Mountains. When you reach Leavenworth, you will feel like you have been transported straight to Germany. From the snow-capped mountains that look like the Alps to the authentic Bavarian architecture, this town is overflowing with charm. Even the McDonalds looks like an alpine chalet!
The beautiful drive from Seattle to Leavenworth
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I spent a large part of my childhood in Germany which was a fantastic experience! Not surprisingly, the sights, smells, and tastes of Leavenworth are welcoming and comforting to me. I love German culture–my family even had an Oktoberfest party at home during the Pandemic! What I love about this town is that it isn’t a tacky, fake-looking tourist-trap attraction. I can tell the people of Leavenworth truly care about promoting quality and preserving genuine German culture.
Looks just like Germany!
Here are my top 5 experiences you can’t miss when visiting Leavenworth, Washington
Explore the Bavarian Village
This is the downtown area on Front Street that hosts the different seasonal festivals. It’s so fun to stroll down the boulevard and peek in the shops, soak up the Bavarian ambiance, and admire the views of the Cascade Mountains towering above.
My significant other jokes that I find a Christmas store everywhere I travel, and Leavenworth was no exception!
Kris Kringl is the Christmas shop to end all Christmas shops. There are THREE floors packed with Christmas decor, open year-round. There’s even a large Halloween section if you are also a Halloween decorator like me!
We stopped in Leavenworth Shirt Company multiple times in one trip. This is a great place to find high quality shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers to decorate your Hydroflask, etc. The common theme in Leavenworth other than German culture is Sasquatch.
2. Eat authentic German food
I love German food, but I must say that the majority of German restaurants I have tried in the U.S. that claim to be authentically German are not. Luckily, this is not the case in Leavenworth!
My family agrees Ludwigs is our favorite sit-down restaurant. Imagine succulent schnitzel, spaetzle cooked just right, and strudel for dessert that will leave you licking the plate! Add great service with friendly staff and that’s Ludwigs!
Munchen Haus is an outdoor walk-up beer garden and our go-to lunch spot. The bratwursts are out of this world—especially on a chilly day.
We even made a pit stop here on our drive out of town to enjoy one last bratwurst! The beer selection is both German and local. Munchen Haus is also pet friendly.
Authentic German food—Yum!
Gingerbread (or lebkuchen) heart necklaces decorated with frosting are classic German treats sold at markets and events. (I have many childhood pictures in my mom’s photo albums wearing a lebkuchen heart!) The Gingerbread Factory is a delight to visit even if you don’t buy anything, but honestly, how can you resist fresh gingerbread? My dinosaur-loving daughter managed to find a collection of decorated gingerbread dinosaurs!
Gingerbread dinosaurs—who knew?
3. Visit the Leavenworth Reindeer farm
No trip to Leavenworth is complete without a stop at this family-owned farm that promotes animal conservation and education. Make visiting a priority for your trip regardless of the season you visit or whether you are traveling with kids. The Andersen family is so warm and down-to-earth, and they provide a really memorable experience. After you play with the reindeer, it’s fun to explore their barn-turned gift shop and take pictures in their gorgeous sleighs.
Elsa the Reindeer at Leavenworth Reindeer Farm
My daughter loved these comfy StrideRite boots—perfect for walking around the reindeer farm. My wedge boots were also comfortable and warm.
Cozy winter sleighs at Leavenworth Reindeer Farm
4. Tour the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum
Located in the Bavarian village, the Nutcracker Museum is an awesome rainy-day activity. The museum houses over 9,000 nutcrackers from over 50 countries, and is a true cultural experience. My daughter really enjoyed the nutcracker scavenger hunt they provide for the kids.
Nutcracker scavenger hunt!
5. Spend time outdoors
Leavenworth and the areas surrounding the town are gorgeous. Simply being outside and enjoying nature is a must on your trip. The landscape is completely different from the desert where I live, so it was refreshing to walk along the Wenatchee river at Waterfront Park.
We crossed the bridge over to Blackbird Island which was so peaceful with only the sounds of the running river!
Gorgeous views of Lake Wenatchee
Lake Wenatchee State Park is not to be missed. In addition to a sled hill, this park offers cross-country ski and snowshoe trails in the winter as well as hiking, horseback riding, and water activities in the warmer months.
Reconnecting with nature is both mentally and physically restoring, and there’s no shortage of natural beauty in Leavenworth.
Lake Wanatchee
We missed out on Leavenworth Adventure Park due to rain. This is an outdoor attraction featuring Washington’s first alpine roller coaster as well as a rock-climbing wall, a bungee trampoline, and panning for gemstones.
The newest attraction is the Tumwater Twister Alpine Coaster which opened in 2023. The coaster allows you to choose whether you want to cruise along slowly to enjoy the scenery or speed up for a thrilling ride!
Since the coaster opened, Leavenworth Adventure Park has been extra busy, so reservations are recommended.
MaiFest in Leavenworth
When is the best season to visit Leavenworth? I think the appeal prevails year-round. Oktoberfest, Maifest, and the Christmas tree-lighting are big draws to the city.
I spent an Easter weekend in Leavenworth which was ideal—not crowded at all. Unfortunately, I had to cancel my winter trip to Leavenworth because a brutal snowstorm hit Washington the week of our trip.I definitely still want to visit in December to see Leavenworth under a blanket of fresh snow decorated with holiday lights!
Here is my packing list for a winter/spring trip to Leavenworth. I always bargain-hunt, so I look for deals on winter clothing and accessories during the coldest months and try to find clearance items before they sell out.
For the adults:
Definitely pack comfortable water-proof boots for snowy days and a thick jacket or parka.
Snow bibs or pants are essential for sledding and any snow activity, because wet jeans will ruin the fun!
I love these Isotoner touch-screen gloves that will allow phone use without freezing your hands
