Unique Things to Do in Leavenworth, WA: Attractions & Activities

Robin
•
Jan 16, 2025

If you are in Washington and looking for a unique place to visit, consider spending a few days in Leavenworth. This article offers some suggestions for things to do in Leavenworth, Washington.

a-building-with-many-lights

Photo by Gautam Krishnan on Unsplash

Leavenworth is a picturesque town located in the Cascaded Mountains. It was originally a logging and rail town. In the 1960s, it adopted a Bavarian-inspired theme trying to attract tourists to reactivate its economy. This initiative was so well received that nowadays it’s a popular destination. Here, you’ll find many outdoor activities, beautiful landscapes, and a quirky little town full of charm and personality.

If you are searching for what to do in Leavenworth, Washington, here are some recommendations.

Top Things to Do in Leavenworth

Visit Leavenworth Reindeer Farm

If you want to have some beautiful memories with your family visit the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm. This destination is located just outside of town. It offers an amazing view of the scenic foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Here you’ll have the opportunity to interact with these beautiful animals and learn more about them. Reindeers are native to North America and have some interesting adaptations to the harsh climate there. In popular culture, they are associated with Christmas, particularly with Santa Claus as the animals that pull Santa’s sleigh. In reality, they are fascinating and gentle creatures worth knowing.
What to do on the farm:

Take a tour: Walk around with a guide and learn about the reindeer’s biology, history, and behavior. Be sure to ask as many questions as you can think of, the staff is highly knowledgeable and eager to share.
Interact with reindeers: Many of the tours offer the opportunity to feed and pet the reindeer. Follow the guide’s instructions and be patient.
Take some photos: If you want some beautiful family pictures to share on Christmas don’t forget your camera.

reindeer-with-a-sleigh

Photo by Norman Tsui on Unsplash

Go wine tasting at Icicle Ridge Winery

If you are a wine enthusiast you can’t miss the Icicle Ridge Winery. A trip here is one of the best things to do in Leavenworth Washington, especially if you’re looking for a nice present. This family business was founded in 2004 and produces some of the best wines in Leavenworth using local grapes from the region. Here you can sit down, relax, and try the spectacular selection of wines while enjoying the astounding views of the mountains. If you prefer the outdoors you can always sit in one of the picnic areas or go take a tour of the vineyard.
Suggestions:

Have a designated driver: If you plan to try multiple wines consider hiring a local driver or arrange a tour that includes transportation.
Try the signature wines: Taste the most famous wines of Icicle Ridge. If you’re unsure or looking for a recommendation ask the staff, they are highly knowledgeable of the whole process and the ideal food pairings for each wine.
Buy some bottles: If you like a particular wine a lot, consider buying a bottle. Some of these might not be available in retail stores.

wine-at-the-mountains

Photo by Daniel Vogel on Unsplash

Experience Leavenworth Oktoberfest

Want to know one of the best things to do in Leavenworth Washington? Go to the Oktoberfest! This is one of the most well-known and anticipated annual traditions. It’s held in autumn and brings visitors from all over the country to experience the best of German culture in Leavenworth. The entire town transforms during the festival, the streets are filled with floral decorations and colorful banners. There’s music everywhere and people dance and enjoy themselves. The food and drink is abundant and heavily German-inspired. Taste fresh ratwurst, pretzels, sauerkraut, and strudel, and of course, the beer. This is one of the highlights of the celebration. You can find an impressive selection of authentic German beer and local-brewed beers.

Experience the fun and tradition of Oktoberfest in Leavenworth with these exciting activities and tips to make the most of the celebration:

Wear Bavarian attire: Oktoberfest is a good opportunity to learn more about traditional Bavarian clothes and try them on. You can find stores in Leavenworth that sell lederhosen (for men) and dirndls (for women).
Pace yourself with the beer: If you’re a beer lover try to opt for smaller pours. That way you can sample a bigger variety of beers and enjoy the festivities for longer.
Try the games: Traditional games and challenges are popular during these festivities. Try participating in some of them, like keg rolling or stein-holding contests.

People enjoying beer

Photo by Drew Farwell on Unsplash

Hike Tumwater Mountain

For adventure lovers, how about taking a long walk through the mountains? That would be a perfect activity to do in Leavenworth Washington. The Tumwater Mountain Trail is one of the most popular. It offers stunning views of the Cascade Mountains, the Wenatchee River, and the town of Leavenworth. The trail is located just off Icicle Creek Road, close to the outskirts of Leavenworth.

