Spacious Suites Centrally Located in Bavarian-Themed Village

The alpine village of Leavenworth in central Washington could easily pass for a hamlet in Bavaria. Half-timbered buildings fly German flags and old-fashioned street lamps line the pedestrian-friendly streets. Fittingly, there are plenty of German restaurants serving sausages and local beer. You might even catch a sidewalk polka performance. Adventure Inn fits perfectly in this festive town. The hotel features spacious suites overlooking the shopping district of Leavenworth or the onsite courtyard.

Downstairs, the Der Hinterhof beer garden dishes out Bavarian-style bratwurst and pints of locally made brews. The bar holds rollicking Oktoberfest celebrations during the first three weekends in October. In addition to German-style brews, you can enjoy Cascade Valley Wine Country’s tasty varietals at Baroness Cellars and Bergdorf Cellars in downtown Leavenworth.

Leavenworth, Washington: Alpine Village in the Cascades

Once a busy logging town, the village of Leavenworth fell upon hard times when the Great Northern Railway Company rerouted its trains in the 1920s. More than 40 years later, locals determined to save the town banded together and hatched an unusual scheme: they would turn Leavenworth into a Bavarian-themed tourist destination. Taking advantage of its Cascade Range setting, the entire town was rebuilt in the vein of an alpine village.

The makeover transformed every aspect of the settlement, from store signs—now hand-carved wooden posts—to the exteriors of every building in town, including local fast-food restaurants. Year-round festivals were planned, old-fashioned street lamps were erected, and restaurants imported German chefs and dressed serving staff in traditional Bavarian garb. Today, Leavenworth thrives as an homage to southeastern Germany, with handmade chocolate truffles and brat stands on every corner.

Leavenworth’s main drag, Front Street, is lined with galleries, boutique gift shops, and cafés serving locally brewed beer. A three-minute walk from the inn, the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum houses thousands of nutcrackers ranging from the classic soldier to quirky wooden bears and crocodiles. Just outside the village, hiking and biking paths crisscross Waterfront Park, a public park that runs along the Wenatchee River.

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