Best Bavarian Holiday Town in the Northwest USA
Visit Leavenworth in Washington State for a Winter Seasonal Vacation
Nov 12, 2009
At the base of the 8,000-foot high Cascade Mountains in the heart of Washington State, Leavenworth charms visitors with its distinctive European appeal and authentic Bavarian architecture. Alpine scenery and mountains rise around the Bavarian village and the Wenatchee River runs alongside the town. Leavenworth’s outdoor winter activities include dog sledding, skiing, sleigh riding and snowmobiling.
Named “the ultimate holiday town” by A&E and one of the “top 10 Christmas towns” by HGTV, Leavenworth exudes holiday magic with carolers, musicians, performances, seasonal characters and lighting ceremonies each December. Leavenworth’s unique shops offer a variety of European specialty items. Only 135 miles (2-1/2 hours) from Seattle, Washington, or 287 miles (5 hours) from Portland, Oregon, by car, Leavenworth is also accessible by Amtrack train, bus and plane.
Leavenworth Holiday Activities
Winter holiday activities in and around Leavenworth include:
- The nationally acclaimed Leavenworth Christmas Lighting Festival, held the first three weekends of December, gives the holidays a Bavarian flavor with live music, entertainment and holiday characters.
- Holiday concerts (from harps to hand bells), theatrical productions, a living nativity enactment and holiday buffets are featured during the month of December.
- Shopping along Front Street is reminiscent of a Bavarian holiday experience. Quaint shops offer Hummel figures, beer steins, cuckoo clocks, distinctive music boxes and nutcrackers, as well as holiday decorations, specialty cheese and European chocolates.
Leavenworth Outdoor Winter Activities
Skiing, dog sledding, snowmobiling and sleigh riding are exhilarating winter activities in and around Leavenworth:
- Dog sled tours led by professional guides allow visitors to skim through the majestic valleys surrounding Leavenworth behind a team of Huskies.
- Cross-country skiing enthusiasts thrive in Leavenworth, with more than 23K of Nordic trails. Beginners to advanced skiers enjoy the scenic 8K run from downtown’s Waterfront Park to Leavenworth’s golf course and Ski Hill’s 3K course with a stop-in-your-tracks view of Mount Stuart and lighted night skiing. Several shops in town offer ski rentals.
- Downhill skiers prize Stevens Pass and Mission Ridge for dry, powdery snow and complete facilities within 35 miles of Leavenworth.
- Backcountry skiing in the surrounding Cascade Mountains offers a variety of skiing terrain not far from Leavenworth.
- Hundreds of miles of marked snowmobile trails abound in the Lake Wenatchee and Blewett Pass areas surrounding Leavenworth. Tours, rentals and snowmobile safaris are available.
- Sleigh rides don’t get any better than around Leavenworth, with its Alps-like scenery and crisp mountain air.
Leavenworth, Washington, Lodging
Accommodations in Leavenworth include cozy and luxurious Bed and Breakfast establishments and lodges:
- Run of the River B&B’s gorgeous setting near the Icicle River and luxurious accommodations have been acclaimed by Seattle Magazine and Northwest Best Places. Enjoy its sturdy log structure, handmade log furniture, fireplaces and Jacuzzis.
- The All Seasons River Inn near Leavenworth offers stunning forest and river views, spacious suites, elegant antique décor and gourmet breakfasts.
- Abendblume Pension is reminiscent of a fine European inn. Pampering begins with the B&B’s candlelit dinners in front of a fire and ends with a breakfast buffet that includes Danish pancakes and French press coffee.
- Bavarian River House features downtown riverfront suites with dramatic Medieval or cottage-inspired décor. Family suites, grotto showers and heated floors are also offered at this lodge.
- Snowgrass Lodge, on the Wenatchee River close to Leavenworth, brings the outdoors in, with timber-frame construction and river-rock fireplaces. A separate carriage house, Larkspur Lookout, is perfect for a family vacation.
Leavenworth, Washington, Dining
From Bavarian favorites to Northwest fare and beyond, Leavenworth’s restaurants offer a wide variety:
- Café Mozart’s four dining rooms feature intimate, Baroque-style ambiance–from gold chandeliers to live harp music. Try Viennese dishes like tender veal wiener schnitzel or pork medallions topped with wild mushroom sauce complemented by a stellar wine list.
- Pavz Café Bistro offers a warm, casual dining room on Leavenworth’s Front Street. The menu includes savory crepes, seafood, pasta and steak, as well as luscious desserts, like its famous d’Anjou pear crepes.
- Café Christa features authentic Central European cuisine as well as Northwest specialties, German beer and wine in a charming Old World setting.
- Andreas Keller has a traditional Bavarian menu–from Bavarian pretzels and bratwurst to schnitzel and goulash. Keller’s offers live, German music.
- J.J. Hills Restaurant and Wine Bar in the Icicle Village Resort has fine dining in a casual atmosphere. The menu ranges from tapas to barbecue.
Leavenworth offers a complete holiday getaway that puts visitors in the heart of Bavaria without traveling overseas. See Leavenworth’s Christmas Lighting Festival and holiday theatrical productions. Explore the area on skis, snowshoes or snowmobile. Experience authentic Bavarian food in Leavenworth’s restaurants and stay in a cozy inn or B&B.
For more Northwest winter holiday vacations, visit Yellowstone National Park or Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
HOL 101
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