If you've got a penchant for Germany or Christmas, you'll love Leavenworth—especially Front Street, a pedestrian-only stretch that runs through the heart of downtown. Here, you'll find eateries serving schnitzel and pretzels, as well as the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum, which has a 9,000-strong collection of nutcrackers. There's also a reindeer farm and petting zoo located about a 20-minute walk from Front Street.
This unique town is a must-visit for fans of the quirky and unusual.
Wear comfortable shoes and plan to do a lot of walking as most of the town is best visited on foot.
Many of the local shops and restaurants are wheelchair- and stroller-friendly.
From Seattle, it takes around two hours and 20 minutes to get to Leavenworth, or just over three hours from Spokane. Most visitors come by car, but if you're coming from Seattle during the winter or early spring, check weather conditions ahead of time—Steven's Pass on State Highway 2 can get a lot of snow. Amtrak's Empire Builder train also stops at Leavenworth station, a 20-minute walk from the heart of town.
Leavenworth is a year-round destination, but it's definitely most popular during the winter holidays, when the Bavarian-style Christkindlemarkt is held. Summers are warm and dry, making this time of year ideal for hiking and rafting in the surrounding Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
Just south of Leavenworth in the town of Cashmere sits Liberty Orchards, where Washington's beloved Turkish delight-style candies (known as Aplets & Cotlets) were invented. These sweets were first created in 1918 by a pair of Armenian farmers in an effort to use up surplus apple crops (Aplets) and, later apricots (Cotlets). These sugar-dusted sweets can be found across the Northwest to this day, particularly at farm stands.
