505 Highway 2, Leavenworth, Washington, United States | 509-548-7000
Located in the Cascades near skiing
Big rooms, many with mountain views
Two pools plus two hot tubs
Fitness center and spa, plus tennis courts and bicycle rentals
Family friendly, with game arcade and 18-hole mini-golf
Restaurant and bar with free breakfast
Business center and meeting rooms plus conference and wedding venue
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Decor is dated and unsophisticated
Walk to town is partly along a highway
Rooms can be noisy
There's more than a dose of Bavaria in the design of the Icicle Inn at Icicle Village Resort, a three-pearl resort in the Cascade Mountains in Leavenworth, Washington. This property has an 18-hole miniature golf course with a Bavarian motif, two pools, two hot tubs, a spa, and a basketball court. If guests don't want to walk 17 minutes to downtown Leavenworth, there's also a restaurant and bar on-site. The 122 guest rooms are sizable, and some include fireplaces and most have mountain views. For a more sophisticated (and pricier) option right in Leavenworth, consider the Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort.
Scene
Family-friendly mountain resort with faux-Bavarian styling
The Icicle Inn is a family-oriented resort that's also set up for weddings and company outings. It's a typical American version of a Bavarian-style lodge, meaning that many of the design choices are almost comically overdone, such as the nutcrackers, decorative china plates, and bear statues. The spacious lobby has carved-wood trim and beams plus leather sofas and a stone fireplace. Furnishings are a bit dated and occasionally garish, but guests report that they treasure the traditional style and wholesomeness of the lodge. The property is ADA-accessible. There is also an enclave of 34 condominiums on-site run by a different management company.
Location
In Washington State's Cascade mountain range
The Icicle Inn at Icicle Village Resort is in the Cascade Mountains, right next to the Heidleburger Drive-In and a three-minute walk from the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum. It's a six-minute drive or 17-minute walk to downtown Leavenworth, partly along a highway. The downtown was modeled after a Bavarian Village; not surprisingly, it's popular during the holiday season. If 18-holes at the on-site miniature golf course isn't enough, guests can drive three minutes to the Leavenworth Golf Club. Those interested in white-water rafting can head to the Osprey Rafting Company, a five-minute walk from the hotel. The Stevens Pass Mountain Resort, for downhill skiing, is a 36-minute drive away, while the Mission Ridge Ski Resort is a one-hour drive from the resort. Amtrak's Icicle Station is an eight-minute drive, while Seattle Tacoma International Airport is a two-hour and twenty minute drive from the resort.
Rooms
Functional rooms in a variety of configurations, some with fireplaces and/or mountain views
There are 17 room types at the resort -- including adjoining rooms -- and while all are relatively spacious, some are particularly big, with separate living areas or rock-facade fireplaces. Decor is generic, and rooms are painted cream with Wedgwood-blue curtains and patterned throws. The rooms have high ceilings and honey-colored wood trim on the moldings, headboards, and furnishings. Features include pillow-top mattresses, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs with DVD players, Keurig coffeemakers, kettles, mini-fridges, and even microwaves. The bathrooms are roomy, with generous marble countertop sinks and large wooden cabinets, frosted-glass walk-in showers or shower/tub combos, plus rubber duckies and free toiletries. The hotel can baby-proof rooms and provide cribs, cots, and extra beds.
Features
Free breakfast at all-day restaurant, pools, hot tubs, fitness facilities, and many activities for kids
A free breakfast is served daily at the J.J. Hills Fresh Grills Restaurant, which also serves food and drinks throughout the day; a children's menu is available as well. There are two pools, each with its own hot tub, and a poolside drink service is offered at both. The hotel also has a gift shop for snacks and other goods. There's a fitness room with windows to the outside and a spa that's more homey than clinical. The hotel has a kids' activities center and a game room with arcade games, plus an 18-hole miniature golf course, and tennis and basketball courts. Bicycle rentals are available too. Business-friendly features include a business center, conference and meeting rooms, free Wi-FI, loaner computers, and a ballroom. On-site parking is free.