Yo-deh-lay-hee-hoo. Do you hear that? The mountains are calling you to the sweetest little alpine village that’s like something from a fairy tale: Leavenworth, Washington.
City Editor Cambrie here. The first time I visited the Bavarian-style town in the Cascade Mountains was to backpack The Enchantments — an experience I will never forget and highly recommend (but definitely go prepared ). I later returned for winter visits after hearing how it transforms into a storybook winter wonderland and fell in love with it all over again.
Why go?
- As far as themed winter destinations go, Leavenworth wears the ice crown. It offers fun activities for every age, like Nordic and downhill skiing, unique holiday shopping, German dining, sleigh rides , and spa time.
- Did we mention the incredible natural landscape? Towering mountain peaks surround the town, lending the feeling of being inside a snow globe. One could spend days just learning the history of the surrounding land, which was prized by Indigenous populations and, later, white settlers.
- Leavenworth shines bright every holiday season, turning into the Village of Lights: Christmastown and showing off with hundreds of thousands of festive lights, meandering carolers, live entertainment, and more. In January, the town kicks off the new year with a month of Winter Karneval events (think: fire dancers, ice carving, and fireworks).
- Explore more things to do by browsing the City of Leavenworth’s website , or check out what other visitors have to say on Tripadvisor .
- Oh, and by the way — Leavenworth was recently named one of the best places in the world to spend Christmas by Conde Nast Traveler. So there’s that.
Act like a local
- Food: Treat yourself to a special, truly unique, multi-course meal showcasing organic, local, and wild-foraged ingredients at Mana Restaurant at the corner of Commercial and Division streets, near the river. Don’t forget to make a reservation.
- Drink: If you like beer, you’ve come to the right town. Warm up at Bushel & Bee Taproom , where you can choose from two dozen beers and ciders on tap. Dogs are welcome, too.
- Outdoors: See if reindeer really know how to fly (and also pet and feed them ) at Leavenworth Reindeer Farm , located a mere mile outside of town.
- Listen: Enjoy a concert, play, dance, opera, or film at Icicle Creek Center for the Arts , which hosts 100+ performances each year, as well as year-round educational programs for all ages.
- Explore: Leavenworth is the perfect basecamp for dozens of world-class outdoor activities , though the range of options changes depending on the season. In winter, check out Leavenworth Ski Hill — a historic spot for snow enthusiasts of all levels where Olympians once trained. Not into that? Perhaps we can tempt you with a sleigh ride or birding adventure.
Where to stay
- Vrbo: Alpine View Haus on Main, a Bavarian-themed condo for up to four people (~$240/night)*
- Airbnb: Dawn Cabin , a modern A-frame cabin with an open-air stargazing loft (~$397/night)
- Splurge hotel: Abendblume , a romantic Bavarian-style bed and breakfast (~$300/night)
- Save hotel: LOGE Leavenworth Downtown , a centrally located hotel perfect for outdoorsy types (~$150/night)