Summer Fun

in Leavenworth, WA

 

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Summer Fun

It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.

-- Bilbo Baggins

Leavenworth, Washington:
Not just a vacation, an adventure!

Leavenworth, Washington is a year-round sports and recreation destination. The village provides easy access to world-class rock climbing, hiking, white-water rafting, golfing, boating and mountaineering. You’ll enjoy family-oriented activities and festivals throughout the year.

Located on the east slope of the central Cascade Mountain Range, Leavenworth is a village of less than 2000 year-round residents. In the mid-sixties Leavenworth, then a dwindling logging town, began the transformation that made it the Bavarian themed village you see today. Its elevation, only 1200′, makes it a perfect base for enjoying all the outdoor activities your family loves.


Leavenworth Is For Lovers
In the months of May-September Leavenworth enjoys daytime highs between 70-90° and night time lows between 40-55°. The days are usually clear and dry though you should expect an occasional mountain rain shower. As soon as the sun sets over the surrounding mountains the temperatures drop, so have a sweater handy if you’re in town, and extra socks if you’re camping. For links to weather forecasts and webcams throughout the area see our Weather page.

Leavenworth is part of the North Cascades Scenic Loop, consistently named one of the country’s most scenic drives. US Highway 2 is the main route to Leavenworth, both from the west through Stevens Pass and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, and from the east via the Columbia Gorge and Wenatchee fruit country. You can also arrive in Leavenworth via I-90, taking US-97 from Cle-Elum and Blewett Pass. Check out our Getting Here page for more route information and links to resources such as the Washington Department of Transportation.

Leavenworth is a remarkable location for hiking and climbing. Here are several links to hiking areas in the area:
Washington Trails Association
Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce
All Trails

To find out what’s going on while you’re in Leavenworth, check our TNBT page, where we list The Next Big Thing happening in the area. You can also look for Events by month or check out our Festivals page to see what the community is celebrating next. If Live Music is your thing, check the Live Music page, where we list those places with regular live music and special events that the locals give us to list.

You’ll need a place to stay in Leavenworth or the surrounding area. Fortunately, Leavenworth has hotels, motels, cabins, condominiums and bed and breakfast inns to fit every taste and budget. Stay in the heart of the village along Front Street or off the beaten path in a cabin along the Wenatchee River or Icicle Creek.

If you’re making Leavenworth your base of operations, check out all the great places to eat in the area. You’ll find everything from hearty German fare to fast food. If bistro food is your taste you’ll find that here too. On our Eat page you can check out the food by category or just let your nose lead you. Some of our favorites are Rudloof’s Pizza and Brats (try the sausage sampler and the mustard bar), Andreas Keller for authentic German with huge portions, SOUTH for fresh, regional Mexican (try the Enchilada Mole), and München Haus (an outdoor grill and biergarten).

If your family is a hardy bunch then camping in the Leavenworth area is probably right up your alley. Near Leavenworth, Lake Wenatchee State Park is a 489 acre park with more than 12,000 feet of water-front recreational area and almost 200 campsites. See their website for information on camping reservations and on park accessibility at different times of the year. Besides camping, Lake Wenatchee State Park offers swimming and day-use picnic areas, guided horse rides, and hiking trails.


The Woods Beckon
Leavenworth is blessed to be located on the edge of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The forest encompasses over 4 million acres on the east slope of the Cascade Mountain Range from the Canadian border on the north to the Yakima River Valley 180 miles to the south. Because of its huge area the forest is incredibly diverse with elevations ranging from 1000-9000′. Check out the website to find out more about the forest, recreational opportunities, camping and cabin rentals, mushrooming, rock and mineral hunting, nature viewing, fishing, and hiking, check out this camping page and click on the lefthand menu.

Leavenworth is the location for the Wenatchee Ranger District and is where you’ll need the permits and maps you’ll use to explore by backpack the Alpine Lakes Wilderness that’s a part of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. More than 700 lakes and mountain ponds dot the 394,000 acres of glacier carved terrain. The Enchantment Lakes area within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness is rugged back-country and requires special permits. Some visitors have been less than kind to this magical place, so restrictions are often placed on the area. Check the Wenatchee Ranger District webpage for day-hikes and backpacking trails throughout the district.

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Summer Fun In Leavenworth
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Closer in to the village there are a number of campgrounds including a KOA campground. There are a number of independently owned RV parks and lakeside resorts. See our Camping page for more information and links.

Make Leavenworth your family’s summer destination and include a western-style adventure with Icicle Outfitters. They offer summer guided trips for hunting, fishing, camping and horseback trips. Get away from it all with a photographic safari.

In the spring and early summer Leavenworth WA offers the best in white water rafting. There are several experienced outfitters based in the Leavenworth area. Osprey Rafting has 22 years of experience on the Wenatchee River. Whether you’re looking for white-water adventure or all-ages float trips Osprey can accommodate your family.

If your family is enthusiastic about mountain biking then check out the Stevens Pass Bike Park. As the snow melts park crews begin the transformation from radical snow recreation to summer downhill rush. Follow the progress via webcams and Facebook. Opening will depend on snow pack melt off and spring rain.


Flag-lined Street
Need biking or other outdoors equipment while in Leavenworth? Arlberg Sports is open from March-November with a retail shop stocked with bikes and accessories. They also offer bike rentals and have a repair shop. Der Sportsmann is open year-round and also offers bike rentals, retail cycling accessories and outdoor gear for hiking, climbing, fishing and camping. Leavenworth is a mountain biking destination.

The Leavenworth area is home to a number of quality golf courses. It’s quickly becoming a Pacific Northwest golf destination. Make Leavenworth your base of operations for a golf tour of the Wenatchee Valley and Chelan County. Visit Leavenworth for affordable, quality golf. See our Golf page for more information and links about links!

When you need a break from all the high-octane adventuring your family will be doing, spend an easy afternoon shopping in Leavenworth. You’ll find everything from fine clothing, to toy stores, to gourmet food, all within steps of each other along Front Street.

When it’s time for lunch get a selection of gourmet meats and cheeses at the Cheesemonger’s Shop, grab some imported beer and pick up some hard cider or get a bottle of local wine at any one of a number of area wine cellars. Don’t forget the crusty bread! There are a few bakeries in town, including HomeFires, located in Dan’s Food Mart.

We’ve also picked up bread at Cured, where they also have locally cured and smoked meats and lots of delectable pickled, and canned accompaniments for your picnic. Stop in at Oil & Vinegar Cellar to get some yummy flavor infused balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil to sprinkle on your crusty bread. It’s one of your favorite spots. Now that you have all the fixins, take your picnic lunch to Waterfront Park. Here’s a link with directions to one of our favorite picnic spots, a day-use area long US Highway 2.

Whether you’re planning a quick weekend get away, or looking for a location for your next great family vacation, Leavenworth Washington is the destination for your family adventure.

 

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Accidental Bavarian provides information for tourists in the Leavenworth, Washington area, including Chelan and Douglas County communities along US Highway 2: Peshastin, Cashmere, Lake Wenatchee and Stevens Pass.