Comfortable Suites in the Heart of a Bavarian-Themed Village

It once required a transatlantic flight to catch a sidewalk polka performance by an accordion player dressed in lederhosen. But here in Leavenworth, such scenes are par for the course. The Bavarian-themed village is filled with gingerbread buildings trimmed by festive lights twinkling against the dark forest backdrop of Washington’s Cascade Range. The ski-lodge-style Adventure Inn fronts the charming downtown district and its backyard overlooks the Wenatchee River, Riverfront Park, and the snow-capped mountains beyond.

Sweeping views of the park and woods unfold from the living-room and bedroom windows upstairs in the two-bedroom suites. Simple accommodations are furnished with vintage ski-resort posters, cushy sofas, and plenty of tabletop space for a full set of travel beer steins.

Leavenworth, Washington: German Heritage and Quaint, Themed Streets

Once a busy logging town, the village of Leavenworth fell upon hard times when the Great Northern Railway Company rerouted elsewhere. Determined to save the town, locals banded together and hatched an unusual scheme: they would turn Leavenworth into a Bavarian-themed tourist destination. Taking advantage of the Cascade Range setting, the entire town was rebuilt in the vein of an Alpine village. An extensive makeover transformed every aspect of the settlement, from store signs—now hand-carved, wooden posts—to the façades 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 outfitted serving staff in traditional Bavarian garb. The improbable makeover worked remarkably well, and Leavenworth thrives today as an homage to Bayern 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 that serve locally brewed beer. The centrally located Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum houses thousands of nutcrackers ranging from classic Bavarian-style to smartphone nut-cracking apps. Beyond the village center, cross-country skiers and snowshoers crisscross the paths of Riverfront Park, and downhill skiers hit the slopes of Stevens Pass and Mission Ridge, both about 30 minutes away.