Nothing says “I love the holidays, but I also desperately need a break from humanity” like a quick pre-Thanksgiving escape to Leavenworth. Kira and I decided we needed a little mental reset before turkey day festivities but we also needed to not be so far away that we couldn’t boomerang back to Seattle in time to lovingly endure the family chatter we genuinely enjoy (just maybe not for twelve straight hours without snacks).
Enter: Leavenworth. Close-ish. Cute. Full of sausages. Perfect.
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Coming from Seattle, we took I-90 over the pass and because it was that time of year where the weather likes to keep you humble, we did the responsible adult thing: we checked the pass conditions on WSDOT’s website like the good little worriers we are. Here’s the link so you too can spiral appropriately: WSDOT Mountain Pass & Winter Travel
Pro tip: have AWD.
Better pro tip: have chains.
Worst pro tip: do not count on your rental car to save you because apparently, rental agencies have something against chains.
The drive itself? Stunning. Snow-kissed mountains, cozy forests, and plenty of places for Kira to gasp “wow” dramatically while I pretended not to white knuckle the steering wheel.
Mandatory Stop: Cle Elum
Your first stop after getting through the pass and your last stop for a bit. Gas, snacks, sanity. And if you want something actually delicious, hit The Wild Flora Bakery: great baked goods, good drinks, and outdoor tables for your furry freeloaders.
We rolled into Leavenworth around noon and beelined to the Leavenworth Adventure Park because nothing says “relaxation” like willingly launching yourself down a mountain on a metal rail.
The Alpine Coaster
Highly recommend. Ten out of ten. Would shriek again.
The park is dog friendly. The coaster is not. Tilly took that as a sign from the universe that she should nap in the car and conserve her energy for more important things, like being adored by strangers.
Leavenworth sits in the Cascade Mountains, east of Stevens Pass, and is basically what happens when someone says, “What if we turned this entire town into a year-round Oktoberfest and made it aggressively adorable?” Built on alpine vibes. Full of pretzels. Committed to the bit.
Downtown Wandering
Most stores are dog-friendly, so Tilly trotted her little short legs around town like she owned the joint. And in true “this keeps happening on every trip” fashion (looking at you, Orcas Island), store workers immediately lined up to adore her and hand out treats like she was some kind of four-legged celebrity.
Honestly, it’s really getting to her head. She now has an expectation that every shop clerk is on standby with snacks and compliments. We are doing our best to keep her humble, but it’s hard when her fan club keeps growing.
Dunch (yes, dunch) at Leavenworth Sausage Garten
Covered heated outdoor seating so your dog can join. A full German sausage lineup. Beer. Sauerkraut. Mustards that could bring a tear to your eye.
Kira and I got the 3 sausage, 2 side meal to “try a little of everything,” which is code for “this is vacation and no one can stop us.”
My fave? Currywurst with sauerkraut and horseradish mustard. A spiritual experience.
Our VRBO in Peshastin was a little A frame dream. Riverfront, cozy, and with its own sauna (because apparently, we are now people of luxury).
Tilly immediately jumped into the river, discovered mountain meltwater is not the same as home water, and looked at me like I personally betrayed her. She was leashed, so no dramatic rescues were needed.
We rounded out the evening with sauna time, snacks, and making extremely questionable Netflix recommendations to each other.
We woke up to a winter storm warning and instantly got excited like the little Pacific Northwest forest trolls we are.
This place is new, beautiful, and has everything you need except heated sidewalks. Shower shoes are a must unless you enjoy feeling your toes detach from your body.
Warm pool, hot pool, cold plunge, dry sauna.
Perfect weekday timing meant it was just us and a friendly couple from Boston. We swapped travel stories and tales from our youth (I was clearly an angel, hi mom and dad). Snow started falling while we were in the pools, which was pure magic.
Tilly stayed at the VRBO, safely snoozing in her crate with her stuffed frog and wobble toy.
Lunch at Louie’s
https://www.louiesleavenworth.com/
Breakfast all day. Bless them. Quiet, cozy, excellent service.
We picked up Tilly, bundled her in her jacket and raincoat because she looked adorable, and headed out. The closer we got, the slicker the roads became. Being responsible adults, we turned back so we wouldn’t end up starring in our own icy cautionary tale.
We let Tilly romp in the snow instead. She approved.
Snowy Leavenworth = Instant Christmas village
Kids sledding down hills, twinkle lights everywhere, snow floating down like a movie set. It felt like walking through a curated winter postcard.
We revisited shops, wandered around, and soaked in the small-town magic.
Dunch #2 at Wok About Bar and Grill
Heated patio, dog friendly, amazing service. Everyone stopped to love on Tilly because at this point she is simply the mayor of Leavenworth.
You build your own bowl and they cook it up. Cozy and perfect with the snow falling around us.
So…we had lunch earlier. Yes, we were hungry again. And yes, we wanted to get back to our cozy rental as fast as possible. Ew, stop judging. This is a safe space for second meals.
Then it was back to the A frame for hot cocoa, Netflix, and listening to chunks of snow slide off the roof like nature’s jump scares.
Per usual, we had to stay flexible. Things don’t always go to plan. Just like yesterday when the snow stopped us from hiking, today it was brunch deciding to betray us.
The plan was simple: have a lazy, slow start to the morning, pack up the VRBO, then glide back into Leavenworth for brunch at Bear Bear. We had been told it was the best place for brunch and their deck is covered and heated so Tilly could join. The dream.
So…we packed up after spending time outside enjoying the snow and letting Tilly have one last romp around. We drove into Leavenworth only to discover Bear Bear was closed early for the holiday.
And honestly? Good for them. How rare is it that a restaurant actually closes so their staff can spend time with their families. Love that for them. Were we still bummed we couldn’t try it? Absolutely. But we’ll be back.
Since our original route home was Highway 2, we pivoted and picked a diner along the way. Enter: The Squirrel Tree Restaurant.
This place was quiet. Like, eerily quiet. Not because it was empty, but because no one was talking to each other. The breakfast was fine. The vibes were spooky. They do have a patio, but because everything was buried in snow, it was closed. So Tilly took a nap in the car like a little angel.
By the time we finished eating, we re-checked the WSDOT road report. And guess what? It changed. Again.
Highway 2 was now requiring chains.
Highway 90 was now open with no restrictions.
Just another reminder that mountain passes run on chaos and dark magic, so always check the WSDOT site like you’re stalking an ex you’re not really over.
We backtracked and headed home via the safer route over I90, ending the trip the way all good winter trips should end: with flexibility, snacks, and deep appreciation for clear roads.
** Written by Emily **
