Leavenworth is a Bavarian-styled town located in Central Washington State. If you’ve been stalking me on Insta lately, I’m sure you’ve seen the adorable architecture and delicious foods and wines here! The funny thing is, I grew up in this area and didn’t even realize it was that big of an attraction. It took me leaving for 15 years and moving back to truly appreciate its unique and charming appeal. And that’s why I’ve finally decided to share all the fun things to do in Leavenworth with you! Save this for when you’re in Washington or if you’re already here, get to planning your next getaway!
If you’ve been to Leavenworth, let me know what your favorite thing to do is in the comments!
Grab a Pretzel & Beer at a Beer Garten
The two main beer gartens in Leavenworth are Munchen Haus and Sausage Garten. Both offer a traditional bratwurst, beer, and pretzel and both will always have a long line out the door! Vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free? No worries, bratwurst is not my thing either! But when I realized that both have various options I went in to investigate. They offer everything from chicken sausage, beyond sausage, veggie wurst to smoked apple sage potatoes, traditional German potato salad, and soups!
Go Wine Tasting
While there are a ton of wine tasting rooms in downtown Leavenworth, you’ll need to go out of town a bit to find the wineries. I highly recommend visiting a winery over a tasting room! The two wineries in Leavenworth are Icicle Ridge Winery and Silvara Cellars. Both wineries offer absolutely STUNNING views of the region and have equally beautiful indoor and outdoor seating. Cozy up near the fireplace inside during the winter or enjoy the views under an umbrella in the summer. My personal favorite of the two is Silvara, it’s my go-to spot for friends and family visiting and a place I truly enjoy spending a Sunday afternoon. They’ve got one of the best Rosé’s I’ve had – and I’ve tried a lot of Rosé!
Take a Hike
Hiking in Washington is a must! Especially in Leavenworth where you are so close to an abundance of natural beauty. With the Enchantments just a 30-minute drive away, you can hike one of Washington’s most famous hikes – Colchuck Lake and Lake Stuart, or try for an easier trail with the Icicle Gorge Trail. Looking for more hikes nearby? Check out this post Where to Find the Best Hikes in Central Washington
Relax at the Spa
Being a tourist town there is definitely no lack of resorts and hotels and each comes with its very own spa. They range in price and amenities but the best part is – you don’t have to be a guest to visit! Many of the spas offer day passes or a la carte services. Services range from massages, sauna, wraps, polishes, and facials.
A few of the most popular spas in Leavenworth:
- Post Hotel Spa
- Alpine Village at Icicle Village Resort
- Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort
Art in the Park
Visit from late April to mid-October and you’ll find a vibrant outdoor art market right in the middle of downtown. Just look for the white tents next to the Gazebo on Front Street. You’ll find artists from photographers, glass blowers, painters, jewelry, and other handmade crafts.
Listen to Live Music
There is always live music SOMEWHERE in Leavenworth because there is always some type of festival! But there is also typically live music at many of the downtown restaurants.
- Sunday’s at Yodelin Broth
- Sunday’s and Monday’s at Andreas Keller
- Thursday’s at Mozart’s Steakhouse
- Occasionally Silvara Cellars has live music on the lawn
Explore a Gingerbread Factory
The Gingerbread Factory has been a staple in Leavenworth since the ’80’s offering traditional gingerbread cookies and houses. Since gaining popularity and moving to Front Street they now also offer a variety of baked goods (cookies, cinnamon rolls, scones) as well as ice cream, shakes, and coffee. The Gingerbread Factory shown in the picture below is now used as their production bakery. It still makes for a great photo op. Head directly behind the GBF and access their new Front Street location through the backdoor alley access.
Walk the River at Waterfront Park
There’s a beautiful loop trail with picturesque views and scenery no matter the season. It’s a great walk for pet owners or for those not wanting a full-on hike. Located right behind town, you can access it using this AllTrails map here.
Take a Nutcracker Scavenger Hunt
Leavenworth is known worldwide for its Nutcracker museum. Founded in 1995, George and Arlene donated their home and nutcracker collection. In addition to their expansive collection, many donations have been added making it the largest collection of nut-opening devices in the world. It hosts over 7,000 nutcrackers! The museum is definitely a unique experience while visiting and you can pick up a souvenir here, too!
Get a Festive Bavarian Meal
In addition to the pretzel and beer (which are quite festive to me), make sure you grab a traditional Bavarian Meal! The most popular Bavarian restaurants in Leavenworth are Rhein Haus, Ludwig’s, and Bären Haus. Be prepared to wait in line. I’ve never seen any of these places without a line out the door whether in the freezing cold winter or scorching hot summer.
Visit a Reindeer Farm
The Leavenworth Reindeer Farm is open year-round but definitely most popular during the winter months where the Meet Santa tour is a highlight for children and families! With each tour, they offer a presentation full of educational information about the endangered Woodland Caribou, petting and feeding with photo opportunities, seasonal activities (winter campfires and cider), and a more traditional farm animal experience.
They rarely have same-day tickets available, especially during the winter months, so it’s best to book your tickets in advance here.
Attend One of the Many Festivals
Leavenworth has a variety of festivals all year long. Some of my favorites include Taste Leavenworth, Maifest, Wine Walk, Summer Theater, Oktoberfest, the weekly Christmas Lighting Festival in December, and Bavarian Ice Fest. Be sure to check the Leavenworth calendar for a full list of festivals and dates.
Click the Images Below to Find More Things to Do Around Leavenworth!