The best time to hike this trail is during summer and autumn. During warmer months, the path is snow-free, making it more accessible; in autumn, the foliage changes color making the landscape even more picturesque.
Other known trails include:

Pipeline Trail: More beginner-friendly and usually best maintained and marked. It has a length of about 4.5 miles and the highest point is 570 meters.
Summit Trail: Better suited for experienced hikers. It’s not an official trail so it receives less maintenance. If you chose this option better go along with maps and GPS. The length is about 6 miles round trip and the highest point is the summit of the mountain at 1067 meters.

hiker-at-the-summit

Photo by KaLisa Veer on Unsplash

Take a scenic drive on Highway 2

If walking is not for you but you still want to enjoy the majestic views, there are more things to do in Leavenworth Washington. Highway 2 also known as Steven’s Pass Scenic Byway is one of the most beautiful drives in Washington State. You have 65 miles of beautiful views and changing landscapes. From Monroe to Leavenworth this highway passes through the Cascade Mountains, crosses the Columbia River and goes alongside Wenatchee River through the Wenatchee Valley.
Here are some helpful tips:

Bring a camera: This highway offers spectacular views displaying alpine valleys, rivers, mountains, and forests of the region. If you enjoy photography, you’ll find plenty of stops to capture beautiful viewpoints.
Go biking: If you like to bike this is a perfect way to get out of town for a while. In areas like Leavenworth and Wenatchee, there are many trails dedicated to bikes along the way.

leavenworth-landscape

Photo by Rosalie Barley on Unsplash

Ski at Mission Ridge Ski Resort

If you find yourself there during the snowy months there are a lot of fun things to do in Leavenworth Washington. Here you’ll find one of the best-located ski resorts. The Mission Ridge Ski Resort is known for its sunny slopes and ideal snow conditions. If you have never ski in your whole life don’t be afraid. You can easily find ski and snowboard lessons for all ages. Even if you do have some experience you can find classes to get more ability and confidence in the advanced runs. Don’t forget to take a rest at the many lounges and cafes that the resort has to offer. There’s nothing better than a hot beverage after spending time outside in the snow.

Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced skier, this resort offers a range of runs tailored to every skill level:

Beginners: The resort has multiple runs for the total beginners, with gentle slopes and ample space to fall.
Intermediate: About half of the runs are classified as intermediate. There you can find varied runs with some slope and greater length.
Advance: Here you can find more advanced runs with greater slopes, harder terrain, and often harder snow conditions and moguls.

man-skiing

Photo by Léonard Cotte on Unsplash

Visit the Leavenworth Ice Skating Rink

More fun things to do in Leavenworth Washington in the winter! This popular ice rink is located right in downtown Leavenworth. If you love the experience of skating outdoors this is your place. Enjoy the fresh, crisp winter air with the mountains in the background while you skate with your friends and family. The atmosphere is often bright with music and decorations, especially if you go before Christmas. During the holidays the whole town comes alive with Christmas lights and music and there are lots of popular events. On those days you can see ice skating performances by professionals and if you are good you might see Santa Claus around.
Suggestions:

Try some new skating moves: If you like to skate, be it figure skating or playing hockey, these rings are big enough to safely practice your new abilities.
Record the memories: Bring a friend or family that can take pictures of your abilities in this scenic rink.

people-playing-hockey

Photo by Braden Barwich on Unsplash

Shop at the Leavenworth Bavarian village

You can’t go to a quirky place like Leavenworth and not go home with some cute trinkets to show. The Bavarian theme is reflected not only in architecture and festivals but also in local products available for purchase. Many stores specialize in authentic German products. Strolling through the local shops is also a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the town’s atmosphere and the mountain climate. Feel the charisma and warmth of the place while you search for the unique stores around. Don’t miss the local cuisine, try the hot pretzels and the variety of German sausages.

Here’s where to find the best places to buy a Bavarian souvenir:

Kris Kringl: A curious shop that sells Christmas items all year round. There you can find some beautiful ornaments for your tree and buy some more to gift.
Leavenworth Candle Connection: There you can get some hand-poured candles with unique fragrances.
Schocolat: For the candy lovers, there you can find handmade truffles and caramels.
Village Art in the Park: A seasonal outdoor art market that features local artists and crafts.

candles-in-a-shop

Photo by Brittani Burns on Unsplash

The Nutcracker Museum in Leavenworth

One of the most interesting things to do in Leavenworth Washington is visit the Nutcracker Museum. This museum is unique in the world and it is completely dedicated to the history and collection of nutcrackers. It’s an intriguing space popular among craft and history lovers that perfectly fits with Leavenworth’s picturesque and quirky atmosphere. The collection was started in 1995 by a couple who were passionate about these colorful tools. Over time it grew exponentially in size and nowadays it has around 9000 pieces. There are nutcrackers from all around the world, some of them are incredibly ancient, dating back to Roman times!
What to do:

Go on a nutcracker hunt: One of the most popular activities by far. Take a list of prompts and go through the different exhibitions searching for their matching nutcracker. For small kids who can’t read yet, the list contains only pictures. These lists go progressively harder for older kids. Teens and adults can enjoy searching for complex figures like an ivory gnome with a ladybug or a bear on a sled.
Go to the gift shop: Why not take some of these beautiful and unique tools home with you? Enter the Nutcracker Lady Gift Shop and find something really unique to remember your visit to Leavenworth.

nutcracker

Photo by Kurt Weigel on Unsplash

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