A Winter Weekend in Leavenworth

Nestled in the Cascade Mountains of Washington is the charming and magical town of Leavenworth. What makes this place so special is that the entire town is built and decorated to look just like a Bavarian village in Germany. Leavenworth is a popular destination for Seattleites due to its various shops, German food and beer, and proximity to a host of outdoor activities and recreation.

One of the best times of the year to visit Leavenworth is in the winter. The town is decked out in boughs of holly and dazzling lights and there are festivities like sledding down the hill in town, skiing and tubing at the public slope outside town, winter markets, caroling, and more. We made a weekend trip to Leavenworth last winter and had a wonderful time!

Where We Stayed

We booked an adorable and cozy cabin through NW Comfy Cabins. Our cabin was the Painted Pony Cabin which sleeps 4 guests and is pet friendly. It had everything we needed for a cozy mountain getaway, with heated floors, and electric fireplace, cute and rustic decor, and fire pit and hot tub outside.

The Painted Pony cabin is located about 25 minutes from Leavenworth up the Chumstick Highway, which can be a little icy and snowy in winter so be prepared when driving. The nearest restaurant to the cabin is the Old Mill Cafe in Plain which is just up the road. I’d definitely recommend stopping by here for a delicious home-style breakfast.

A One-Horse Open Sleigh

We spent Saturday morning at Mountain Springs Lodge just up the road from our cabin. The Lodge has something for everyone- during the warmer months they have ziplining (which is also a must-do!), horseback riding, and event venue rentals. In the winter, they offer snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and what we came for, sleigh rides!

I’ve always wanted to go on a real sleigh ride through the snow like in all the Christmas carols. There’s something so romantic and Dickensian about the idea of gliding along drawn by horse through the woods in a winter wonderland.

Leavenworth Sleigh Rides lived up to my expectations. Our driver was friendly and informative about the history of the family-owned lodge and land as well as the horses. We had the sleigh all to ourselves in our party of 4 so it felt peaceful and personal. The ride took us quite literally over the river and through the woods which provided beautiful and varied scenery.

We stopped for a break at the barn along the way where we were treated to hot apple cider around a bonfire and plenty of opportunities for photos with the horse and sleigh. After refreshments and warming up by the fire, we boarded the sleigh again to finish our ride with a trip around the scenic meadow with mountain views.

If you’re looking for a relaxing, seasonal activity or romantic atmosphere, then Leavenworth Sleigh Rides is a great choice! I’ve been to the Lodge 3 times now and have been impressed with it each time. Everyone who works there has been friendly and personal to make sure your visit is great. This is the sleigh ride I would recommend above other options in town due to the variety of views. From what I’ve heard about other rides in Leavenworth, you only ride in a circle around a field for about 30 minutes and it can be a bit dull. This ride provides more bang for your buck and more to see.

Prost! Dinner in Leavenworth

After our sleigh ride, we had lunch at the Old Mill Cafe and then returned to our cabin to relax for a while. Once we were rested up, we hopped in the car and headed down the Chumstick Highway to Leavenworth for the evening.

First we explored some of the shops. Leavenworth has a wide variety of locally-owned boutiques, gift shops, and outdoor outfitters. There are a few Christmas-themed stores as well that are fun to visit and a Nutcracker Museum!

For dinner we visited Stein, a modern beer hall on the main drag. Stein has a ton of different beers on tap and a wide German-inspired menu that has something for everyone. We sipped on our beers outside in the heated street dining area, which is dog-friendly.

After dinner, we walked around the park to admire all of the dazzling and colorful lights. Every tree, street sign, and building is decorated and it makes for a beautiful sight! After enjoying the lights, we headed back to our cabin to soak in the hot tub surrounded by heaps of snow.

Auf Wiedersehen, Leavenworth

Sunday we had to say goodbye to our cozy cabin and head back to Seattle. On the way, we stopped in town for lunch at München Haus, one of Leavenworth’s most popular restaurants. They’re known for their German sausages, specialty mustard selection, and ciderkraut. We all tried different sausages and enjoyed delicious pretzels with beer cheese while dining on one of their outdoor heated decks. This restaurant is dog-friendly, which was great for bringing our pups along, and has a great view of the snowy mountains that surround Leavenworth.

Even though I’ve been to Leavenworth 4 or 5 times now, I haven’t gotten tired of it. It’s fun and cute with great food and a myriad of things to do nearby. If you’re planning a getaway soon, here are a few other winter activities to consider:

• Leavenworth Reindeer Farm: a family-run farm that lets you pet and feed real reindeer and offers education about these beautiful animals. I haven’t been yet, but I’ve read it’s a great activity for families!
• Tubing Park: right outside town is the tubing and ski hill that’s open to the public. It gets really busy, but for $25 you get 6 runs in the tube down the hill.
• Snowshoeing: with lots of rental options and trails to choose from, snowshoeing is a great workout and way to enjoy the beautiful outdoors around Leavenworth in the winter time!

If you visit Leavenworth, let me know your favorite experience below in the comments!