Front Street
Half-timbered shops and sausages.
Leavenworth
A Bavarian-themed village in the Cascades, with lots of Christmas lights and great river and rock hikes nearby.
The town rebuilt itself in the 1960s as an alpine village to survive, and it worked. Beer halls and Oktoberfest are big, and so are the Christmas lights. Icicle Gorge and The Enchantments are for the outdoors types.
- Best Time
- June–October and December
- Time Needed
- 1–2 days
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Check before you go; hours vary by season
- Getting There
- About 2.5 hours by car east of Seattle.
What to See
2 of 3 are freeIcicle Gorge
An easy riverside walk in the mountains.
The Enchantments
One of the great hikes in the country, with a lottery for overnight permits.
Know Before You Go
- December weekends are mobbed. Book far ahead.
Where to Stay
Stay in the village.
Where to Eat
Our picks are on the way.
Editor's picks. Nobody paid to be on this list.
Something wrong or out of date?
Traveler Reviews
Sign in and mark Leavenworth as visited to write a review.
Go Next
Must-See
Worth a DetourMount Rainier National Park
Washington
A glacier-covered volcano with wildflower meadows in late summer, a day trip from Seattle.
Full Guide
Last checked 2026-11-02. Part of the Pacific Northwest list.