What to do in Leavenworth, WA in 24 hours
Earlier this month, we did an impromptu staycation around different places in Washington. We were supposed to be in Hawaii, but we decided it would be best to stay home given the situation on the islands. That said, we rushed to see what was still open to book and landed on a few locations, the first one being a one-night stay in Leavenworth, WA, a Bavarian village-inspired town located around central Washington.
We found a night open for a room in an Airbnb about a 6 minute walk away from the center of town which was perfect for going back and forth to drop things off or take a break in-between all the food =D
We were only there for about a full twenty four (24) hours, but we were able to fit in a ton of shopping (for what was open) and eating too of course! Below you’ll see where we went and also a few tips if you plan on traveling to this cute town.
Where to shop:
The town is small enough to talk around in less than an hour (if you don’t stop in anywhere) so the first thing we did was walk around to see what was interesting before stopping in to shop. From quaint little specialty stores to oils and vinegars, you’re bound to find something that interests you.
Nutcracker Museum Store: You’ll see a range of nutcracker collections old and new for sale, ornaments, an if you want to see even more, the store is attached to a museum of nutcrackers for viewing!
Metal Waterfall Gallery: This shop is so cool and everything is handcrafted. From small ornaments to large sculptures, each piece is stunningly beautiful. The turtle ornaments and the vineyard hanging wine holder are my favorites!
The Oil and Vinegar Cellar: If you’re looking for high quality infused olive oil, balsamic vinegars, and fragrant cooking salts, stop by this shop! The shop owner is super friendly and you’re even able to sample the different oils and vinegar flavors (and even the salts too!). I left there with a white truffle olive oil, meyer lemon olive oil, pomegranate balsamic vinegar, and black truffle salt.
Schocolat: For delicious Belgian-styled chocolates, make sure to stop by Schocolat (located in the back of another cute store)! There are over 30 flavours and styles of truffles and bon-bons to choose from and they’re all handmade. They also offer other goodies like chocolate bars, chocolate covered items, and a very delicious pear caramel topping. I ended up taking home 24 chocolate pieces, a milk chocolate bar, and that pear caramel topping!
Fudge Hut and Garnishes Boutique: If you want even more chocolate in your life, check out Fudge Hut for some well, fudge! We tried their orange cream one which is a orange creamsicle lover’s dream, and then a classic chocolate walnut. Both rich, creamy, and delicious!
TIP:
We found out that many shops were closed on Tuesday and Wednesdays, unfortunately. We went on a Tuesday and learned this the hard way. There were so many other shops I wanted to visit including this handmade soap shop and a few consignment stores but they were all closed. Keep this in mind if you’re planning to visit during the week days!
Where to eat and drink:
There are plenty of places to go whether you’re looking for baked goods, wine, Bavarian food, and more. We stopped by two shops for wine tasting and had delicious, hearty meals at two different restaurants. Plus, we had to get ice cream and baked goods while we were there!
Baren Haus: For lunch our first day there, we stopped by here and ordered pretzels, a schnitzel platter, and bratwurst platter (oh and of course some beers!). German food is a bit heavy and filling, but very tasty if you’re into meats and sauerkraut. Their kraut was pickled perfectly and not too tart and cut out the heaviness from the schnitzel and bratwurst! They also had a delicious curry ketchup that I dipped everything in. Their pretzel was my favorite; nice and soft, flavorful, and with a lot of cheese dip!
Whistlepunk Ice Cream Co.: Ice cream is the perfect mid-day treat (or of course for dessert), but we found ourselves craving for something cooling and sweet and went to Whistlepunk. They handmake fresh waffle cones and their ice creams are rich and thick, plus their scoops are very generous! I had the pistachio (yes it’s pink) and Jourdan tried the mint chocolate and both were enjoyed thoroughly!
Hard Row to Hoe Tasting Room: I was surprised by how many wine tasting rooms there were in this small area and we had enough time to do tastings at two different places. This is the first spot we went to and we went there right before closing (closed at 6pm). We had a flight each and we definitely had heavy pours! Tastings are $15/person (if you buy two bottles, one fee is waived) which included two whites, a rosé, and a red blend. The rosé was my favorite without being too sweet or to dry. The vibe here was very cabaret like and the guy who worked there was super friendly and we had great conversation. We didn’t take any wine from here, but if you’re in the area and you’re looking for a more moody atmosphere, then definitely check this spot out.
Winegirl Wines Tasting Room: The second stop we went to for wine was Winegirl Wines. The atmosphere here is definitely upbeat and fun, and the hostess was so awesome! I asked if she could curate a tasting for me specifically which included a delicious port! I believe the tastings here were also around $15/person and since we did buy two bottles (the Port and a Viognier) our fees were waved. I recommend both especially if you’re like me and enjoy both sweet but also something crisp and fresh!
Yodelin: For dinner, we wanted something lighter and made our way to Yodelin. Their focus here is on healthy food that causes no harm to the environment. I had their Cioppino which was filled with Hama Hama clams (my favorite), Oregon wild bay shrimp, and a bold seafood broth with toast for dipping. Jourdan had the Wild Salmon rice bowl (which I tasted and it was good!). The only complaint for the rice bowl would be that it was a bit dressing heavy so when you got to the bottom, everything was overly soaked and salty, and then the salmon had a lot of bones in it still so you had to be very careful.
J5 Coffee: The next morning we stopped by for some coffee and hot chocolate. The latte I had was a Jonboy caramel flavor and I can’t say anything negative about it. Jourdan is a hot chocolate connoisseur and enjoyed the rich chocolate flavor of his drink.
The Danish Bakery: The last stop of our journey was here to grab some pastries including: streudal, Bavarian waffle, pretzel, and a few others! I loved everything we got especially the pretzel as it was still piping hot when I got it first thing in the morning. Also, you need that crispy Bavarian waffle, I think it’s my new favorite discovery!
That is it for my round up of places to stop by in Leavenworth, WA! If you have more time or go during the weekend, there will definitely be tons more open. I would also say, depending on if you want to go when it is festive (Oktoberfest, Christmas time), it will be more or less crowded. When we went, it was a bit more quiet, but I actually prefer that since it’s less crowded and leaves for better opportunities for photos!
Have you been to Leavenworth, or would you visit?
- Kirstie
