Happy Tuesday!

After a few fun-filled days on the Oregon Coast, we packed up and headed toward the mountains of Washington for the next leg of our trip: Leavenworth.

If you’ve never heard of it, Leavenworth is a Bavarian-style town tucked in the Cascade Mountains. It’s charming, walkable, and—surprisingly—super kid-friendly. It ended up being one of our favorite stops of the whole trip! 💛

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🏨 We stayed at the Bavarian Lodge

This hotel was right in the heart of town, which made everything so convenient. We could walk straight from our room to shops, restaurants, and sweet treat spots without ever having to drive anywhere.

It also had a pool, a cozy vibe, and a complimentary breakfast buffet that was excellent—a huge win when traveling with hungry kids! It made mornings easy and helped us start the day without stress.

🎄 The Nutcracker Museum was a surprise hit

I wasn’t sure what the kids would think of a nutcracker museum, but it ended up being one of their favorite activities—thanks to the age-specific scavenger hunts they give each child. Plus, a small prize was involved which upped the excitement even more! It kept them engaged and excited the whole way through (and gave me a chance to actually look around too!).

🎢 The mountain coaster was a blast

Just a few minutes from town is the Leavenworth Adventure Park, where we rode the mountain coaster—and it did not disappoint! It was fast, fun, and safe enough for our younger kids to ride with a grown-up. The boys wanted to do it again and again.

🍭 Sweets, shops & strolls

One of the best parts about Leavenworth is just walking through town.

We grabbed treats from local bakeries (our favorite was The Gingerbread Factory) and ice cream shops (Whistlepunk Ice Cream Co=so yummy!), popped into a few stores (The Hat Shop and Kris Kringl were two of our favs), and took our time soaking up the alpine vibes.

With no real agenda, it felt relaxed in the best way.

👏 Why Leavenworth worked for us:

• Our hotel was walkable to everything = less stress.
• It felt like a change of pace from the coast and city stops.
• There was plenty for kids to do without feeling overstimulated.
• And there were enough cozy, calm moments to help everyone recharge.

If you’re building a Pacific Northwest itinerary, I’d still recommend adding Leavenworth to your list—even though it’s a bit out of the way.

We actually drove past Seattle to get there, but we had room in our schedule, and I’ve always wanted to see it.

It turned out to be such a worthwhile detour. If it doesn’t fit into your current plans, definitely consider it for a future trip—it’s one of those places that helps you slow down, soak it all in, and make some really special family memories. It is so charming too!

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Stay tuned for more packing tips, behind-the-scenes travel hacks, and inspiration to make your trips stress-free and fun. I’m all about helping you make family travel as smooth as possible, so you can create memories without the headache.

Thanks for being part of the Travel Tuesday community, and I can’t wait to connect again soon!💕

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May you LOVE your adventure!

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