Tucked into the Cascade Mountains, the Bavarian village of Leavenworth becomes a true winter wonderland each December, with snow on the peaks and twinkling lights along every street. We discover the village on a guided Christmastown walking tour, step inside the remarkable Nutcracker Museum, and glide through the snowy countryside on a horse-drawn sleigh ride with hot cocoa. Three nights in the heart of the season, shared with friends old and new, make this a holiday tradition worth keeping.

Our journey begins with morning pickups in the Willamette Valley and the Portland area. We travel east into the Columbia River Gorge, with a rest stop at magnificent Multnomah Falls along the way.

We enjoy lunch together in The Dalles before continuing north through the open country of central Washington and into the Cascades, arriving in Leavenworth as the holiday lights begin to glow.

After checking in to our hotel, we gather for a welcome dinner together in the village, the perfect start to our holiday adventure.

After checking in to our hotel, we gather for a welcome dinner together in the village, the perfect start to our holiday adventure.

After breakfast, a local guide leads us on a Christmastown walking tour, sharing the story of how a small logging town reinvented itself as a Bavarian village.

A local guide leads us on a Christmastown walking tour, sharing the story of how a small logging town reinvented itself as a Bavarian village.

Our tour ends at the Nutcracker Museum, home to thousands of nutcrackers from around the world, some of them centuries old.

We enjoy lunch together in the village, followed by a free afternoon to browse the shops, sample a seasonal treat or simply enjoy the festive streets at your own pace.

A free afternoon to browse the shops, sample a seasonal treat or simply enjoy the festive streets at your own pace.

We gather for dinner together, sharing stories of the day over a hearty meal.

Overnight: Leavenworth, Washington

After breakfast, the morning is yours. Linger in the village, or join an optional outing down the valley to Cashmere, home of a beloved candy kitchen known for its fruit-and-nut confections, and the Wenatchee Valley Museum.

Join an optional outing down the valley to Cashmere, home of a beloved candy kitchen known for its fruit-and-nut confections, and the Wenatchee Valley Museum.

In the afternoon we travel into the quiet Eagle Creek valley for a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the snowy countryside, followed by hot cocoa and time for photos. We return to our hotel to rest and warm up.

This evening we gather for dinner together in the village to celebrate our time in Leavenworth.

Overnight: Leavenworth, Washington

After breakfast, we bid farewell to Leavenworth and travel west over the Cascades to Snoqualmie Falls, where the river plunges more than 250 feet into the canyon below.

After breakfast, we bid farewell to Leavenworth and travel west over the Cascades to Snoqualmie Falls, where the river plunges more than 250 feet into the canyon below.

We enjoy a farewell lunch together before continuing south toward home, with late-afternoon drop-offs at our pickup locations.

Continue south toward home, with late-afternoon drop-offs at our pickup locations.