Are you planning a December weekend in Leavenworth, WA this holiday season? Here is weekend itinerary that can help you plan your trip.
Leavenworth is a perfect holiday getaway in the Pacific Northwest. Located 2 ½ hours from Seattle in the Cascade Mountains, Leavenworth is a Bavarian town that goes all out for the holiday season. Even though it’s a small town, every shop and store front decorate for the holidays. It’s a great town to escape to during the holiday/winter season.
If you’re planning a 3-day, 2-night weekend stay in Leavenworth, this blog post is for you! Here is our full itinerary for our December Weekend in Leavenworth, WA:
Friday Night
12pm – Commute from Seattle to Leavenworth, WA
No matter where you’re coming from in Washington State, I advise to check the snow and weather conditions before you commute to Leavenworth. We went early December, and we were lucky there was no snow on the ground.
3pm – Check in at the Post Hotel
One of the highlights of our trip was staying at the Post Hotel. We booked our stay at the Post Hotel back in June 2021. We were shocked we had to book 6 months in advanced, but we know the Post Hotel is extremely popular, especially during the holiday season.
I would recommend planning your December weekend in Leavenworth at least 6 months in advance if you’re planning to stay in town. Airbnbs, vacation rentals, and local hotels book out because Leavenworth is a popular destination during the holidays.
6pm – Dinner at Visconti’s
The main outing of our first night was dinner at Visconti’s. Since we had worked a half day and spent 2 ½ hours in the car, we wanted to take the first night easy. We booked reservations ahead of time and had a wonderful dinner at Visconti’s.
Saturday
8am- Breakfast at the Post Hotel
Though the Post Hotel is a bit more expensive than other hotels around the area (we paid $650 per night), it does come with free breakfast. The breakfast was delicious, and the staff was superb.
10am – Photos at the Terrace and Hotel Room
Since our trip to Leavenworth was a content trip, we wanted to capture photos around the hotel. We took photos right on the terrace and in the hotel room. I ended up shooting one of my holiday campaigns for YSL Beauty for Nordstrom inside the hotel room!
12pm – Visit Leavenworth Reindeer Farm
One of my favorite things we did on the trip was visit the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm. Reservations are required ahead of time. The Leavenworth Reindeer Farm is popular for families and tourists, so I recommend booking your visit well ahead of time.
The tour started with one of the staff members sharing reindeer facts and showcasing the different antlers one of the bulls in the reindeer farm shed. It was fun to learn more about the reindeer before stepping into the pen.
We were given a cup of reindeer snacks to feed the reindeer. Since the reindeer in the farm are domesticated, they come right up to you and eat from your hands. This was probably the most unique holiday activity I’ve done so far.
2pm – Walk around Leavenworth
After the reindeer farm, we walked back to the main downtown Leavenworth area (about a 25 min walk). We spent the afternoon walking through the shops and taking photos around town.
A few spots I recommend stopping:
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Shop – I picked up some chocolate covered caramels for Brandon and I and my parents.
Gingerbread Factory – I picked up cookies for my parents at the Gingerbread Factory. This place is bigger than what it seems from the outside. There is also seating inside if you want to sit down and grab a snack.
Twisted Couture – We stopped by here because my friend forgot a swimsuit for the hotel pool. They have such cute, trendy pieces. I ended up buying a cowl neck bodysuit that I’m excited to style this holiday season.
Danish Bakery – We had a big breakfast and an early dinner scheduled, so we decided to buy a giant pretzel, cheese (for dipping sauce), and also a hot chocolate for a snack)
5pm – Igloo Dinner at Wildflour
My friend Maddy booked us an igloo experience. We didn’t realize that this restaurant was located 30 minutes outside of the downtown Leavenworth area. It was a great dining experience but just a heads up that while this restaurant is located in Leavenworth, you do have to drive out of town.
8pm – Walk around Leavenworth and enjoy the holiday lights
After dinner, we decided to walk around Leavenworth. It was fun to see the town all lit up at night!
Sunday
8am – Swim at the Post Hotel Pool
One of the best amenities in the Post Hotel is the infinite pool that’s both indoor and outdoor. The heated pool starts on the inside and you can swim out to the outside. It’s one of the coolest pool hotels I’ve been in. I imagine when it’s snowing out that being in a heated pool would be a unique and fun experience.
9am – Breakfast at Post Hotel
After a morning swim, we grabbed breakfast. I honestly loved both my breakfast meals at the hotel. I would recommend getting the:
- Scones
- Fresh fruit platter
- Egg scramble
11am – Check out of the Post Hotel
The Post Hotel does not offer late check out times. Since their 100% booked through December, you must be out of your room by 11am. They do allow their guest to stay on the premise until 2pm. We wanted to wander around Leavenworth a little longer. We decided to load up our car and keep our parking garage spot in the Post Hotel.
12pm – Lunch at South
Before heading out of Leavenworth, we wanted to eat lunch before heading back to the city. This Latin restaurant opens right at noon, so we were seated right away.
1pm – Drive back to Seattle
After lunch, we filled up our gas tank and headed back into the city. It took about 2 ½ hours to get back
What other spots do you recommend checking out for a December weekend in Leavenworth?
I hope you enjoyed seeing all the places we ate, saw, and did during our December weekend in Leavenworth. For more holiday blog posts, you can also check out:
5 Tips to Help You Take Great Holiday Photos
6 Holiday Photo Shoot Poses for Your Christmas Cards
Thank you for reading!
Love,
Emma