4 Must-See Activities in Leavenworth Washington
What to do in Leavenworth WA
Growing up in Washington state, you always hear about the Bavarian getaway tucked in the mountains of central Washington. I used to go with my family as a kid since it was only a few hour drive and we had some friends that lived out there! That being said, I hadn’t visited Leavenworth since the early 2010s when I was in middle school. At the time I was not the most appreciative of the trip and wasn’t able to fully enjoy all of what the area has to offer. As a 25 year old woman now, I have a newfound appreciation for the town and had the most relaxing trip with my best friend Megan.
Before we get into the activities, I have to tell you about the great hotel we stayed at. As a kid, my family and I would always stay at the Icicle Village Resort at the edge of town and I had the amazing opportunity to take my girl Megan! We ended up in the cutest hotel room with 2 queen beds and a balcony. This property has a good sized hotel plus condominiums in the back and a mini golf course. They also have 2 pools, hot tubs and a small Game Center in the hotel. Alongside the amenities they have a wine tasting room, a spa, and clean rooms with the sweetest staff. It’s like a home away from home and just what I needed for a relaxing vacation!
Take a Tour at Rocky Pond Winery
My first and top recommendation is to visit the Rocky Pond tasting room and subsequent winery out near Lake Chelan. The tasting room is located at the Icicle Ridge resort and they now offer tours that take you out to their actual winery. Going in the cutest vintage limo, you are personally driven out to the property and taken on a guided 2 hour long tour. This experience includes 5 glasses of white and red wines from the vineyard and you’ll learn all about the history and farming practices in the area. It’s also a family run company from Washington natives which always feels great as a consumer. Oh, and did I mention that the wine is just to die for? I was so pleased with the quality and actually got a bottle of champagne for myself!
Have a Facial at the Icicle Alpine Spa
My next recommendation is to get a facial at the Alpine Spa at the Icicle Ridge! This location offers both massages and facials and the technicians were an absolute delight. I really enjoyed my facial in particular, it was very relaxing and she went above and beyond compared to most techs. In my facial, she took care of my skin, did extractions, provided red light therapy (this is an additional fee but so worth it) and even went so far as to massage my arms and legs as my treatments sank into my skin! Once the facial was over, the gal treated me to some chocolate and you get nicely pampered with a big robe. Overall I would certainly go back it was the relaxation I desperately needed.
Ride the New Leavenworth Roller Coaster
In Leavenworth, they just opened a roller coaster at their Adventure Park. It’s called the Tumwater Twister or Alpine Coaster and it was crazier than I anticipated. This coaster is a self paced ride with handles to adjust the speed yourself. Individuals go on the seats and boy is it fun. I just would not recommend looking down, that definitely spooked me and made the ride a lot more nerve wracking. While it was beautiful in a way since you are up in the mountains, the sheer height of it was more intimidating than I expected. I also went full speed ahead during the second half of the ride and that is certainly not for the faint of heart! Overall though if you are a thrill seeker this is a definite must!
Visit the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum
My final recommendation is for my art and history buffs! I went to the Nutcracker museum around 10 years ago and it was nothing like the museum of today. Having started as a small collection upstairs is now an experience that fills the entire back room of the building plus a top level! I was positively floored and it only cost $5 to go. In this museum, you will learn the vast history of nutcrackers and see an endless collection of unique nutcrackers that you won’t find anywhere else. As a nutcracker collector myself, this was such a treat and well worth the time and money.
Safe Travels to Leavenworth
I hope this blog post inspires your upcoming trip or inspires you to visit! Leavenworth is a safe and clean community and as a female traveler visiting with another woman, I did not feel uncomfortable walking at night and wandering through the town. Visitors were kind and with the wide array of activities I did not feel bored for a second! I definitely look forward to visiting again and if you plan to go, I recommend looking at my Instagram and TikTok for more tips and tricks.
Until next time,
Lauren