The Best Fall Destination on the West Coast: Leavenworth Washington

Want to experience a Bavarian village without the 12+ hour plane ride.

Look no further than Leavenworth, Washington, nestled at the base of the Snoqualmie National Forest in Chelan. This German-inspired village makes the perfect weekend getaway with shopping, a mountain-side roller coaster, pretzels, river walks, and, if you go at the right time, reindeer.

A little history:

Leavenworth hasn’t always been the picturesque, European-style town it is today.

The first non-native settlers arrived in the 1800s, and one of the first homes was established near Icicle Creek, which was claimed in 1885.

In 1892, a railway company came in and built the Stevens Pass route, which made the city more accessible to the rest of the state. Around that time, the city was officially named Leavenworth after the land investor who began construction of the city’s streets.

City grew rapidly, but unfortunately was decimated by multiple fires, and lost business after the decline of the railroad. It officially became a ghost town.

But in the 60s, a movement began to redo the city for tourism. Two college graduates were inspired by the success of Solvang in California and decided to create the Alpine-style city it is today.

The first building converted was the Chikamin Hotel, which reopened in 1965 as the Edelweiss Hotel. (which is where we stayed)

From there, more buildings were remodeled or built to match the Bavarian alpine aesthetic that put it on the map. The city implemented rules that constricted building regulations to match the city’s new brand.

Today, the city thrives on the tourism brought through seasonal German-inspired events such as Oktoberfest and Christmas.

How to get there:

Driving is the best. Once you arrive in the city, it is extremely walkable; however, you must drive through the mountains.

It is about a 2.5-hour drive from Seattle.

In the summer/fall, take US-2 for the views.

In the winter, take I-90 → US-97 (Blewett Pass) for safer, better-maintained roads.

Where to stay:

Leavenworth has many Bavarian hotels and luxury stays throughout the town.

We stayed in the iconic Edelweiss Hotel, which is right across the street from the main street.

Other amazing, nearby stays include:

Bavarian Lodge

Posthotel

Enzian Inn

Leavenworth Village Inn

When to visit:

Leavenworth is worth it during all seasons.

It has blown up on social media for Christmas; however, fall is also an amazing, more affordable, less touristy time to visit.

More iconic events are held during the holidays, such as Oktoberfest, Christmas Lighting, and Winter Karneval.

What to Do:

Explore the Town Center

There are so many shops, museums, and local bakeries to explore just on the town’s main street. Make sure to visit the Christmas Store.

Ride the Alpine Roller Coaster at Leavenworth Adventure Park

Looking for something more exciting? Control your own speed on this mountainside speeding adventure.

Nutcracker Museum

This isn’t for everyone, but if you like unique collections, take a look at Nutcrackers from around the world.

E-Bike Tour / Bike / Walk Along Icicle Creek

If you want something more scenic, check out Icicle Creek.

Float, Kayak, or Paddle-board the Wenatchee River

In summer, the river is gentle enough for floating, paddling, and tubing.

Hiking & Alpine Lakes (Colchuck, Icicle, Edna)

There are many beautiful hikes around Leavenworth, usually more accessible in the summertime.

Leavenworth Reindeer Farm

A mile outside of the town, you can feed and pet some cute Reindeer.

That’s all for now!

I’ll see you,