Want to go to Germany, but can’t quite make it there yet? Well, you can try a taste of a Bavarian town right here in the United States – in Leavenworth, Washington.
This small town is very unique and special, and it’s not like anywhere else in our nation’s 50 states. You’re going to love it – it’s adorable, hilarious, and intriguing all at once, and there’s so much to do there, too.
I love Leavenworth! I accidentally stumbled upon it – without ever having heard anything about it before – when I was driving to The Gorge Amphitheater from Seattle for a concert. You can imagine my surprise at the time. “What is this?” I thought – and later looked into it more, too late to explore once I arrived at my destination.
Years later, I intentionally visited again and spent the night, and found it to be just as lovely and whimsical as I imagined and hoped that it would be. I keep hoping to go back for Oktoberfest one year – someday, I surely will!
TL;DR: Best Things To Do In Leavenworth
| Best Leavenworth Activities | Cost |
|---|---|
| Explore Downtown Leavenworth | FREE |
| Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum | $ |
| Leavenworth Reindeer Farm | $$ |
| Take a Hike | Free |
| Horseback Riding at Eagle Creek Ranch | $$$ |
| Leavenworth Oktoberfest | $$$ |
Why Is Leavenworth Bavarian Themed?
Why on Earth is it like this? That’s a great question. You’d never expect to find a Bavarian-themed town in the Cascade Mountains, thousands of miles from Germany, yet here it is. Leavenworth was founded as a logging town way back in the late 1800s.
This went well until 1925, when the closest railroad was relocated to Wenatchee, over twenty miles away. The population began to decline, and in order to keep Leavenworth from becoming a ghost town, the city turned to tourism and recreation. This new focus helped a little, but not a lot.
In 1962, Project LIFE (Leavenworth Improvement For Everyone) began, and the town partnered with the University of Washington to figure out how to save it from becoming completely abandoned. Two businessmen, Ted Price and Bob Rodgers, came up with the idea to turn the town toward a Bavarian theme to attract tourists.
The rest is history – and it clearly worked. Today, two million people visit Leavenworth each year, and that’s a whole lot for a town with a population of just 2,383 as of writing.
Without a doubt, you’re going to be charmed by this small town. It’s a fun, quirky, rewarding, and affordable vacation…
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