Christmas isn’t just celebrated for a single day in Leavenworth, Washington. Also known as Christmastown, this is a magical place where you can revel in the spirit of the season from Thanksgiving all the way though Valentine’s Day, and even beyond! This tiny Bavarian themed town goes all out every year, starting by flipping the switch on a half million twinkling lights. You’ll feel like you stepped right into a Hallmark holiday movie.
Here are some ideas for planning a trip next holiday season … or this year if you want to squeeze in a little more festive fun this winter.
Activities in Leavenworth
There’s plenty going on in Leavenworth to keep your family busy, no matter when you visit. The month of December focuses on Christmas activities.
Then the Winter Karneval takes place in January and February. During Karneval, you’ll experience wintry events like ice carving, fire dancers and even fireworks.
You should plan on spending two or three days in the area in order to squeeze in as much as possible.
Carriage Ride
The best way to get the lay of the land is via a horse-drawn carriage ride. We recommend going with the Leavenworth Carriage Company which picks up at 8th & Front Street. You’ll feel a little bit like a rock star as you roll though town, the envy of anyone walking the streets on foot.
Your driver can tell you all about the interesting history of Leavenworth and give recommendations on places to shop and eat. It costs around $50 for a family of four for a 15-minute ride.
KidTripster Tip: Be sure to request that the driver take a family photo before you exit the carriage!
Nutcracker Museum
The Nutcracker Museum (735 Front Street) is a one-of-a-kind stop. If the word museum elicits groans from your kids, fear not, this is a fun one. The museum showcases more than 7,000 nutcrackers from over 50 countries. It’s pretty much a “must do” when visiting Leavenworth. The museum was founded in 1995 by George and Arlene Wagner (aka “The Nutcracker Lady”) and it houses one of the largest collections in the world.
Some of the implements showcased date back hundreds of years. Upon entering the museum, watch a short video to learn the origins of nutcrackers. We learned it takes over 130 steps to make a wooden nutcracker which helps explain why they can be so expensive.
KidTripster Tip: You may encounter The Nutcracker Lady during your visit. Be sure to say hi! She’s a local celebrity having made many TV appearances, and considered a worldwide expert on nutcrackers.
During your visit, snap a selfie with the museum mascot Karl, a 6-foot tall beer drinking Bavarian. Karl’s carved out of a single piece of wood except for the lever that opens his mouth.
Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for youth ages 6-16. Kids under 6 are free. The Nutcracker Museum is open from 11-5 daily and includes an extensive gift shop. You’ll probably spend about an hour looking around the museum.
Reindeer Farm
Have you ever touched a reindeer’s antlers? Or had one eat right out of your hand? You can do both at the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm (10395 Chumstick Highway), making this an experience that really can’t be missed.
Your visit starts with a brief introduction from one of the farm’s owners. You’ll sit around the campfire and learn more about reindeer, also known as caribou in North America. We found out that both male and female reindeer grow antlers. We even got to hold a pair of antlers which were rather large and heavy. We learned that reindeer can run fast and survive in extremely cold temperatures. Another fun fact is that their noses warm up the cold air before it hits their lungs.
After learning about reindeer, you’ll get short safety briefing, then you’ll be allowed into the pen to meet the animals. You’ll be given some reindeer food upon entry. The animals are friendly and hungry. They’ll eat right out of your hands. Prepare to get slobbered on! You can pet and take photos with the animals.
Farm tours vary depending on the season. You can expect to see Santa during the months of November and December. Hop into his sleigh for a photo. Your visit includes complimentary apple cider or hot cocoa. If you want to see snow, plan for a January or February visit.
The farm’s open year-round, except during March. Plan ahead as advance reservations are required. Tickets are $25 per person (ages 3 and up). The farm’s located just a mile outside of Leavenworth. Expect to spend about an hour here.
Family Photos
Sitting for a family portrait might sound a bit stuffy, but hear me out on this. This photo shoot includes costumes. Studio 1890 offers Bavarian themed photos and other themes (Victorian, Wild West, Roaring 20s, etc).
