There are those magical places where you can visit over and over again and feel the excitement brimming within you on every return trip. The Bavarian Village in Leavenworth is one such place. Adding a couple of great sites in Wenatchee makes for a full weekend of fun!
When to visit: most of the sites in our itinerary are open year-round, but one of the sites is a garden, which closes for winter; plan your trip between April 15 and October 15… but there is one more thing we need to tell you: there are few Christmas excursions to match Leavenworth all lit up in full holiday pageantry… nor are you likely to experience Christmas crowds in such overwhelming numbers—though there is a way around that: come in January as the decorations and the lights are kept up all through the month.
Ohme Gardens
Herman Ohme purchased 40 acres on a hill overlooking the Wenatchee Valley and the Columbia River in 1929. He and his wife, Ruth, worked their orchard during the day and developed their private family garden on a rocky outcropping in the evenings and in the fall; they brought trees and shrubs from the Cascade Mountains and brought up rock from along the river. Ten years of work resulted in a garden of two acres. The locals started to notice and came by the car load to view the garden. The Ohmes began charging 25 cents per car load, actually hoping that charging money would discourage visitors but what resulted was entirely the opposite! The garden, with its stone-lined walks, pools, and waterfalls, remained a continuing work in progress and is now nine acres of natural alpine beauty—and one not to be missed!
Plan 1.5 to two hours for this visit; last entry each day is 45 minutes before closing. Many of the paths are narrow and rustic, so plan to wear good walking shoes. Note that the nature of the paths prevents the use wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers. Should you have any physical impairment but are still capable of walking on rough ground, do ask for the loan of a walking stick—I was sure glad for the use of one. Consider bringing a hat and bottled water.
Here are details you will need, including the address to enter into your navigation app:
Ohme Gardens, 3327 Ohme Rd, Wenatchee, WA 98801, 509-662-5785. Open: daily Apr 15-October 15, 9-6. Admission: Adult $8, 6-17 $4, 5 and under Free, but must be accompanied by an adult. Free parking, even for RVs. Gift shop on site. Sorry, no pets.
Pybus Market
Pybus Market began as a steel foundry built by E.T. Pybus (1874-1961). Wenatchee’s “Man of Steel,” began as a village blacksmith and progressed through wagon and harrow repair to steel fabrication for the U.S. war effort in World War II before becoming as important to Wenatchee Valley industry as the apple industry. After Pybus’ death his company was split into several companies and the foundry eventually sat empty. It wasn’t until 2013 that the aging foundry building was transformed into the Pybus Market.
Pybus Market is not particularly large, 25,000 square feet, but it has a cool vibe and an even cooler collection of unique markets, shops, and eateries. On Saturdays from May to October, more than 50 farms are represented at the Farmers’ Market at Pybus Market.
We enjoyed a great lunch. Shopping included hand-made chocolates from D’Olivo that were oh so delightfully good—better, in fact, than similar chocolates we purchased in Leavenworth later in the day (the dark chocolate huckleberry truffles were the absolute best). Including lunch, you are likely to spend 1.5 to two hours here.
Here are details you will need, including the address to enter into your navigation app:
Pybus Market, 3 N Worthen St, Wenatchee, WA 98801, 509.888.3900. Open: 8-9; summer hours 8-10; shop hours 10-6. Closed Christmas and New Year’s Day. Free parking. Sorry, no pets allowed.
Aplets and Cotlets Candy Kitchen
Makers of the original Aplets & Cotlets candy confections. Come by this Cashmere candy company and tour the factory to see for yourself how their candy is made! Your tour is likely to take an hour and will most likely end with a bag of purchases from the candy store on site. Not only are their candy confections wonderful, but the story of two Armenian immigrants who made good is quite fascinating as well. Aplets, their original confection, were created in 1920.
Here are details you will need, including the address to enter into your navigation app:
Aplets & Cotlets Candy Kitchen, 117 Mission Ave, Cashmere, WA 98815, 509-782-2191. Open: Mon-Fri 9-5, Sat-Sun 10-4.
Leavenworth
Leave Wenatchee on US-2 headed west and drive about 23 miles to Leavenworth. Visit a vacationer’s shopping, culinary, and wine tasting delight in a Bavarian alpine village setting. I’ve been in several alpine villages in Bavaria and Leavenworth’s Bavarian village, with its old world charm, looks like it could have been lifted right out of Bavaria and settled into its current location among the Cascade Mountains. You will need several hours to stroll the village and visit the shops along the way. One shop not to miss is FudgeHut, 933 Front St; we purchased six flavors of fudge and every one proved to be heavenly delicious!
Dining: there is a great selection of restaurants in Leavenworth’s Bavarian Village but we think you should try the Bavarian-themed eateries—remember, this is Bavarian immersion time! Our favorite is Andreas Keller Restaurant, 829 Front St. Open: Fri-Sun 11:30-9, Mon-Thu 11:30-8:30; watch the sign and stairs going down from the street. Other options we liked: Rhein House, 707 US-2 unit F. Open: 11-8 Sun-Thu, 11-9 Fri-Sat; Renaissance Café, 709 Front St. Open: Sun 11-7, Mon-Thu 11-7, Fri-Sat 11-10.
Accommodations: we wanted accommodations right in the village—there are several to choose from—and ended up at the The Bavarian Lodge, which proved to be a wonderful hotel with pleasing alpine rustic charm. Plan well in advance and acquire lodging early as the Bavarian-themed hotels in and close to the village fill up fast.
Bringing pets will complicate your visit to Leavenworth as many shops do not allow dogs at all. There are a few that do accept a small dog if they are carried at all times. Always check with store staff before entering with a pet. Dogs are welcome on the streets of Leavenworth but must be on a leash at all times—owner must clean up any pet waste.
Greater Leavenworth Museum
Curious as to how the Bavarian Village came to be? Come to the Greater Leavenworth Museum to learn that history and also learn about the native peoples who came before and the industries that drew the early populations of the region’s communities. If you’ve a curious nature you will be pleased you stopped by the museum. Plan on 45 minutes to one hour for your visit.
Greater Leavenworth Museum, 735 Front Street, Leavenworth, WA 98826, 509-548-0728 (upper floor, above the Nutcracker Museum). Open: daily 11-4. Admission: 17-64 $5, 65+ $3.50, all youth 16 and under currently free due to a grant.
Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery
If you are an early riser, consider starting day two with a visit to the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery; when the facility opened in 1940 it was the world’s largest fish hatchery, with a mission to produce Salmon to make up for the Grand Coulee Dam’s impact on fish runs. The tour is self-guided but volunteers are available to answer questions. The hatchery grounds are always open to foot traffic, as passage through the grounds leads to the Icicle Creek Nature Trail. Plan on 30 minutes for your visit, longer if you hike the trail along the creek.
12790 Fish Hatchery Rd, Leavenworth, WA 98826, 509-548-7641. Open: daily 9-4. Admission: Free.
Mini-golf at Icicle Village Resort
The course is on the grounds of a resort but, no worries, the miniature golf course is open to the public. This is an 18-hole course, attractive and well designed. Plan on one hour for your visit. Come early to beat the heat.
505 Highway 2, Leavenworth WA 98826, 800.961.0162.Open: 10-9. Admission: $15.
One Last Stroll of the Village
It’s time to visit the village one last time, maybe to make purchases you considered the day before and are now ready to take home with you; have lunch at a German-themed eatery that you have yet to try; visit the Greater Leavenworth Museum if by chance they closed yesterday before you got there; and then it’s time to head home.
Updated June 2024
Hit the Road in the Pacific Northwest 