It took little time after moving up here before we were told about the city of Leavenworth. Leavenworth is on the tip of every tongue when one asks a resident about “must see” spots in Washington. Watching the glow that appears in someone’s eye as they reflect on the town’s offerings is often more convincing than the stories themselves. Therefore, the question became not “if” we should visit, but rather “when.” After a bit of research, we came to the conclusion that it would be best to go during the fall. This time frame would provide us with a glimpse of the holiday scene before the actual “season” was in full swing. Also, fall colors.

Oh my, the fall colors.

We had to wait a few months before the time was right. Finding ourselves in the homerun stretch, we rushed through a trying work week, packed up in record time (for us anyway), and headed out. Eager to be there, we raced the sun to our final destination.

We lost.

Losing the sunlight meant that we lost our chance to have the Wenatchee river guide us to our weekend retreat in its own special way. Specifically, with a series of both rapids and meadowed clearings to serve as mile markers. Unfortunate, but you can’t win every time.

Keep truckin’

We arrived at our hotel, the Bavarian Lodge, after nightfall. Adorned in lights for the holidays, it was quite the sight. Shades of blue, glistening against the darkness, quickly calmed us. We found parking behind the lodge, met up with the concierge, and sat down for a drink in celebration. Slowly we sipped, taking in the ambiance. The whole place was decked out with an inviting country aesthetic, just enough to make one feel like they are officially on vacation, and not so much that it comes across as forced.

Feeling contented, we retired to the room for some much needed shut eye. The bed was comfortable, the sandman swift, and before I knew it I was waking up refreshed and ready for our day.

One of our favorite aspects of the lodge was discovered next. I’m a fiend for the caffeine, and the room’s complimentary Keurig was inadequate for my excessive needs. I dressed presentable enough, and went downstairs to see what the restaurant had to offer.

Following my nose towards the smell of breakfast and baked goods, I found buffet portions of scrambled eggs, potatoes, gallons of coffee, and a waffle station.

YES…

Oh yes, you read me right. A waffle station. Next to two waffle irons is a container of batter, and a placard with instructions. Knowing my wife would be over the moon for such an experience, I hurried back up to the room to further motivate her to get ready.

Believe me, there was a bit more spring in her step and swiftness in her motions as she prepared herself for our day. We sat down to heaping helpings of food, all gratis. Everything was prepared with care, and we had no complaints.

After breakfast, we headed across the street to the river walk. The Wenatchee river was gorgeous this time of year. Crystal clear, with white capped rapids a fisherman can’t help but ponder about. We watched some sizable trout schooling around an inlet, foraging for a quick bite in the ice cold water.

Herons and eagles were out as well. The herons statues against the sky, waiting for the moment an unwitting fish comes within striking distance of their beak. Eagles soaring around above the trees, scanning their domain for a worthy meal below.

My oh my, the trees. Let me tell you friends, it was the perfect day to walk among these golden towers. The sun lit the leaves up, while a light gust put them in motions, making them glitter and glow. The serenity of nature in one of its many forms. We walked along, reading some of the placards with information about the area, trees, and former native peoples of the area. Mostly we just stared at stuff slack jawed and thankful that we were finally here.

 

Even the temperature was perfect. Cold enough to enjoy the crisp air, but not enough to make you uncomfortable. We spent a couple hours on the trail, even though it is only a 3 mile round trip. Every bend seemed to house another unique vantage point. Even when we did leave, it was not because we were tired of what we were seeing. We both knew that we would be doing ourselves a disservice if we did not experience some of the other attractions Leavenworth had to offer.

We made our way back to the town and sought out a quick bite. There are a few breweries scattered along the few streets, and we found one that we could not pass up. Doghaus Brewery was right by the entrance of the waterfront trail, and has a variety of beers on tap, along with some satisfying pub food. In addition, it is a dog friendly brewery with outside seating. We ate pretzels, drank german beer, and hung out with a wise old German shepherd and his mouthy puppy brother.

After our quick meal, we walked the main drag. There are quite a few shops to poke your head into, offering clothes, decorations, books, and so much more. We did quite a bit of window shopping, as well as some holiday gift shopping.

We vacation with our stomachs though, so the real attractions to us were the various food offerings. We found a chocolatier that had some ridiculously good fudge. Also, we found a newly built wine cellar, which had 5+ wineries, each with their own tasting area. We sampled some familiar varieties, as well as a few new ones. As a bonus, there were some bougie people who brought their huge goldendoodle in with them while they sampled wine. So, while they were making sure to convey how refined and important they were, we mushed face with a gentle, curly-haired pup.

