Overview:

Whenever I visit a new city, I always find myself researching the nearest day trips. Seattle is amazing on this front —you can reach the mountains, beaches, stunning hikes, wine country, and even Canada within a three-hour radius. Sadly, I didn’t realize this until I moved here.

This past weekend, I visited Leavenworth, one of Washington’s best kept secrets. A beloved day trip for locals, Leavenworth feels like someone copied and pasted a ski town from the Swiss Alps into the Cascades. The entire town has a Germanic theme – I’m talking German beer, pastries, architecture, and women in Dirndl. The font on all the signs looks like it’s from the Shrek series (due to a town ordinance), including Ye Olde “McDonalds.”

Leavenworth is like being inside of a snow globe: crisp mountain air, beautiful views of snow-covered, evergreen-lined slopes, Christmas shops galore, Germanic buildings lining the main street. Personally, I love a winter trip. As a person who loves Christmas, I appreciated how much Leavenworth leans into that theme. Did I mention that there is a reindeer farm on the outskirts of town?

There is a store specializing in gingerbread cookies, a Danish pastry shop known for its cinnamon bread. I spent my afternoon window shopping down the main street, browsing home décor, loose leaf tea, trendy clothing, and souvenirs. And who can forget the gift shop of the Nutcracker Museum (because who doesn’t need a nutcracker version of Queen Elizabeth II)? The entire day, snow was coming down in a fine powder, landing on your clothes before melting on the street. In the town square, Christmas lights were blazing steadily in February, with some trees covered in hearts for Valentine’s Day.

Lunch was at a German-style food and beer hall. You could order from multiple styles of sausage and kielbasa (with Vegan and Gluten free options). You had a choice between two dozen styles of mustard, ketchup, aioli, and other sauces plus access to a communal vat of warmed sauerkraut. Suffice to say, lunch was excellent. I loved everything from the fresh baked buns to the huge beer selection, and wished I had room for a warmed, Bavarian pretzel. You eat outside under heat lamps or by fire pits, staying warm in your jacket as snow falls gently into the courtyard.

Highlights:

• The Polish kielbasa and toppings from Munchen Haus, plus their outdoor courtyard.
• The gift shop at the Nutcracker Museum Store (I didn’t know I needed to see the Pope as a nutcracker).
• The scenery on the drive into Leavenworth (think, the opening credits in Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1 or 2).
• The snow and Christmas lights for the ambiance.
• The apple strudel from the Danish Bakery, because who doesn’t need a sweet treat?

Logistics:

Okay, on to the “serious” stuff. So, you are in Seattle and want to visit Leavenworth… how do you get there? You have two options, driving and taking the train:

• Driving (Recommended): For anyone with a car, I would recommend driving because of how much easier it will make the trips’ logistics. Some things to note: you have to watch the weather. You are traveling through the mountains, so heavy snow might make driving dangerous or at least mean you need to get snow chains for your tires. Also, Leavenworth is a place where you see a lot of serious outdoor cars (think all wheel drive SUVs). If you are renting a car, I recommend something designed for this kind of weather.
  • Approximate time to Leavenworth: ~2.5 hours depending on traffic
• Train: If you take the Amtrak from Seattle’s King Street station, you can take it to Leavenworth’s Icicle Station (that is the real name, I am not joking). This is a great option if you 1) Don’t have a car or 2) Aren’t comfortable driving into the mountains in the snow. The timetables are limited (1 train per direction per day), so you have to make the train, or you’ll be staying overnight in Leavenworth.
  • Approximate time to Leavenworth: ~3.5 hours, (tickets around $45).
• Winter Gear: If the pictures or the mentions of snow, Icicle Station, skiing, and snow tires are any indication, Leavenworth is freakin cold. Siberia cold? No. But cold enough that you need a long jacket, mittens, a hat, and proper snow boots for any winter day trip. Please do not show up in a fleece jacket and think that you’ll be warm enough.

Overall, I would say that Leavenworth doesn’t require that much planning, especially if you are driving there. You just have to make sure that you’ve checked the weather report, have enough gas in your tank, a nice warm jacket, and some snacks for the road!  

Final Thoughts:

Leavenworth manages to stay charming as opposed to kitschy because of the town’s year-round appeal. In summer, you can go hiking, tubing down the river, or visit the various arts and cultural festivals. In winter, the town is known for its Christmas shopping and lights, fireworks, and proximity to skiing in Snoqualmie Pass. Leavenworth doesn’t feel like a place that requires much planning or a strict itinerary. Just get yourself to town and spend the day relaxing and leaning into the charming, quirky atmosphere. If you want a perfect day trip from Seattle, I recommend adding Leavenworth to the top of your list.