So I will be completely honest, I wanted to go to the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum. Yes, me, a…read moregrown adult, with no children in tow, just me and my love for quirky, niche museums. No invisible kids, no excuses. I was so excited to finally check it out. After a long ferry ride from Stehekin and a not-so-long drive from Chelan to Leavenworth, I thought we had made it just in time to sneak in before closing. Sadly, I found out the hard way that the museum stops selling tickets 30 minutes before closing (noted on the website - oops) and we arrived five minutes too late. I was disappointed but it just wasn't meant to be. What was meant to be, however, was the gift shop. And let me tell you - this is not your average souvenir shop! It's more like a mini preview of the museum as there were hundreds of nutcrackers on display for purchase and/or admiration. There were traditional German nutcrackers, themed ones (sports, professions, holidays), and even some that were so cute and whimsical. I spent a little time marveling at the variety and craftsmanship. Soooo yes, I got my nutcracker fix even without a ticket to the full museum! From what I could see (and from their website), this place has over 9,000 nutcrackers from more than 50 countries with artifacts dating all the way back to the Roman Empire. It's the kind of collection rarely found in the United States and the museum's mission to preserve and educate about the history and artistry of nutcrackers is honestly so cool. If I'm ever in Leavenworth again, I would try to time it better to try to actually visit the museum. For now, I'm giving a solid four stars because while I didn't get to explore the full museum, the sheer delight of the gift shop, the ambiance, and the nutcracker overload still made it a great stop. Another unique gem tucked in the heart of this Bavarian town, errr, Leavenworth!

Tourist attraction in the town of Leavenworth, WA, the Nutcracker Museum has a large selection of…read morenutcrackers both for viewing (in the museum) and for purchase (in the gift shop). The museum requires admission ($5 per adult, free for active military family), On the day we went, there was a table of donated nutcrackers being sold for $5 (compared to the $100+ for new imported ones), which attracted our attention (and our dollars).

On Saturday 11 September 2021, I visited the Cashmere Museum and Pioneer Village as a solo female…read moretraveler. The front desk worker was a bit brusque in their interactions, however there were a few of us entering at once, so it might have just been a bit overwhelming for them. As someone on a budget, the price was a little on the high side, however nothing exorbitant. The exhibits were easy to navigate and good use was made of the available space. Artifacts were meticulously laid out both inside the main museum and in the pioneer village. The Great Northern Railway car was open to exploration, which was very neat. The whole pioneer village was well maintained and a great way to get some context for what life in Cashmere was like in the past. I noted a few bloopers on my visit, one concerning geology and one concerning currency. Some people I know love bloopers, in Hollywood they are something that might go wrong in constructing/putting together a movie and are visible in the final product, and they feel it can add to the overall experience. However, I am not currently the biggest fan of bloopers, though I used to enjoy them more, perhaps I am just a bit rusty on their enjoyment value.

I've been there before but it's been yrs ago i liked what I saw then and I'm trying to see if the…read moreladies from my Wednesday group would like to go up and see the village

Don't be intimidated by the security gate - this place is super family friendly and FREE! Great…read morestop on a road trip where you can pop in the discovery center and learn, as well as let the kids (and your dog) play outside on the playground and beautifully landscaped grounds. All the employees (security and those in the discovery center) seemed super happy to share insights and were very welcoming. Plus there were water bottle fill stations and CLEAN family bathrooms. We will be back!

Very informative, fun for kids. Lots of information. The most fun game was downstairs. There is a…read morevideo screen and you're the captain. You're trying to navigate your boat through the rapids and he rocks complete with sound and video effects . The give you tours to walk across to see the turbines. Talk about the fish, fish ladders and how they're trying to preserve the fish swimming out to the ocean.

Parking is available on-site and in front of the building for free of charge. When I visited the…read moreWenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Centre in the summer of 2021, hand sanitizer was provided by the front desk and masks were required due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The worker at the front desk was friendly and helpful in getting the admission purchased and getting us on our way exploring the museum. Exhibits span multiple floors across a main building and an annex. My favorite exhibit was the one on the Great Northern Railway, located upstairs in the main museum building. Informational placards were spaced around a model train system (diorama) that one could signal the model train to run. The scene the train ran included depictions of the actual railway and moved slow enough we could walk along with it as it traversed the model tracks. The information did a good job incorporating the physical geography, natural hazard, and social aspects that played a significant role in the building and establishment of the railway. The second exhibit I found captivating was the apple industry-related exhibit located on the ground-level in the annex. I have lived in Washington State for over 20 years and am familiar with the importance the fruit carries for the state, however the exhibit did a good job of highlighting some of the technical aspects of day-to-day work in the apple industry and the importance of the industry in Wenatchee Valley more specifically. Appreciated the local-context the information posted provided. All around the exhibits were wonderful and I especially loved the Liberty Organ, it was my first time seeing the innards of an organ like that.

