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The Great Nog of Fire

American Cuisine, American Travel, Historical Location, Washington

…and four other epic reasons to visit Leavenworth Washington

For full appreciation of this story, please read the words ‘The Great Nog of Fire’ in your best Oz, the Powerful voice. Listen, Leavenworth is this magical Bavarian town nestled in the Cascade Mountains. Visiting it any time of year is special but in winter it’s like walking into a snow globe. And do they do holiday! Here’s the top five things you must do that make Leavenworth absolutely epic!

The Nutcracker Museum

There is more than one way to crack a nut and all of them are showcased in this unique museum. The Nutcracker museum was born from a private collection. In 1995 it opened its doors as a not for profit to be shared with the world. It’s been showcased on network TV, magazines, newspapers. It’s world renown and they sponsor an annual Nutcracker Day. Nutcrackers abound in Leavenworth and my favorite part is that some of them actually crack nuts! Genius!

Mouse King Nutcrackers

We’ve all fallen victim to the post holiday funk. There is this amazing buildup of holiday goodness that starts with Halloween and then Harvest. The build up continues through Thanksgiving to the mother of all holiday celebrations, CHRISTMAS! Then there is this horrible letdown in January when you have to box up all the cheer and the house looks drab. The weather is drab. It’s one big fat Boo.

Kris Kringl

Kris Kringle is the cure! It’s Christmas all year round! It’s like walking into Santa’s workshop with every nook and cranny filled with Christmas sparkle and joy. They play host to the largest display of Christopher Radko ornaments I’ve ever seen. If you want an ornament for something obscure, I promise you it’s there. If you want an ornament for a sparkly cowboy merman, it’s there. Please note my mother’s reaction.

  • merman

In addition to all things ornaments, they have a massive display of interactive Christmas villages. They have a Halloween one too. And a Harry Potter one! It’s SO MUCH FESTIVE in one place!!! No post holiday funk here! Ever! You cannot leave this store crabby. It simply won’t happen.

Town Lighting

The Bavarian town of Leavenworth is just adorable. There is a gazebo down town and all the kids were sledding on the hill right behind it (next to the sign that said no sledding). It reminded me of Stars Hollow and I kept waiting for Taylor to come out and yell at kids. (Unapologetic Gilmore Girls reference) The town is so quaint with the murals and the signs and gazebo and just when the cuteness meter was peaking…

It got dark and the whole place lit up like the North Pole! I may have squealed in delight. It could have been the Great Nog of Fire influence or it could have been the holiday magic in the air. Either way…. SQEEEEEEE!!

  • Adorable by Day
  • and by Night

The Hat Store

Ummm…there is a store…with nothing but hats in it. You can put on everything from Maleficent horns to a Gangster Fidora. There are Elsa wigs and shining knight helmets. It’s dress up for everyone! If this does not sound exciting to you I’m not sure we can be friends.

bavarian hello
I like that hat. It’s a nice hat.

Madison Bella chose a dashing Bavarian cap as a souvenir for our mountain outing. It was perfect for our lunch date where everyone ate excellent German food and I got to play out my own version of Game of Thrones as I was introduced to…

The Great Nog of Fire

Epic hardly describes it. I was looking over the menu searching for something to warm me up and there it was. How do you not order something called The Great Nog of Fire?? And for the record, it must be ordered in an appropriate ‘I am Oz Great and Powerful’ kind of way. So I did. In my deepest and most authoritative voice, with my fist on the table like a gavel I ordered something and had no idea what I was getting.

  • fire whiskey egg nog
    Cracking myself up
  • winter cocktail
    The Great Nog of Fire

So it turns out The Great Nog of Fire is a delightful combination of eggnog and cinnamon whiskey served over ice. It warmed the cockles of my heart and inspired an excellent afternoon of me pretending to be some combination of Denarys Targarian and John Snow much to my family’s chagrin. Thank you Gustav’s House for putting up with me. Family, meh, you already know what you’re getting.

Gustav's
Gustav’s. Home to Bavarian goodness and The Great Nog of Fire

More Leavenworth

In addition to all the magic, Leavenworth has got to be the best smelling town I’ve ever visited. For real! Read all about it!

Bürgermeister Meisterburger…name that show!

Related: Leavenworth Smells Amazing

Related: Washington Travel and Stories

Related: How I know we are Gilmore Girls

Visit Leavenworth: Air B and B


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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I would absolutely love to visit the Nutcracker museum! Not to mention, hmmm….that nog of fire sounds pretty interesting.

  2. mmmmmmm…The Great Nog of Fire seems like the perfect pick me up to continue along with shop til I drop!

  3. That cowboy mermaid! Leavenworth sounds like it has some fun, unique shops and restaurants.

    • I was dying…I mean…….
      Yes! It’s totally fun and unique for sure! Oktoberfest is a riot too!

  6. A nutcracker museum?!? My son would be in heaven there! We recently saw The Nutcracker Ballet for the first time, and he is still asking if we can go back to see it again. Thank you for sharing!

    • right??? It’s really neat! My daughter went through a huge nutcracker phase… Leavenworth is the only place I could find a cute nutcracker that actually did the job!

  10. What a fun place! This little town looks like someplace my family would enjoy. Thanks for sharing!

    • Thank you! Glad you enjoyed! I feel like we could all use a little Nog of Fire in our lives, don’t you?

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