Willkommen to Leavenworth!

The unique town is located at the base of the Cascade Mountains west of Wenatchee on Scenic Highway 2, which is roughly a three-hour drive from Whidbey Island, depending upon stops along the way.

“As most know, the main attraction of Leavenworth is the Bavarian theme,” Jessica Robinson, the media relations manager of the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce, said. “We feel this makes Leavenworth the most unique destination of Washington state.”

The town didn’t start out Bavarian, though. First inhabited by the Yakama, Chinook and Wenatchi, the three tribes lived off the abundant land and co-existed for years.

Pioneers eventually settled in the area, searching for gold, furs and fertile farmland. By 1890, the original town was built on the Icicle Flats.

At the end of the century, the Great Northern Railway company laid track through Leavenworth and the town became a thriving logging and sawmill community. The Railway eventually re-routed and pulled out of Leavenworth, leading to the subsequent closure of the sawmill, which left the town floundering.

In the early 1960s, community leaders decided to turn Leavenworth into a Bavarian-style village in hopes of drawing in tourists.

And that it did. More than a million people visit Leavenworth every year, with many coming in October for the town’s annual Oktoberfest celebration.

OKTOBERFEST

Oktoberfest starts Oct. 5 and 6 and takes place the first three weekends of October. It is one of the top-rated Oktoberfest celebrations in the country and event chair Bob Kelly says Leavenworth itself has a lot to do with it.

“We happen to have the ambiance of the whole town with the Bavarian theme that adds to it,” he said. “(The town) is very much like Bavaria in a lot of ways.”

Kelly estimates around 30,000 people attend the festival each year, including people from as far away as Germany.

“People from Germany will come and say this is probably the most authentic Bavarian village and Oktoberfest they’ve been to,” Kelly said.

There will be four venues throughout the town hosting music, dancing and entertainment. Bands and dance groups from the United States, Canada and Germany will perform throughout the festival.

German foods, including bratwurst and German-style cake, will be available, along with barbecue ribs, chicken or pulled pork sandwiches.

Then, there’s the beer. Six different German beers have been imported from Germany for the festival.

“Our strongest distinction among other destinations is our ability to host visitors for world-class festival and events during all four seasons, many of which are unique to Germany,” Robinson said.

Forty vendors will sell goods at the street fair and Kinderplatz will be a great place for the kids to check out.

Admission is $10 on Fridays and $20 on Saturdays, with children under 12 getting in for free.

Active duty military members and their families get into Oktoberfest free with ID.

SHOPPING, DINING
and LODGING

Leavenworth is full of various shops, including some that sell traditional Bavarian items, like nutcrackers, cuckoo clocks and beer steins. Handcrafted soaps and candles, specialty chocolates and sweets, cheeses, meats, clothing, fine china, jewelry, you name it. Robinson said many shops offer a military discount too.

People can, of course, dine on a traditional German meal in Leavenworth, but American, Mexican, Italian and French foods are also served at various restaurants throughout the town.

Leavenworth also is home to many world-class wineries.

The town has many fruit stands and markets selling local produce. And — fun fact — Leavenworth just happens to be the nation’s number one grower of organic pears.

Since there is so much to see and do in Leavenworth, it may take more than one day to explore it all. The town has various types of lodging to accommodate everyone’s needs, including hotels, bed and breakfasts, cabins and campgrounds.

OUTDOOR EXPLORATION

Winter or summer, there is plenty to do outdoors in and around Leavenworth.

“Our scenic beauty is unsurpassed; we offer an unlimited recreation mecca, which draws visitors year-round,” Robinson said.

Nearby Mission Ridge and Stevens Pass offer skiing accommodations. Backcountry skiing, nordic skiing, dog sledding and snowshoeing are just a few of the winter activities available in and around Leavenworth.

In the warmer months, tubing, rafting and kayaking on the Wenatchee River draws people to the area. The Wenatchee River even has Class III rapids for more skilled rafters and kayakers. Adrenaline junkies can test their skills on the Class IV “Triple Shot” and “Tinley Falls” rapids.

Nestled in the Cascade Mountains, climbing is quite popular in Leavenworth. Rock and Ice Magazine named Leavenworth one of the top 10 climbing cities in the United States. Within 10 miles of town, there are 50 crags with climbs of varied difficulties, according to the Leavenworth Chamber.

NOVEMBER IS MILITARY MONTH

November in Leavenworth is military month, as the Chamber launches its “Welcome Home Troops” campaign. While various shops, restaurants and lodging facilities offer military discounts year-round, the month of November will feature the largest discounts of 10-30 percent at many businesses.

“We love to say that a trip to Bavaria is in your own backyard, no passport needed,” Robinson said.