Leavenworth is an old timber and railroad community. The town was struggling before being revitalized with a Bavarian theme beginning in the 1960s. Today, Leavenworth fully brands itself as “Everything Bavarian”. Another tagline is “experience the Alps of Washington”. Leavenworth has several events which fit the chosen theme, including the Bavarian Ice Festival and an Oktoberfest celebration. Visitors can also stop by the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum. While all-in with the theme, Leavenworth offers much more, especially with outdoors enthusiasts. The town is beautifully nestled below the Cascade Mountains and on the Wenatchee River.
Leavenworth has an array of outdoor activities for all seasons. Summers are for playing on the river (kayaking, tubing, rafting, fishing) and in the mountains (hiking, rock climbing, and zip lining). Winters have outdoor experiences such as skiing, tubing, dogsledding, and snowmobiling.
The holiday season is one of the best times of the year to visit. Families absolutely love the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm. In January, the town hosts the Bavarian Icefest. Every winter, the Bavarian Village is lit up with 500,000 Christmas lights.
Leavenworth is quickly becoming a popular destination for wine enthusiasts. The area has about a dozen wineries. Many of the wineries are on or within a block of Front Street, making for an easy walking tour of the local spots.
Central Washington is much more seasonal (warmer summers and colder winters) than the coastal cities. Leavenworth averages about 80 inches of annual snow. Daily high temps are only in the 30s, but the winter events make it a great time to visit.
Spring is a fairly dry season, and daily highs are in the 60s or low 70s.
Summer is a busy season, especially for the outdoor explorers. The weather is warm (upper 80s) and dry.
Early fall is a great time to visit as crowds die down, but the weather is beautiful. By November, the weather is cool and wet.