We chose the Bavarian theme, of course! Upon arrival, we were given our outfits – lederhosen for the boys and dirndls for the girls. We changed into them, then stepped onto the set. The photographer had us do several poses that included props like steins and accordions. She snapped a dozen or so photos in a matter of minutes.
Afterwards, we got to view them all on a big screen. The sitting fee is $41 and includes either one 8×10 or two 5×7 photos. The hard part was selecting our favorite photos. If you want them all, you can also purchase the digital images from your session for an additional $39. Your photo shoot should only take about 30 minutes and you’ll leave with a fun memory!
Live Performances
During the month of December, live musical and entertainment performances take place in the gazebo. We enjoyed the carolers!
KidTripster Tip: In previous years, there was a countdown ceremony on Saturdays and Sundays in December where the “switch was flipped” on the holiday lights. To minimize crowds during Covid times, the lights are now on 7-days a week from Thanksgiving through the end of February.
Fun at the Festhalle
The Festhalle (1001 Front Street) is an event center offering family-friendly fun during the month of December. Activities include story time, crafts, photos with Santa, writing letters to Santa, and more.
You can also see display of international Santa costumes. On the weekends, these costumes are worn by people who walk up and down Front Street. They’ll happily stop for a photo if you ask.
You can check out the most up-to-date list of activities on the Leavenworth website.
Snow Sports
Once the snow starts falling, there’s even more to do around Leavenworth. Sledding on the hill on Front Street (or at the Leavenworth Golf Course), and tubing, is really popular with the kiddos. There’s also snowshoeing, Nordic skiing, snowmobiling and sleigh rides.
[ Related: Summer Activities in Leavenworth ]
Shopping in Leavenworth
Whether you’re checking off your Christmas list, or splurging on yourself, there’s plenty of shopping in Leavenworth.
Front Street is lined with cute stores. One of the largest is Kris Kringl (907 Front Street). It’s Christmas all year at this shop which sells unique decorations including German nutcrackers, pyramids and cuckoo clocks.
Other fun spots include The Wood Shop (719 Front Street), which specializes in handcrafted puzzles and toys. My son found lots of fun trinkets here.
My teenage daughter especially liked the four connected boutiques at 715 Front Street which had a huge array of affordable clothing, jewelry and stylish winter accessories. We left with new scarves and beanies from Paprika. My rainbow plaid scarf has garnered more compliments than any other scarf I’ve ever purchased.
Be sure to shop off of Front Street, too. Make it a priority to pop into Posy Handpicked Goods (905 Commercial Street) for home decor, jewelry and apparel. This store is woman-owned and focuses on selling woman-made products. We left with several one-of-a-kind gifts for the ladies in our lives.
If you want an edible souvenir, stop into the The Cheesemonger’s Shop (819 Front Street). Cheese samples are available for free. The store sells many domestic and imported cheeses, and lots of sausages, too. If you don’t want to purchase any perishable items on vacation, there are plenty of other non-perishable fine foods and beverages available. The store boasts a large collection of German beers, too, if you’re into that.
We also discovered great coffee and food gifts at J5 Coffee (215 9th Street).
Dining in Leavenworth
For a small town, there are a lot of restaurants to choose from in Leavenworth. We sampled several of them during our visit. It was hard work, but we were happy to do it.
German Food
If pretzels and beer are your thing, then you’re in luck in Leavenworth! You’ll find plenty of German food options here.
We loved the outdoor patio at Rhein Haus (707 US Highway 2, Unit F). It has a beer garden vibe, but it’s family-friendly with a great view of Leavenworth. Although it was chilly when we visited, we cozied up to the tabletop fireplace and kept warm with hot beverages. Entrees included schnitzel, wurst and burgers. We ordered the Haus Giant Pretzel, which lived up to its name. Because we couldn’t decide which sausages to order, we went with the Grillwurst Schmankerl which was a sampler platter that included one of everything as well as sauerkraut and mashed potatoes. It fun to try the many varieties of wurst.
We also dined at Andreas Keller (829 Front Street), family owned since 1989. This place has old world charm that makes you feel like you’re actually dining in Bavaria. Specials include schnitzel, sausages and pretzels.
