On a weekend in February, we decided to visit a place which offers fun all around the year. Most of our friends had already been there and they told us to visit the place to have a fun experience there. We started from Bellevue and it took almost 2 hours to reach there. While entering the state we saw icicles all around, and feet of snow which was a new experience for us. Being in Bellevue we could not get this must coverage during winter. Also, it is common to see snowfall and hailstorms in our area, but it does not stay for long, it withers away due to heavy rain which is very common here. 

It is a place where you can spend an afternoon wandering the shops and attractions in and around the central part of town. The surrounding mountains and rivers provide an opportunity for summer and winter recreation. There are many restaurants and food stalls which serve food and a heating space for the visitors.

Although ours were an up-down tour, so we were unable to participate in many activities but still we managed to cover almost all the places except the reindeer farm which was closed due to some reason. But in this article, I will mention all the places which can be visited during your stay.

Culture / Heritage of the Upper Wenatchee Valley

After visiting the museum, you will discover how Leavenworth transformed from a timber town to a Bavarian-style village. The Greater Leavenworth Museum acknowledges that it sits on the ancestral homelands of the p’squosa (or Wenatchee) people since time immemorial. The p’squosa lived off this land with a deep understanding of the importance of stewardship and appreciation for this place. P’squosa, meaning “people in between”, had villages positioned along the Wenatchee River and surrounding areas.

The p’squosa people are still here and continue to practice their culture, harvest their traditional foods and medicines and hold their ceremonies that have been passed down from their ancestors. They fish, hunt and gather roots, berries, medicines and basket-making materials. The traditions of harvesting these sacred foods and medicines are practised with the teachings to take only what you need and leave the area in better shape than when you arrived. The p’squosa are named in the Yakima Treaty of 1855.

Language to establish the Wenatchapam Fisheries Reservation was never followed through on, even with the required surveying completed. They were forced off their land and most now live on the Colville Reservation, 150 miles northeast of Leavenworth. Their traditional language is (in-hum-cheen) an Interior Salish dialect, and they would like to welcome all by saying hello in their language (till-hush) The Greater Leavenworth Museum shares this land acknowledgement with you to honour those that were here first and who continue to live here and take care of the land today. We should stand as an ally to recognize their connection to the land and their rights to practice their culture on these sacred lands.

History:

Leavenworth sits on the southeast side of the North Cascades collage, which is a group of terranes that accreted to North America all about the same time. Marine fossils indicate that the terranes were probably a group of islands originating in the South Pacific hundreds of million years ago. 

Leavenworth was not always a Bavarian-style village. Instead, the towering mountain peaks and bountiful land were known amongst Native Americans as some of the most plentiful land anyone had laid eyes on. The Yakama, Chinook and Wenatchi tribes all hunted the same land for deer & elk and also fished Icicle Creek for salmon. Settlers hungry for gold, timber, and furs soon settled the area, and by 1890, Icicle Flats was born. The area exploded with the arrival of the rail line near the turn of the century. At that point, Leavenworth was a whole lot less Bavaria and a whole lot more Deadwood! The logging and sawmill business was flourishing until it shifted.

When the railroad re-routed its rails and moved out of town, it almost turned Leavenworth into a barren town. The area scuffled along for more than thirty years, always on the brink of extinction. In the early 1960s, town leaders had a bright idea: change Leavenworth’s appearance to draw visitors. If the gorgeous alpine hills had no equal except, in German Bavaria, the city planned on completing the experience. This was no mere facelift. In addition to completely renovating the downtown area, community leaders created a series of festivals, drawing revellers into town. From there, the Autumn Leaf Festival, Maifest, and the immensely popular Christmas Lighting Festivals were born and continue to this day. And the change worked. For decades, Leavenworth has been a top tourist destination in the Pacific Northwest. More than a million tourists walk the streets every year, finding “Bavarian authenticity and Northwest hospitality.”

Some of the Fun activities one can enjoy in Leavenworth: 

Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum and Other Fun Things:  

When we entered this museum, we thought it is a gift shop, but along with the gift shop it had a wide variety of nutcrackers, we saw nutcrackers from India as well. This fascinating, family-friendly museum features nutcrackers from around the world and throughout history. They have hundreds of colourful wooden-character types of nutcracker, as well as a wide variety of other devices used to crack nuts. The Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum is open for just a few hours each afternoon during the warmer months, and on weekends only during the cold season. The entrance to the museum is located next door to the Nussknacker Haus, Leavenworth’s nutcracker and collectable shop on Front Street.

Leavenworth Reindeer Fram:

This farm is Surrounded by the herd, visitors will hand feed, interact with and marvel at this protected species. Gather ’round a crackling campfire and learn about what makes Reindeer one of the most highly accessorized creatures on our planet. Hold shed antlers, climb into Santa’s sleigh and enjoy meeting Sven and the rest of the herd. 

Enzian Falls Championship Putting Course:

This 18-hole putting course is in a lovely green setting, complete with water features and mountain views. Kids of all ages will enjoy the family of goats that reside on the hillside adjacent to the course. Enzian Falls Championship Putting Course is located across Highway 2 from the Enzian Inn. The putting course is open during the warmer months of the year.

