A Birthday to Remember in Leavenworth

SUMMER ROAD TRIP, DAY 45

As we get older, birthdays come and go. Usually the most memorable are the ones attached to a special memory like a fun outing with friends, fabulous dinner with family or maybe a spectacular trip. Some more memorable than others.

For my husband, this is a birthday he will never forget! He had a delicious lunch at a modern Latin restaurant, swigged wine at a swanky tasting room, dined at an authentic German restaurant, and was serenaded accompanied by an accordion. I don’t think the day could have been any better!

Lunch at SOUTH

SOUTH is a contemporary restaurant that serves fresh and flavorful Latin food. Along with providing savory dishes, the bar whips up unique cocktails with a Latin flair and serves local craft beer.

We ordered the Carnitas Plate with “succulent chunks of pork caramelized on the outside, tender on the inside” and Tomatillo Chicken Taco Plate with “all-natural chicken simmered in roasted tomatillo sauce.” Both dinners are served with salsa fresca, warm tortillas, drunken beans & cilantro-lime rice. Our meals were absolutely scrumptious and lip-smacking good. I have to admit, I selfishly swatted the birthday boy’s hand away when trying to “taste” off my plate.

It’s Wine O’Clock at Icicle Ridge

We walked past the Icicle Ridge tasting room the first day we arrived in Leavenworth and right away it caught our eye. The contrast of the modern décor within the colorful town of Leavenworth piqued our interest.

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As we walked in, we were welcomed with smiles and friendly conversation. The drinks of choice were the red (Grenache, Meritage, and Merlot) and sweet white (Riesling, The Blondes Gewurztraminer and Apple of My Eye) flights. We took our seats at the open window to enjoy the light breeze and people watching while sipping on wonderful wine.

Dinner at Andreas Keller

After wine tasting it was time for dinner. We climbed down a flight of stairs to enter one of the most popular restaurants in Leavenworth, Andreas Keller.

The cozy, wood-paneled room immediately transports you to Bavaria. Servers are dressed in traditional clothing, beer steins and trinkets line the shelves, and hand-painted murals enrich the walls.

We waited for our table at the small bar in the back of the restaurant as we sampled a few German beers before settling on a hefeweisen and pilsner.

I whispered birthday news to the host and he didn’t forget. We were ecstatic that we were seated in one of the private comfy booths.

With so many wonderful items on the menu, it took time to decide. We ended with the Sahne Schnitzel and Bavarian Beef Goulash to share. Each came with spatzle and were doused with gravy. I’ll admit my favorite type of food is not German (totally not the case with my husband, hence the side trip to Leavenworth), but after this meal I am thinking it might have been previous mediocre meals. Both entrees were delicious.

Finally, the meal ended with a festive “Happy Birthday” song and a slice of cake with a candle to blow out.

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Overall, we had a fantastic day. Thank you to the town of Leavenworth for the unforgettable birthday memories!

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

• Icicle Ridge Winery Uptown
  • 920 Front Street, Leavenworth, WA (509) 470-8738
  • Hours:
• SOUTH
  • 913 Front Street, Leavenworth, WA (509) 888-4328
  • Hours: Mon – Thurs 11:30 am – 9:00 pm, Fri 11:30 am – 11 pm, Sat 11 am – 11 pm, Sun 11 am – 9 pm
• Andreas Keller
  • 829 Front Street, Leavenworth, WA (509) 548-6000

And so our epic 80 day summer road trip continues – 12 U.S. states, 1 Canadian province and 11 national parks. For the upcoming months, I will be sharing with you our highlights, lowlights, adventures, favorite spots, best tips and our thoughts on three months of road tripping and living in a pop up.  I’ll try to answer any and all of your questions too!  You can also follow our journey via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Miles Driven: 0

Total Road Trip Miles Driven: 6,805

Average Gas Price per Gallon: $2.72

State: Washington

All States Visited: Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, British Columbia & Alberta Provinces

If you would like to see our full itinerary, start at the beginning here. And Start at Day One here.

Thank you Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce and its associates for hosting us at SOUTH and Icicle Ridge Winery. All words and opinions, however, are my own.

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What’s your favorite birthday memory while traveling? What made it special?

Next: Mt. Rainier National Park