Leavenworth, Washington is one of the most beautiful places in the Pacific Northwest. A Bavarian town nestled roughly 120 miles from Seattle, the tiny town embraces its German culture and history, particularly during Oktoberfest, which, for the record, they celebrate every weekend in October. It’s magical.
Our time in Leavenworth was perfect – but what made it truly the best was my sister’s wedding. Her dress was perfect, her venue was perfect, her husband was perfect. The whole event made Leavenworth even better than it appears – which is close to impossible to do.
What’s great about Leavenworth, among other things, is that you don’t need a ton of time to explore it. You can do it in a long weekend, or even a couple of days. There’s numerous places to stay, almost all of which are in walking distance. We stayed at the Icicle Village Resort, a full-service hotel situated on Highway 2, a roughly 5 minute walk from downtown. The hotel is beautiful and features different kinds of rooms including Executive Kings with fireplaces and whirlpools and family suites with multiple rooms. There’s also an outdoor pool and a really awesome spa, the Alpine Spa, offering massage, body treatments, waxing, and even makeup. Other hotels which are more downtown are the Obertal Inn, Linderhof Inn, and the Bavarian Lodge.
Your main activities in Leavenworth (aside from Oktoberfest, which we’ll get to later) are shopping, dining, and wine tasting. Leavenworth has everything you could think of in terms of all three, but here are some highlights.
Shopping! My mother and I regard this as our favorite pastime/sport. Leavenworth is no Saks 5th Avenue or Miracle Mile, but it has its shares of cute shops and stores along with numerous unique items you can’t get anywhere else. If you’re a Christmas fan, we would recommend stopping by Kris Kringl – open since 1986, this fun holiday store features Department 56 village items, Polish ornaments, nativity scene, and literally thousands or ornaments. The Black Swan is a great place to find fun t-shirts and souvenirs; make time for this store – even if you don’t buy anything, the t-shirts will give you a good laugh. Find it at 639 Front Street. If your idea of “shopping” includes snacking, check out Schcolat at 843 Front Street Suite D, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory at 636 Front Street, and Almond Blossom Roasted Nuts and Specialties on 933 Front Street Suite C. See all the awesome stores here. Wherever you shop, consider buying a beer stein – they come in all sizes from normal to Beerfest-worthy! Prost!
Leavenworth has no shortage of awesome restaurants, many of them German-themed. One of the most beloved German food stops is right downtown – München Haus, located at 709 Front Street. Any hesitancy you might have as to its awesomeness will quickly be quelled by the long line you’ll have to stand in. Don’t worry though – the waiters are great at running up and down the line providing menus and the line moves fast. Don’t miss their amazing pretzels and cheese as well as their numerous Bavarian sausages. Don’t miss “Helga’s Giant Kelbassi” or the “Dirtyface Beer Wurst.” If you’re a vegetarian, check out their Veggie Wurst, a Field Roast brand Smoked Apple Sage artisan grain sausage.
We would also highly recommend the Watershed Cafe, located at 221 8th Street. A farm-to-table restaurant with Pacific North West inspired cuisine, this neat little place offers soups, bruschettas, salads, and numerous entrees. Don’t miss their meatloaf or king salmon.
The other restaurant you shouldn’t miss is Mozart’s located at 829 Front Street. A “European Steakhouse with an American Heart,” this restaurant boasts an awesome menu along with beer, wine, and cocktails. Be sure to snag a table on their super cute (but narrow!) balcony – you’ll get a beautiful view of the park and downtown. Don’t miss their escargots, sauerbraten, or the Hunter’s Schnitzel.
Wine tasting in Leavenworth is a must. There are numerous wine cellars and shops around town. Most offer different types of tastings with all kinds of Pacific Northwest wines. Our first stop was Plain Cellars, located on Front Street (google maps will tell you it’s on Highway 2 – this is technically its address, but the entrance is on Front Street next to the the Metal Waterfall Gallery). Plain Cellars is a local, boutique winery with an amazing fleet of different wines. Their current releases include a 2015 Riesling, a 2014 Malbec, and my favorite – the 2014 Eclipse, a red blend with 63% Cab Sauv, 25% Merlot, and 12% Petite Verdot.
A new up and coming tasting room is just a couple jaunts down Front Street – Ryan Patrick Wines. As with Plain Cellars, the address is Highway 2 but the entrance is on Front Street. They’re new and still getting settled, but they’re worth a shot. They’re tasting menu was diverse and fun and filled with their award winning wines. Don had a blast and made a new friend, as usual.
My friend Kelly and I plan to do a much more extensive wine tasting tour of Leavenworth, as there are so many to experience. Check out Leavenworth’s interactive wine map. Be sure to catch WooHoo Winery Tasting Room and Icicle Ridge Winery as well.
While you’re exploring, be sure to catch a ride with the Leavenworth Carriage Company, usually poised on Front Street. The carriage ride takes you in a short but beautiful jaunt around downtown. Don insisted on a ride.
And, of course, the most well known and loved tradition in Leavenworth is Oktoberfest, celebrated every weekend during the month of October. The celebration includes 4 separate Bavarian-themed (and beer-filled) venues over the course of three weekends. Each venue has live music, plenty of beer, and lots of food. Be prepared for a loud, boisterous, and lively crowd, many of whom are dressed in Bavarian costumes.
The 2019 dates are October 4-5, 11-12, and 18-19. The best way to get to and from is using the Leavenworth Shuttle, which picks up people at different locations all the way out to Wenatchee. It is open Friday from 6pm to Midnight ($10) and Saturday Noon to 1am ($20). Children under 12 are free with an adult. Military, active and retired are also free. Keep in mind the ticket price is just the admission into the event – beer and food carry an additional cost once you get in. You can purchase tickets online or in person. Heads up – if you purchase at the gate it is cash only.
Have fun dancing to the music of bands like the Beer Barrels, Alpen Klange, and the Happy Hans. And, don’t miss the Procession and official keg tap every Saturday at noon. You’re guaranteed to meet some fun and exciting people with some pretty awesome costumes. Don was sure to make a few friends on his visit.
Great photos and information.