 

Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery:

Located just a short drive from town, the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery is worth a visit for several reasons. You can check out the fishery exhibits in the main building and then take a walking tour of the hatchery facilities. The hatchery’s flat-and-easy nature trail takes you along Icicle Creek, where you can observe a variety of flora and fauna. The fish hatchery also has nicely landscaped grounds where you can enjoy a picnic or a romp with the kids.

Fun Things to Do in Wenatchee:

Wenatchee is a rich agricultural center, home to orchards and vineyards. Located on the Wenatchee River, it is also a great place for outdoor recreation. Several local outfitters offer whitewater rafting trips on the Wenatchee River. From Wenatchee, you can access Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort as well as cross-country and snowshoe trails in the Wenatchee National Forest.

 

Events and Festivals:

Leavenworth is certainly a festival town. Almost everything is a reason to celebrate, from ice to beer to autumn leaves. Here are some of Leavenworth’s popular annual events and festivals.

• Bavarian Ice Fest (January)
• Ale Fest (April)
• Maifest (May)
• Icicle Creek Chamber Music Festival (July)
• Washington State Autumn Leaf Festival (September)
• Oktoberfest (October)
• Christmas Lighting Fest (December)

Summer Recreation:

Leavenworth summers are gorgeous. You’ll find many opportunities for hiking and mountain biking in the surrounding forests and mountains. The Wenatchee River is great for a float on a hot day. Just a short walk from the shops and restaurants of downtown Leavenworth you’ll find Riverfront Park, where you can stroll along the river and through wooded parkland. Here is a sample of the outdoor recreation you can enjoy during the summer in Leavenworth:

Hiking Leavenworth makes a wonderful base for a variety of day hikes.

Here are some recommendations:

• Chiwaukum Creek
• Ski Hill Loop
• Icicle Ridge
• Rafting and Tubing

The Wenatchee River provides the perfect playground, whether you’re looking for a relaxing float or ​whitewater action. A variety of river guides and outfitters operate in the area, including:

• Osprey Rafting Co.
• River Riders Enchanted
• Water Tours Birding and More

Leavenworth is a prime spot on the Great Washington State Birding Trail. Fishing, camping, mountain biking, golfing, and climbing are other outdoor activities you can enjoy during the summer in Leavenworth. You can also check with the NFS ranger station in Leavenworth for current conditions and recommendations.

Winter Recreation:

During the winter, Leavenworth offers a full range of snow sports. Skiing and Snowboarding Abundant snow and sunshine make the Leavenworth area great for both downhill and cross-country skiing. In addition to the local ski hill, there are two major ski resorts within an easy driving distance of Leavenworth, making it a great base for a winter vacation.

Leavenworth Ski Hill 

Operated by the Leavenworth Winter Sports Club, this facility has two groomed ski hills served by rope tows. Snow tubing sessions are available at the LT Michael Adams Tubing Park.

Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort 

Mission Ridge offers challenging skiing, lodging, and resort amenities.

Stevens Pass

You’ll find skiing and snowboarding terrain for all skill levels. Lessons and gear rentals are also available.

Leavenworth Nordic Trail System

The Leavenworth Winter Sports Club maintains trails for cross-country skiing at four different locations around Leavenworth, including the golf course, Waterfront Park, and Ski Hill.

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

The nearby national forest offers a variety of different recreation opportunities each winter. Snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and Nordic skiing are among the winter sports you can enjoy within the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

Shops and Sobriquets:

Leavenworth provides a variety of different shops for its visitors. While many target tourists, some shops offer quality art, home furnishings, cookies, candies and clothing. 

Things to Do In Leavenworth:

There are several fun attractions within a short drive of Leavenworth.

Smallwood’s Harvest in Peshastin

Smallwood’s Harvest is a fabulous farmstand, located just east of Leavenworth on Highway 2. The family-friendly activities at Smallwood’s include a petting farm, a cow train, and hay rides. The country store offers just about every kind of sauce, jam, preserves, syrup, or jelly that you can imagine, as well as produce, ice cream, candies, and wine.

Aplets & Cotlets Factory

Tour in Cashmere Aplets and Cotlets are some of the tastiest treats available from the Northwest. And they’re all made at the Liberty Orchards factory in Cashmere, Washington. Their free factory tour takes about 15 minutes, and you’ll see how they cook, coat, cut, and package their tasty fruit candies. After the tour, enjoy free samples in their gift shop.

Museum & Pioneer Village in Cashmere

Cashmere’s history museum has an amazing collection of stone tools from Native cultures in both the Northwest and Meso-America. You’ll also find exhibits covering local human and natural history. The Pioneer Village features 20 different historic buildings, including a train station, a doctor and dentist shop, an assay office, a general store, a sheriff’s office and jail, and a millenary shop.

I hope this information may be helpful for the visitors, I also insist to watch the embedded video and subscribe to our channel! For more information and visuals. I am grateful for all the articles I have read before writing here and thankful for the information.