This holiday, we decided to take a quick trip down to Leavenworth, Washington to experience the Christmas magic for ourselves.
Living just 2 hours away from this Bavarian themed town, we like to visit when we can. But we have yet to go for Christmas, so this was a real treat for us.
For those not familiar with Leavenworth, it’s a resort town located in the Cascades here in Washington state that feels like a European escape. Everything in this town, down to the autos shops and grocery stores is on theme. It’s so picturesque! So much so that it’s been featured in several Christmas movies!
So for today’s blog, I would like to share with you some of my favorite places to visit in Leavenworth and what the Christmas experience was like for my family and I.
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Table Of Contents
Save BIG On Your Next Travel Stay
I was able to book a last minute stay in Leavenworth through Expedia, a Rakuten cash back partner. And I got $30 cash back on my stay.
I speak about Rakuten so much, but that’s because I use it so much.
I have gotten over $1,000 in cash back rebates automatically–just for doing the shopping I already was doing through Rakuten.
Simply open the Rakuten app or site first and click on the store you want to shop. Your cash back is applied automatically once you’ve competed your shopping.
Then 4 times a year, Rakuten will send you a “Big Check” of all the cash back you’ve earned that quarter (I get mine directly deposited to my PayPal).
I’ve been using Rakuten to book travel stays for years at this point and I will continue to use them to earn some cash back when I travel. It’s one of my favorite travel hacks!
Best of all, If you’re a new Rakuten member, you can sign up through this link here and earn an additional $30 on top of the cash back you were earning with a qualifying purchase.
Getting To Leavenworth
Leavenworth is nestled away in the Cascades, making it an easy day trip for most of Washington state.
If you’re coming from the Seattle area, you’ll want to take US Highway 2. You’ll get to experience a beautifully scenic drive through the Cascades (worth the trip just by itself!)
While US-2 is well maintained, some storms can move in quickly in this area, so always check the road reports before you leave (Washington state does and excellent job keeping drivers well informed on what road conditions are like in our passes).
From the Tri-Cities where I currently live, you can avoid most of the pass if you wish by taking WA-240W to Vantage and then heading towards Wenatchee (which is about 30 minutes out from Leavenworth). Or, you can take I-82W to Ellensburg and then take US 97N to Wenatchee.
From Spokane, you’re going to want to get on US 2W, until you can get to US-97S.
If You don’t feel like driving, you also have the option to get there via bus or train too.
You can get a train from either Seattle at King Street Station or from Spokane that will drop you off right in Leavenworth.
Seattle and Wenatchee also has many day tour buses that will drive you too and from Leavenworth. During the holiday season, some of these buses even dress up as the polar express, which is a fun experience.
Lastly, if you really want to fly in, Wenatchee has a local airport receiving 6 flights a day in from Seattle.
Where To Stay
One thing to know about Leavenworth is that it’s a good idea to book early, because their hotels fill up quickly!
I was able to get a last minute spot for Christmas after checking back countless times on Expedia.com to see if anyone had canceled.
Fortunately, I was able to get in at one of my favorite hotels in Leavenworth–Icicle Village Resort & Spa!
Tucked away at the edge of the town Icicle Village is a resort offering a beautiful spa, year round heated pools, mini golf, game rooms, wine tastings and so much more. We have stayed at this hotel a few times and it is always wonderful!
Icicle Village is about a 10 minute walk away from the main downtown shopping area which I don’t think is too bad–plus you don’t have to worry about parking.
This hotel also has an amazing spa on property (which I talk about on my IG) so if you’re into getting pampered, this is a good option.
Icicle Village also offers discounts for returning guest (something I just learned this time around). I received an addition $60 off my stay so that was a nice Christmas surprise.
If you can’t get in to a hotel in Leavenworth, then your next best bet is to try a motel in Cashmere or a hotel in Wenatchee. Wenatchee is a lot larger than both Cashmere and Leavenworth so you’re more likely to find something over there. Wenatchee is where we originally planned to stay. But even a lot of their hotels were pretty full towards Christmas time.
So again–book as early as you can!
Staying Warm
Leavenworth is in the mountains, so it can get cold. Like a biting cold.
On Christmas Eve, temps dropped to as low as 20/-6 degrees, so it was defiantly freezing.
I made sure to pack these for me and my kids to help keep us warm and toasty while we were outside enjoy the lights.
Also, if you are toting your kiddos around with you in a wagon or a stroller, I highly suggest getting a cold weather cover.
My kids were so cozy in their wagon with their cover over it that my daughter even took her jacket and her shoes off (and it was 27 degree outside!).
