Leavenworth

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There’s a Bavarian village high up in the north central region of Washington state. Colorful, welcoming and postcard-perfect, the city of Leavenworth in Chelan County is no ordinary mountain town, not in the United States at least. If we’re talking about the Bavarian Alps, however, then Leavenworth would fit right in. Tucked in the midst of the towering peaks of the Cascade Mountain range, Leavenworth, Washington real estate wouldn’t look amiss in Bavaria’s Alpine region and that’s exactly how folks here want it.

Once a timber and railroad town, Leavenworth transformed itself into “Washington’s Bavarian Village” in the 1960s, a move that has since then paid off very well indeed. Visited by more than a million people every year, Leavenworth never fails to charm with its Bavarian-themed architecture, specialty shops and delectable gourmet cuisine.

And then there’s the view. Leavenworth, Washington real estate lies on the banks of the winding Wenatchee River, almost completely surrounded by the Wenatchee National Forest. Dominating its skyline are the snow-capped mountains of the Cascade Range, some of which soar more than 8,000 feet above sea level.

Just around two and a half hours by car from Seattle and a little over three hours from Spokane, Leavenworth is a convenient get-away. More than a few people have fallen so far in love with Washington’s Bavarian Village that they’ve invested in Leavenworth, Washington real estate.

Though small – its total area is only 1.2 square miles and its most recent population estimate is just a shade above 2,000 – Leavenworth has practically everything. Good schools, an eclectic selection of shops and innumerable recreation options from whitewater rafting to cross-country skiing make this small community well nigh irresistible. A festival-filled year (including, of course, Oktoberfest) and a nutcracker museum are icing on the cake.