Seattle, Snoqualmie Pass & Leavenworth

Destination 01

Seattle

7 places

Two nights for Pike Place, the Westlake lights and the Nutcracker.

• Photo: Prayitno · CC BY 2.0

  Pike Place Market

  Seattle's public market since 1907, with fishmongers, bakeries and craft stalls under the neon Public Market sign.

  Tip Go before 10am on December weekends to beat the crowds at the fish stall and Post Alley.

  ShopPike Place$2 hrMorning
• Photo: Seattle Municipal Archives · CC BY 2.0

  Westlake Park

  Downtown plaza that hosts the city's tree lighting, a holiday carousel and light-wrapped trees each December.

  Tip The tree is lit the Friday after Thanksgiving; the carousel runs daily through late December.

  SeeDowntownFree45 minAfter dark
• Photo: Dan Bennett · CC BY 2.0

  Space Needle

  The 605-foot 1962 World's Fair tower at Seattle Center, with a rotating glass floor and the city's New Year's Eve fireworks.

  Tip Seattle Center's Winterfest runs below it through December with a holiday train and ice sculpting.

  SeeSeattle Center$$$75 minSunset

• Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker at McCaw Hall

  Pacific Northwest Ballet's annual Nutcracker, staged at McCaw Hall at Seattle Center from late November through late December.

  Tip Matinees on weekdays near Christmas are the easiest seats to get.

  DoSeattle Center$$$2.5 hrEvening
• Photo: MarmadukePercy · CC BY-SA 3.0

  The Pink Door

  Italian-American restaurant behind an unmarked pink door in Post Alley, open since 1981, with cabaret and trapeze nights.

  Tip Book ahead; walk-ins can usually get a seat at the bar.

  EatPike Place$$1.5 hrDinner
• Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Ivar's Acres of Clams

  Waterfront seafood house on Pier 54, serving clam chowder and fish and chips since 1946.

  Tip The walk-up Fish Bar next door is the quick, cheaper way to get the chowder.

  EatWaterfront$$60 minLunch

• Fairmont Olympic Hotel

  Seattle's grand 1924 hotel in the middle of downtown, a short walk from Westlake Park and Pike Place.

  Tip Its lobby and public rooms are decorated for the holidays and worth a look even if you stay elsewhere.

  StayDowntown$$$$60 min

Destination 02

Snoqualmie Pass

6 places

A day on I-90: the falls, a depot full of trains, then snow at the pass.

• Photo: Guywelch2000 · CC0

  Snoqualmie Falls

  A 268-foot waterfall on the Snoqualmie River, running at full force in the wet winter months.

  Tip The upper viewpoint is steps from the parking lot; the trail to the lower viewpoint is short but steep.

  OutdoorsFree60 minMorning
• Photo: Kpsudeep · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Salish Lodge & Spa

  Lodge on the rim of Snoqualmie Falls with fireplaces in the rooms, a spa and a long-running country breakfast.

  Tip Not staying? Book the breakfast or stop in at The Attic for a drink by the fire.

  Stay$$$$1.5 hrBreakfast
• Photo: ItsDaDoc · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Northwest Railway Museum

  Railway museum based in the 1890 Snoqualmie Depot, running its Santa Train to the falls on December weekends.

  Tip Santa Train tickets go on sale in the fall and sell out; the depot and train shed are open without them.

  DoDowntown Snoqualmie$1.5 hrWeekends
• Photo: Dawid Glawdzin · CC BY 3.0

  Twede's Cafe

  North Bend diner that played the Double R in Twin Peaks, still serving cherry pie and coffee under Mount Si.

  EatNorth Bend$45 minBreakfast
• Photo: Buidhe · CC BY-SA 4.0

  The Summit at Snoqualmie

  Four ski areas at the top of I-90, the closest skiing to Seattle, with one of the largest night-skiing operations in the country.

  Tip Come for night skiing after the Seattle traffic has cleared; tubing runs at Summit Central.

  Do$$$4 hrEvening

• Gold Creek Pond

  Flat snowshoe loop around a mountain pond on the east side of the pass, reached from the Gold Creek Sno-Park.

  Tip A Sno-Park permit is required; rent snowshoes in North Bend on the way up.

  OutdoorsHyakFree1.5 hrMidday

Destination 03

Leavenworth

9 places

Two nights in the Bavarian-style village for the lights and the snow.

• Front Street Park

  The town green and gazebo at the heart of the Christmas Lighting Festival, where the village lights are switched on at dusk.

  Tip Find a spot near the gazebo before the lighting; carolers and roasted chestnut stands set up around the park.

  SeeFront StreetFree60 minDusk
• Photo: Miscellaneous contributor · CC0

  Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum

  Upstairs museum on Front Street with thousands of nutcrackers from around the world, some centuries old.

  SeeFront Street$45 minAfternoon
• Photo: senapa · CC BY-SA 3.0

  Kris Kringl

  Year-round Christmas store on Front Street selling ornaments, nutcrackers and German smokers.

  ShopFront Street$$30 min
• Photo: Thayne Tuason · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Blackbird Island

  Riverside trails in Waterfront Park, a short walk from Front Street, along the Wenatchee River.

  Tip The flat loop is a good snowshoe or winter walk when the town gets crowded.

  OutdoorsWaterfront ParkFree60 minMorning

• Leavenworth Ski Hill

  Small community ski hill just north of town with rope tows, tubing, night skiing and groomed Nordic trails.

  Do$2 hrEvening
• Photo: Buidhe · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Stevens Pass

  Major ski area on the Cascade crest, 45 minutes west of Leavenworth on US 2, with night skiing on the front side.

  Tip Weekend lots fill early; arrive before 9am or ski a weekday.

  Do$$$5 hrMorning

• München Haus

  Open-air Bavarian grill on Front Street serving bratwurst and German beer year-round, with heaters and fire pits in winter.

  Tip Try the house-made mustards and cider kraut.

  EatFront Street$45 minEvening

• Andreas Keller

  German cellar restaurant under Front Street with schnitzel, sausages and an accordion player on busy nights.

  EatFront Street$$75 minDinner

• Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort

  Retreat on Icicle Creek two miles from town, with cabins in the pines, a rock-pool hot tub and Chihuly glass on the grounds.

  StayIcicle Road$$$60 min