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Road Trip to Leavenworth

A fun family getaway

July 17, 2014

Leavenworth is a great spot for a quick getaway with the family year-round, but I especially like visiting in the early summer when the temperatures are on the rise and the sun is shining in eastern Washington.  My husband, daughter, dog and I packed up for a two-night adventure to our favorite Bavarian-themed mountain town in early June.  Here are some highlights and ideas to plan your own getaway, plus some tips to keep your trip affordable!

Although Leavenworth is a mere 2 hour drive for many of us, it always helps to take a short break to stretch the legs and let kids run off some energy.  After hitting the road on a Sunday morning, our first stop was the small town of Skykomish.  This historic railroad town is home to the Great Northern and Cascade mini railway - a fun, free attraction for your family!  This miniature ride-on railway opened last summer and is open each weekend through the end of October.  The rail cars are all authentic replicas and the volunteers are eager to tell you all about their history and operation.  We all hopped on for a ride around the half mile track and even got to take home a commemorative ticket!


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We arrived in Leavenworth and checked in at our hotel – the 9-room Adventure Inn.  I scored a Living Social coupon for this low-key accommodation back in spring for $135 for two nights – a screaming deal when our room normally booked for $199 a night during the off-season.  Our room was not fancy, but it was perfect for our family.  We had a two-bedroom, 1 bath suite separated by a large living area with a mini fridge and coffee maker.  The beds were comfortable, and the accommodations were very clean and dog-friendly!  There is a dog and kid-friendly (they had a chalkboard wall!) beer garden at the base of the building, which could get loud on summer or festival nights with live music, but being there on a Sunday and Monday, it was quiet and a nice amenity to grab a beer while the kiddo was sleeping. Guests of the Adventure Inn also get 10% their food and beverages at the beer garden.

The Adventure Inn was in a great location, just a couple blocks away from the main buzz on Front Street and right behind Waterfront Park.  Although there is a public pool in town, we walked down from the hotel and spent Monday splashing at a sandy, shaded beach on the Wenatchee River (from the small parking lot, take the trail to your left and the beach is less than 100 yards). Another fun and free way to relax with the family!

Of course, there is no shortage of brats and pretzels and German fare for dining in Leavenworth, but I have some suggestions to change it up a bit:

  • Icicle Brewing Company – a great spot for a light lunch or afternoon snack, complete with tasty microbrews (dog and kid friendly)
  • Good Mood Food – perfect for breakfast or a takeout picnic by the river, GMF serves up healthy, local and creative food combinations
  • Renaissance Café – tucked into a basement location, this was a great breakfast and they had everything from strawberry pancakes for the kids to scrambles for the adults
  • Kingfisher Restaurant & Wine Bar – located at the famous Sleeping Lady Resort, Kingfisher serves up gourmet seasonal fare, much of it organic and grown in their on-site garden. 

Since we saved so much on our lodging, we decided to splurge on dinner at Kingfisher one evening.  You don’t have to stay at the resort to dine at the restaurant, so we made a reservation.  The place was nearly empty, so they did not have their normal buffet, but instead we were treated to a 4-course meal (soup, salad, main, dessert) that we could enjoy as much of as we wished. They did still have a dessert bar (yum!), and overall we felt that the price was well worth the quality of the food and experience.  After dinner we took a nice walk on the trails and enjoyed the natural scenery and sculptures scattered throughout the resort.

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Here are a few more family-friendly ideas for a summer getaway to Leavenworth:

  • Visit the Nutcracker Museum - go on their scavenger hunt and win a pin if you can find them all
  • Icicle Gorge trail – a family-friendly 4 mile hike with only 150 feet elevation gain
  • Go floating on the Wenatchee River
  • Play mini golf at the Icicle Junction Activities Center
  • Highway 2 pit-stop alternative: Deception Falls

What are your favorite spots or tips for family fun in Leavenworth?  Share them with us below!