KidTripster Tip: Be warned, this is a popular spot! We arrived at opening and the tables were filled within minutes. Most restaurants don’t take reservations during December.
Latin Food
South (913 Front Street) serves up Latin food and drinks with a modern flair. The menu is inspired by dishes from Cuba, Jamaica, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico. We tried burritos, tacos and enchiladas and it was all good! The portions were big and the food was affordable. The drinks were tasty, too.
Tex Mex Food
La Javelina (285 US Highway 2) is a recent addition to the Leavenworth food scene, having opened in 2020. Its menu consists of Texas inspired tacos and BBQ. We recommend this spot for breakfast. The breakfast tacos and toasts are a filling way to start the day.
Asian Food
Wok About Grill (920 Front Street) doesn’t just have good food, it’s also a fun experience. Diners select the items for their wok bowl from a salad bar set-up. Load up your bowl with veggies and proteins, select your sauces, then watch your food get cooked right before your eyes on a steaming iron griddle. At 300 degrees, the food cooks fast! I noticed that my kids ate more than usual (even their veggies!) since they got to pick out their own ingredients.
Treats
It’s easy to find treats around Leavenworth to keep the kids happy. We’d recommend a stop at the Gingerbread Factory (829 Front Street). Get there early in the day for the best selection of bakery items which includes gingerbread. We stopped by late in the afternoon and the place was pretty much sold out, but when we visited the next morning the case was replenished with sweets.
For Danishes, strudels, soft pretzels and coffee, pop into The Danish Bakery (731 Front Street). The shop has all kinds of sweet and savory pastry items.
Drinks
Within a short drive of Leavenworth, there are more than a dozen wineries. Several of them have tasting rooms along Front Street.
We ventured into WooHoo Winery (725 Front Street) where we warmed up with some Gluhwein. You can do a wine flight, or purchase by the glass. The tasting room is open to all ages. The kids munched on popcorn while the adults did a wine tasting.
Accommodations in Leavenworth
There are lots of family friendly hotels and resorts to choose from in Leavenworth. We recommend staying at Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort (7375 Icicle Road). The resort was once the site of Camp Icicle for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Many of the original 1930s buildings and barracks are preserved today, converted into lovely guest rooms.
Several rooms accommodate families of four. The loft room even sleeps a family of 5. We really liked the layout of this room. It has a queen and twin on the main floor, with a double bed in the loft, giving everyone a place to spread out.
The rooms are simple and clean, with nice amenities like plush bathrobes, tea kettles, refrigerators and heated towel racks. One thing you won’t find is a TV in the room. We took the opportunity to read and play card games in the evenings.
The expansive property sits along Icicle Creek with gorgeous views of the mountains. It has a large organic garden and an art walk that includes a Dale Chihuly sculpture. My kids liked spending time in the Play Barn which has ping pong, Foos ball, and billiards. During the summer months, the large outdoor pool is open.
Sleeping Lady is conveniently located about 10-minutes outside from Downtown Leavenworth. Although it’s close to town, you’ll feel far removed from the hustle and bustle.
Getting To Leavenworth
Leavenworth is nestled in the Central Washington Cascades. It’s located about 2 1/2 hours from Seattle and about 5 hours from Portland.
Leavenworth became a tourist destination in the 1960s. That’s when a group of locals saved the town from bankruptcy, due to the downturn of the lumber and railroad industries, and reimagined Leavenworth into a Bavarian Village.
Tourists visit year-round, but the holiday season is a big draw. The town can become very crowded on weekends in December. If you can swing it, visit mid-week. Restaurants and shops are open, but everything is less crowded.
[ Related: Top 10 Family Activities in Seattle & Top 10 Family Activities in Portland ]
If traveling to Leavenworth in the winter, plan for adverse road conditions. You may need traction devices to get over the mountain pass. Map out your trip with the help of the Washington State Department of Transportation website which shows winter weather driving conditions and pass cameras.
The author was hosted by Savor Central WA. Accommodations, activities and meals were provided.
