Leavenworth, Washington:
We fell in love in the fall
I think fall is when we first fell in love with Leavenworth.
Day Is DoneIf you're like me you're probably spending time online or perusing your favorite travel magazines, looking for inspiration for a weekend getaway to celebrate the cooler weather of fall, or to eke out the last few rays of summer. Leavenworth, Washington is my favorite place for a weekend getaway anytime of year, but in the golden days of late summer and autumn the Bavarian village is at its best.
Nestled in the Cascade Mountain Range as it is, Leavenworth Washington is a perfect place from which to see the changing fall colors. There are breath-taking views all over the Cascade Loop Highway. Make an autumn weekend in Leavenworth the beginning, middle or end of your trip and you won't regret it.
As always, you can find out what's happening in Leavenworth, today, this week or this month, by checking in with the Accidental Bavarian Event Calendar. Click on the month you're looking for and every event that we've found, and that businesses and festivals have alerted us to, is listed here. You can also check in with TNBT (The Next Big Thing) where we list events happening for the upcoming two weeks or so. If you look at the TNBT page you'll find links to things such as the Icicle Arts Festival, the Leavenworth Blues, Brews and BBQ Festival, the Leavenworth Quilt Show, the Wenatchee River Salmon Festival, dates for the Lions Club Community Pancake Breakfasts, and Leavenworth's original festival, the Washington State Autumn Leaf Festival. One of our favorite itineraries is to arrive on a Sunday, enjoy festival activities and then enjoy the quiet side of Leavenworth on Monday and Tuesday. Or use the event calendar to plan a visit without a festival, if crowds aren't your thing. Though once September starts, there are festivals in Leavenworth every weekend until Oktoberfest ends the third weekend of October.
Speaking of October, the Leavenworth Oktoberfest has quickly become one of the largest and swiftest growing festivals in the Pacific Northwest. Our Oktoberfest page has links to the official Leavenworth Oktoberfest page as well as other things to do, places to go and stuff to see. Plan an Oktoberfest visit and book your hotel room early. They fill up fast. Expect large and exuberant crowds. Weekend visitors can number as many as 50,000. Check our page for a sample schedule. We'll post the current year's schedule as soon as it's made available.
Use the key word search in the Event calendar to find other stuff to do during your visit. You can find special events like concerts, a Night at the (Nutcracker) Museum, wine tastings, winery tours, the county fair and live music. You'll also find links to ongoing events like the Leavenworth Community Farmers Market, on Thursdays and Village Art on the Green on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through October.
Fall Fun In Leavenworth
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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.
Our Favorite Fall PictureOn our Stay page you can search for a favorite place or one friends have recommended or look by category. If you're looking for a weekend cabin rental, check our Cabins page for cabin and condo rental listings. Many hotels in Leavenworth get booked pretty early on for festival weekends. Check online for room availability. Better yet, give them a call. Hotels, inns and motels often have last minute cancellations, or special rates they'll offer if you contact them the old-fashioned way. "Like" the Facebook pages of your favorite places to stay to get up-to-the-minute Facebook only offers.
Looking for traditional German food while you're in Leavenworth? Check the German Food page for some of our favorites. You'll find places like München Haus with outdoor seating, savory flavored grilled sausages with all the trimmings like housemade sauerkraut, and German beers on tap. We really enjoy the Bavarian rathskeller ambiance of Andreas Keller. The food is good, portions are generous, the atmosphere is wunderbar!
You'll find lots of other kinds of European and America fare in Leavenworth. Check our Eat page for ideas for everything from gelato to pizza. You'll find Italian, Asian, café fare and lots of chocolate. We usually can't find time to eat all of our favorites during a weekend visit. That's okay we always know we'll be back soon. And we never leave without a stop at the Cheesemonger's Shop and Fudge Hut for continuing enjoyment once we're home.
Be sure you make time this fall to visit one or more of the many fruit orchards strung out throughout the Wenatchee Valley. The Cascade Foothills Farmland Association has interactive growers maps. You can also request an AgTourism Driving Map. Visit orchards that have been cultivated by the same families for generations, vineyards producing fine Washington wines and wine tasting rooms in Leavenworth and the surrounding area. One new place to try is the Cashmere Cider Mill. You'll find a link to it on our Fruit and Produce page. They have a tasting room, and offer tours. They specialize in Lady Blush cider and offer non-alchoholic drinks as well.
Visit Accidental Bavarian for places to stay and eat and things to do during the months of September and October. It's just the thing you need to bridge the gap between summer and autumn and chase away the back-to-school blues.
Use the talents you possess - for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best.