A friend of mine was giving a presentation here earlier in the year, and I dropped by for moral…read moresupport. This museum is located downtown, and from what I could see, the focus is on local history. It sounds like this museum has several programs & presentations throughout the year and offer the community many interesting exhibits. So if you want to get the lowdown on the Native communities of the area, or what life has been like in this beautiful part of the country, you should drop on by.

What a gem. Our…read moretrip to Lake Chelan was greatly enhanced by visiting this little museum--and especially by the lovely Lou who is a wonderful historian.

I love this museum!!! You could learn more about the past of Chelan lake, Indian Americans, and…read morefashion. They give you a bingo paper that if you get a bingo you could get a souvenir rock any color!

Very well maintained and presented in a way such that I was there. Just a visitor, but I could…read moreassociate with the museum items.

This a small museum but lots of stuff to see. They have a treasure hunt for kids in which after you…read morefind all the otems the kids get a little gift. Lots of old gadgets.

What a amazing blast into history. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. The ideas that they…read morehave displayed are a wonderful event of our history. I will be coming back.

I loved it!! I love history museums generally and they really did do well with this one. I would…read morehave happily paid for it. They had a lot of different galleries and each one was very interesting. My 10 year old loved it as well!

Glow in the dark rocks! I was in town for a wedding and happened upon this museum while…read moregeocaching. What a gem! I only had time to explore one room but the time I spent talking with Lori was so fun and informative. I even got to hold a meteorite! The building is full of interesting history and the staff are eager to show you around and tell you the stories. Be sure to ask them to turn out the lights so you can see the fluorescent rocks. It was so cool! Grab a cold drink in Wenatchee then head up the hill. You'll be glad you made time to visit Waterville!

What a great little gem in the sleepy town of Waterville. We made an unexpected stop here and they…read morehave quite the mineral collection on one side and local history in the rest. My favorite part was the old electrical meters that had been removed from around town. They were labeled with year of manufacture, removal date and building it served. A great stop and very helpful person at the information desk!

perfect pitstop if you are on your way to Leavenworth or in that direction…read more friendly staff and it's a free ride! they also stop and explain few details during the ride. we bought some toys for my kid to support the volunteers! this is slightly slower and smaller as compared to the Kitsap riders near gig harbor but this has a tunnel and a bridge. it's a fun ride lasting about 15 mins. their is only restroom but that's train themed restroom. loved our time here, next time will come while traveling towards the east side. we traveled a long 2 hr ride for a 30 min stay and felt we should have planned it well.

This was more fun than I've had in a while! After lunching at the lovely North Fork Kitchen in…read moreIndex, a friend & I drove to Skykomish to ride the "Mini Railroad" in Skykomish! It was a giggle-fest for these two adults! Run and maintained by volunteers (an interesting group of folks who know lots about trains - mini and non-mini!) the mini train circles the historic train depot, and even goes through a mini tunnel! There is a donation box in the boarding area- donations are important to keep this attraction running - show them some love!

While I didn't make it into the museum. I wondered these outdoor artifacts for some time reading…read morethe history on each item. This is a very nice display, rich was interesting information. It's also located right alongside a trail in town. Lots to see and not enough time if you're quickly passing through. I will be back to spend a bit more time exploring the museum and the town.

Right next door to the "famous" Roslyn Cafe…read more This small, well kept museum houses a collection of artifacts and memorabilia from the height of the town's Coal Mining boom. It is interesting to read and see how much history a tiny little town like Roslyn actually has. The museum runs on donations so remember to put a little something in the donation box if you stop through. They also have restrooms. There is so much more historical and natural attractions that Roslyn has to offer besides the typical "Northern Exposure" experience. The museum is focused on the town's actual history. I didn't have time on my trip, but if you do, I suggest taking a visit to the amazing looking historical Roslyn Cemeteries. There are 24 small cemeteries tucked into the woods on the hill not far from town. Brochures are available at the museum.