Everything Portland

Exploring Portland's environs, neighborhood by neighborhood

  • Northeast
  • Northwest
  • North
  • Southeast
  • Southwest
  • Environs
  • Getaways
  • Contact

Celebrating the Holidays in Leavenworth, Washington’s Christmas City

December 16, 2015 By Dena Weigel Bell Leave a Comment

DSC08809 copyThe beautiful Bavarian town of Leavenworth, Washington, where the Cascade Range provides the perfect backdrop for a white Christmas, has become my family’s favorite gathering spot for celebrating the holidays. Outdoor adventures and unique dining and shopping experiences provide special holiday memories for everyone in the family. Here are a few of our favorite things to do when we spend Christmas in Leavenworth.


E-PDX - Leavenworth3
Sleigh Rides

Travel over the river and through the woods with Red Tail Canyon Farms in their two horse open sleigh. Snuggle underneath the wool blankets and relax as their beautiful equine team pulls the buckboard sleigh through a forest filled with wildlife. The driver points out areas of interest and entertains with tales of local lore throughout the 40-minute ride. After, hot cocoa awaits you inside a teepee at the end of the journey.

 E-PDX - Leavenworth9

Shopping Downtown

Christmas and Bavarian themed shops populate Leavenworth’s downtown district. Kris Kringle’s ornament shop has two stories filled with every style of ornament and a large selection of village sets, including Dickens-style, cityscapes and fantasy themed collections.

Rich woods and pitch-perfect chimes capture the spirit of the season inside beautifully crafted music boxes, snow globes, and clocks at the Music Box Shop. From the simple to the elaborate, the shop is filled with nearly 4,000 unique musical items and you’re sure to find one that plays your favorite Christmas carol.

With its quirky and fun clothing collection, Paprika’s status as the “Sophisticated Hippie” is a well-deserved moniker. You’ll find turquoise adorned bracelets and matching cowboy boots, hand-stitched scarves, and the voluminous skirts and sweaters that add a touch of fun to your winter wardrobe.

E-PDX - Leavenworth7

German Restaurants

For an authentic German culinary experience, reserve a table at Andreas Keller German Restaurant. Tucked away in the basement of one of the Bavarian style buildings, it has a cozy Alpine chalet atmospere and serves traditional German food, like schnitzel, spatzle, and every kind of wurst, or sausage. Top it off with one of the Pacific Northwest’s best craft beers and a piece of Black Forest cake.

During our first trip to Leavenworth, everyone told us to make sure The Soup Cellar was at the top of our list of restaurants to try, and it didn’t disappoint. While the atmosphere didn’t seem as authentic as Andreas Keller’s, every soup we ordered was full of flavor and served with a delicious side of bread.

Muchen Haus is a laid-back outdoor sausage grill and beer garden that’s perfect for a break in the action. Order a brat at the front counter then find a seat around a fire-pit table and enjoy the many pets that join their people in the open-air restaurant.

E-PDX - Leavenworth1 

Nighttime Sledding

Kids of all ages are welcome on the sledding slope next to the big Christmas tree in Front Street Park. Sledding during the daytime hours is fun but at night, when the Christmas lights reflect off the icy snowdrifts, it’s magical.


E-PDX - Leavenworth8

The Beautiful Outdoors

Whether your idea of outdoor adventure is downhill skiing, snowshoeing, or speeding across the drifts on a snow mobile, you’ll be able to do all of it within minutes of Leavenworth. My family loves hiking and there are many trails just steps from our hotel that we explore day and night. Take your camera because you’ll want to remember this beautiful winter wonderland all year long!

 

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Featured, Getaways Tagged With: Adventures & Activities, Culture & Heritage, Family-Friendly Attractions, Leavenworth, Washington

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Who We Are

We're freelance writers, good friends and longtime Portlanders. We created this site to provide a fresh, engaging insider's guide to our fair city and its environs. [Read More]

Carrie Uffindell & Dena Weigel Bell

Carrie Uffindell & Dena Weigel Bell

Portland by Neighborhood

Portland is a city of villages, with 95 official neighborhoods spread throughout the five quadrants: North, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest.

Each ‘hood has its own vibe, from the eclectic eateries, funky shops and Craftsmen bungalows in Sellwood-Moreland to the high-end stores, swanky condos and dynamic restaurants of the Pearl.

Join us as we explore Portland's foodie hot spots, cultural attractions, outdoor adventures, family-friendly activities, craft beverages and much more, neighborhood by neighborhood.

Subscribe

Enter your email address to receive new posts in your inbox.

A City of Nicknames

PDX, Rose City, Stumptown, Bridgetown, Beervana, Rip City – these are just a smattering of Portland’s nicknames, inspired by its local history, quirks and characteristics. The city’s official (and perhaps oldest, dating back to the late 19th century) is The City of Roses.

Search This Site

Copyright © 2021