A Guide to Experiencing Leavenworth Before Winter’s Rush
Leavenworth, WA better known for its German Bavarian style, mountain charm, and gigantic pretzels is an amazing experience no matter when you visit. December sees a surge of traffic due to the Christmas season right around the corner, but November is an entirely different story.
Expectations
Prior to December is considered quiet season for this storybook destination. You get the Christmassy alpine aesthetic complete with early morning crisp mountain air and chilly temperatures in the 30s and 40s. Fresh snow on the surrounding peaks and dense fog cover the valley floor during the morning hours creates the perfect ambiance for a Christmas getaway. During this time, you can actually secure dinner reservations or photograph Front Street without being mobbed by thousands of day-trippers.
While the full schedule of Christmastown festivities officially kicks off on Black Friday, the town still gives you that magical "snow globe" illumination in the early parts of November with a fraction of the December hassle.
What to Do (1 Day Itinerary)
Stop at Little Red's Espresso and Bakery for the cutest little coffee stand in town. The stand only has outdoor seating which is a perfect way to enjoy the crisp morning air of the town. Perfectly located on the west side of town with easy access to the Waterfront Park Trail System. A morning stroll on these paths will get you prepared for your tour at the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm. This unique experience is open to all ages and is a must see when visiting Leavenworth especially in November. (Make sure to book your reindeer tour early as
Head back into town to snack on cheese from The Cheesemongers Shop, this underground shop is serving up a curated selection of global cheeses. Grab your favorite cheeses and head over to the Icicle Ridge Winery's heated outdoor patio for a personalized wine flight.
Make sure to hit each of the unique locally owned shops throughout your travels. All of the shops have something unique to offer.
Grab dinner at Andreas Keller Restaurant as this traditional Bavarian cuisine will blow you away. My personal favorite is the Schnitzel Cordon Bleu, though a common item they do it so well here you'll always remember. Also please get the pretzel appetizer even if you grabbed a pretzel from the München Haus Beer Garden earlier in the day. You'll thank me later.
Lastly, hit 5th On Front for a night cap, the newly renovated speakeasy style wine bar has a great selection of wine tastings for anyone to enjoy.
Expert Advice
Book a train ride to the famous Icicle Station, located roughly a mile outside of town, this train operates on a single daily roundtrip schedule leaving Seattle in the late afternoon and returning early in the morning requiring overnight accommodations. Fares for this magical journey generally start at $51 one-way but fluctuate significantly during peak seasons like December.
Be sure to pack rain gear, especially rain boots along with warm base layers, thermal merino wool or synthetic tops as the area experiences swift weather shifts, especially during late autumn and winter.
Not really an itinerary stop, but the local Das Thrift Haus on 14th St. in Leavenworth is always packed with high-quality, gently used outdoor gear, vintage layers, insulated jackets, and unique local relics. Perfect for those extra layers you might've forgotten to pack.
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