Road Trip: Go Bavarian at Leavenworth’s Winter Ice Festival
Head East for a packed roster of wintry events, including snow sculpting, tubing, snowshoe relays, a
By Grace Geiger December 14, 2010
This article originally appeared in the January 2011 issue of Seattle magazine.
WHERE: Leavenworth, Washington, for the annual Bavarian Ice Festival, January 15–16 (leavenworth.org). WHY: A packed roster of wintry events, including snow sculpting, tubing, snowshoe relays, a slippery tug of war (no spiked footwear allowed!), sleigh rides and the Northwest Dog Sled Pulling Competition. Adventurers can sign up for the famed smooshing contest, in which teams of four line up one behind the other and strap all eight feet onto a pair of 10-foot-long two-by-fours—and attempt to glide to the finish. SKI SIDEBAR: Leavenworth is 35 miles from Stevens Pass and 40 miles from Mission Ridge, so steep slopes are within easy reach. Or, choose flatter terrain in the town’s surrounding 16 miles of groomed Nordic trails. GETTING THERE: Take Interstate 90 east to Highway 97 north, then west on Highway 2 to the Leavenworth exit.