Lastly, I made sure to keep my cup full with warm sipping broth from Millie’s as we walked around! I’ve been drinking this broth for years and I’m excited to have recently partnered with them. Their sipping broths are just so yummy and a delicious way to keep your hands and your core warm when walking around in the cold.
Visiting Christmas Eve/Christmas Day
If you’re visiting Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, please be aware that many places will be closed. And that the places that are open will likely open late and close early.
With many places being closed during this period and a high influx of people coming into town at the same time, there will be a lot of lines and a lot of placed getting booked up fast.
I highly encourage you to make reservations where you can and plan out where you want to go/ stop by before getting into town if you’re visiting during a high traffic time. This way you’ll be able to see more of the town.
The Leavenworth city website does an excellent job of posting which shops will be open and their hours. If you’re planning your trip, I would stop by there and see what will be open.
Places To Eat
I’m a huge foodie, so the first thing we did was eat! Leavenworth has a lot of options for good food and drinks and is a prefect place to experience the freshness of a lot of Washington produce if you’re visiting the state.
For beer lovers, Icicle Brewery is a must stop. With so many wonderful brews on tap, you’re sure to find something that you like. They also have a decent menu for food. I really enjoyed their tomato soup and grilled cheese and my children loved the cheese plate.
If you’re looking for a good bratwurst, Munchen Haus is my favorite stop. The lines here can get pretty long, but I think it’s worth the wait, especially if you’re vegetarian or vegan since they do have options for us here.
Their Beyond bratwurst with their sauerkraut and house made mustard is wonderful!
Gingerbread Factory is another local must stop–especially for the holidays. I do feel like their treats are on the expense side. But the shop is so beautiful and its nice to see their creations.
JJ Hills, is the restaurant that is attached to Icicle Village and their food has been wonderful every time I’ve stopped by. This spot can get booked up epically during busy times like Christmas, so make reservations early if you can.
We weren’t able to make it to these places this go around but, Rhien Haus is also a place you’ll want to stop by if you’re looking for good food and one of the best pretzels you’ve ever had.
If you’re looking for a sweet treat, Whislepunk Ice Cream Co. and Das Sweet Shoppe are our favorite stops. I love the taste of the cones that they make at Whislepunk! and the ice cream is so good!
Shopping
There’s plenty of shopping to be had in Leavenworth.
One of the stops that I make every time is to Hat Shop Wood Shop. This store offers a wider variety of funny hats, games, trinkets and wooden toys and puzzles. My children love the big block puzzles so we also pick some up when we’re in town.
Kris Kringle is another store worth stopping by, especially if you love all things Christmas! With a huge variety of Christmas decor, you’re sure to find something for your holiday needs (thought it’s fun to just look around too!)
Leavenworth also has a lot of boutiques as well. My favorite of them would have to be Paprika. They have a good assortment of fun clothing and mementos for your vacations. I will say though that they are more on the expensive side.
Things To Do
Besides eating and shopping, there are plenty of things to do in Leavenworth to keep you entertained.
For the holidays, you HAVE to walk around and see the lights at night. It’s a must do.
The town square has all their trees light up until 11pm and it’s a beautiful sight to see. Beyond that, all the building in the downtown area are light up with amazing lights and displays. My children were in awe seeing all the light and it was so magical seeing the expressions on their faces as they experienced the lights.
For those looking for adventure, Leavenworth recently opened up their Alpine coster for those who want an adventure in the trees. I didn’t get the chance to try it this trip but it does look like a lot of fun.
Beyond the Alpine coster, Leavenworth is surround by the beautiful Washington mountains, so there’s tons of winter sports you can do if you’re into skiing, snow-shoeing or snowboarding.
If you’re looking to stay in-town for your winter fun, there’s a little ‘bunny slope’ in town by the gazebo where people take sleds and slide down the hill. We didn’t do this this time around, be everyone doing it looked like they had a lot of fun!
If you’re looking for an animal encounter, you can book a sleigh ride or book and encounter at the reindeer farm (something that I’m excited to do the next time I visit).
Lastly the Nutcracker Museum is a cute little place to stop by that is also open on Christmas Day. With the largest collection of nutcrackers in the world with over 9,000 of them, This is definitely an interesting stop.
Final Thoughts
Leavenworth is always a fun visit but it’s especially magically during the holiday season.
For as many years as I’ve been coming to this town, this was my first time doing Christmas and I honestly can’t wait to go back again for the next holiday season.
While I do think it’s very important to plan things out ahead of time, this is a trip that you can do last minute it you don’t mind possibly staying a bit further out and are okay with missing out on certain attractions.
But if you’re looking for a low key, Hallmark feel Christmas here at home, Leavenworth is the prefect option for you!
If you would like to see more from our quick Christmas trip, check out the pictures below and also stop by my IGto check out my reels from our trip!
Love, Monnii
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