Leavenworth Washington Travel Guide - The Swiss-Like Village in the Cascade Mountains
It seems like everywhere lately there are videos popping up of people enjoying a beer while gazing out at the grandeur of the Swiss Alps giving us all FOMO. But did you know that you don’t need to go all the way to Europe to enjoy this Bavarian experience? Just two hours outside of Seattle Washington, is the Alpine-Style town of Leavenworth; surrounded by the Cascade Mountains, and complete with German beers and lederhosen.
Back in the 1960’s, town leaders took note of the resemblance this region shared with the Bavarian Alps and decided to turn the entire town into a mini Germany as a way to boost tourism. To say it worked is an understatement! One of the reasons Leavenworth has been so successful with this transition is that they REALLY do it right! From requiring every building to take on the alpine-style of design, to employees wearing Dirndl’s and Lederhosen, to places like Andreas Keller Restaurant bringing in wood from Germany to create their tables and benches, no detail is left undone.
While Oktoberfest and the Christmas Lighting Festivals are their big attractions (for good reason), Leavenworth is the perfect vacation-destination any time of year! Here are some of the awesome adventures and places to visit when you come.
BAVARIAN E-BIKE TOURS
I am a big fan of getting my bearings and exploring as much as I can of the destinations I travel to. The Bavarian E-Bike Tour is an amazing way to kick off you trip and see a wide variety of this incredible region. From heading up Icicle Canyon Road and checking out the raging waters surrounded by the Cascade Mountains, to visiting the Leavenworth Ski Hill and learning about this areas history, to wine-tasting at Icicle Ridge Winery, this bike tour really does have it all!
WILD AT HEART HORSE RIDES
Another amazing way to see this region is on horseback. About 25 minutes outside of downtown Leavenworth, Wild at Heart Horse Rides is located at the Mountain Springs Lodge Resort. Owner Erin Boyes took us out on a beautiful ride through the fall foliage. Her passion for the company and her horses was infectious. We headed out into the pasture and met some of the other horses after our ride because she was so excited to introduce us!
As a horse-lover myself, there are a few things that really set Wild at Heart Horse Rides apart from other riding stables. The horses all ride without a bit and without horseshoes on all dirt trails! They are treated extremely well and it’s easy to tell how happy and healthy they are when you see them. They also only take out small groups, around 5 or 6 people, to really maximize the intimate experience. The property is privately owned, so you’ll have the trails all to yourself. And if you want even more excitement, The Mountain Springs Lodge Resort also offers ziplining with Leavenworth Ziplines. Definitely a great day trip full of adventure!
ALPINE HOT YOGA
Looking for something a bit more relaxing? Try Alpine Hot Yoga. This studio offers all types of classes for all types of ages and fitness levels. Our Bavarian E-Bike guide Tom, suggested this to kick off our morning and it was exactly what I needed! The class moved at an easy pace and while toasty, it wasn’t an uncomfortable heat like so many studios are. An excellent way to start the day!
BEST PLACES TO EAT AND DRINK IN LEAVENWORTH
The streets of Leavenworth are lined with authentic restaurants and pubs and there are no shortage of places to go! Here are a few of my favorites.
Andres Keller
Outside of Europe, it doesn’t get any more Bavarian than this place! With traditional decor, imported beer, and a head chef from Germany, you’ll forget you’re still in Washington. Andreas Keller also offers more live music than any other venue.
MUNCHEN HAUS
This family-owned outdoor eatery is the perfect place for a day beer. It’s decorated walls, lively beer garden, and delicious pretzels and sausages were a great stop in between adventures.
RHEIN HAUS
This was an unplanned place to stop on the itinerary. On our last day in Leavenworth we decided we wanted a nice patio and one last Bavarian beer so we popped into Rhein Haus. They’re cozy outdoor seating overlooks the entire town and has fireplaces on every table. They also serve the beer in the authentic “Das Boot” (although there must be at least 3 people in your party to order one).
SULLA VITA
If you’re looking for something a little less Bavarian, Sulla Vita is the place to go! This was actually another unexpected stop for us but when a local says “It’s the best!”, you gotta go! And he wasn’t wrong! This Mediterranean-inspired restaurant also offers a great outdoor seating area right in the heart of downtown. They offer small tapas-style plates and their wood-fire over makes one heck of a pizza!
ICICLE BREWING COMPANY
Right next to Sulla Vita is the Icicle Brewing Company. The tasting room is two stories and offers some entertaining live music. Their beer is made from local ingredients and even uses the water that flows less than a miles away in Icicle Creek. Between the award-winning beer and board games scattered throughout the room, I was in heaven.
ICICLE RIDGE WINERY
This winery’s motto is “Welcome Home to Icicle Ridge” and that’s exactly what it was, a home! This log home in the mountains belonged to owners Louie and Judy Wagoner and overlooks the stunning Cascade Mountains. Wine tasting next to the beautiful stone fireplace is about as cozy as it gets! They also have two tasting rooms right in downtown Leavenworth.
THE GINGERBREAD FACTORY
Do you even need convincing to visit a Gingerbread Factory? This adorable shop started out of a house designed to look like, well, a gingerbread house! It quickly became so popular they moved the shop into downtown Leavenworth and it’s worth a visit (or in our case, TWO). Everything from custom designed cookies and houses, to ginger snaps and lattes, it’s the best dessert destination in town!
Leavenworth is a little slice of European heaven right here in the United States. Between the mountain adventures and the authentic cuisine, combined with Pacific Northwest hospitality, being here you feel right at home. Watch the entire episode below.
To learn more go to www.leavenworth.org.