The second winery we visited had a more casual clientele, and our bartendress was pleasantly social. We talked about what we liked about the wines a bit more freely, knowing that we were not being judged by her because of or rudimentary descriptions of the flavors. She even rewarded our efforts with some mulled wine.

If you have never had mulled wine, it is basically like taking all of the flavors of Christmas, fermenting them in alcohol, and warming it up to the temperature of hot cocoa.

Instant fans.

They even sell these “tea bag” packets so that you can make your own mulled wine at home.

We knew we had to keep moving, lest we miss out on all the town had to offer. So, we thanked our hostess, stood up…and then all the alcohol that had situated itself in our legs found its way upward to a new home. In our heads.

Whew.

Time to eat.

One of the most highly rated eateries in the town is Munchenhaus. It is a small hotdog stand, with a large seating area and a detached bar serving Icicle Brewery beer, another Leavenworth local. It is absolutely necessary that a first time visitor of Leavenworth goes here, if only for a bite. They not only have a variety of different sausages (including vegetarian), but also fresh pretzels, potato salad, and other delicious items. Plus, they have a huge variety of mustards, sauces, and toppings to pair with your brat.

After spending a while at Munchenhaus, we journeyed on to the small grass park across the way. The main attraction here being the Christmas tree that was being set up for the holidays. It was about 30 feet tall, and they had to use multiple boom lifts to decorate it. We watched the tedious process as a polka band entertained the crowd with their repetitive music and ridiculous attire.

Finding our rhythm rewarding, we continued this dance of moving around the city, popping in and out of shops to sample what they had to offer. One such spot was the Gingerbread Factory, where we were treated to some satisfying drinks that we paired with a huge snickerdoodle cookie. Yet another spot that one must try when they find themselves in the area.

The daylight eventually ran out, and the temperature plummeted. We had spent the entire day eating, drinking, sight-seeing, and eating more. I was getting tired, and bitten by the cold. We dove into Icicle Brewery for a nightcap in the form of a coffee porter. The brewery has exterior seating with gas fireplaces, but unfortunately they were all occupied. We braved the cold for a bit, then retreated inside to finish off our brew.

Feeling accomplished, we headed back to the room. The following day would be spent getting another buffet portion of breakfast food, a couples massage, and a trip to The Alps candy store.

The store is situated on the outskirts of the town, and has all sorts of offerings to interest and entice. Peanut brittles, fudges, nostalgia inducing vintage candy offerings, and mouth watering hot sauces. All this and more in a tiny cottage. Well worth the quick detour.

Winter in Leavenworth

We had so much fun the first time we visited Leavenworth. Even though we spent our entire time walking, eating, and sightseeing, we still felt that there was much more to see and do that we had not yet done. Therefore, we planned another trip after the holidays. We knew when the town would be taking all of the Christmas decorations down, so we set a time before that, when we could see the town in all its holiday glory.

Plus, we felt bad that we had not taken our dogs with us to Leavenworth. It is one of the most dog friendly towns we had ever been to. In our minds, our dogs deserved to experience it. So, once again we packed up the car with some furry family members, and set out once more.

Lizzy and Beaver both LOVE the snow. They are known to bury their faces in the snow drifts and snack on the powder. As soon as we were on the trail, they were off and running wild. Zig-zagging back and forth on the trail, jumping for joy, and burying their heads in the ice cold ground.

One of the things we have noticed is that both of them eventually get icicles in between their toes. This can be quite painful, so we found a product to combat the issue. It is a wax that you apply liberally to their paws, and it works well. It even moisturizes their pads and keeps them healthy. All for a reasonable price and a multi-year supply.

The more you know.

 

Our golden trees were gone, replaced by these barren, but beautiful, winter variants. The scenes were still breathtaking, just a different balance of color and light to elicit other feelings. We walked the trail once more, and I played chase with my dogs. My strategy was to lure them around corners so I could pelt them with snowballs. They figured me out far too quickly, and I had to give up my tactics after a few minutes.

Still a win in my book.

Beaver got vengeance by chasing me down and punching me in the stomach like the wild child he is.

The mountains were dusted in white, and we needed some extra layers in the daytime to combat the cold. Still, it was a pleasant day of walking around, popping into shops, and sampling the local fare. We wandered the day away, waiting for night to fall so that we could see everything lit up.

Wow. Leavenworth knows how to do it up right. All of the shops gleaming against the nightfall. The centerpiece of it all, a huge tree lit top to bottom. All of that hard work paid off.

Leavenworth is definitely worth a visit. It has a variety of things to do for nature lovers, foodies, and those simply looking for a change of scenery. There are also various trails outside of the city proper. One popular one is the Colchuck Lake trail. We plan to visit it soon, and see if it makes good on its claims of beautiful scenes (and a difficult ascent).