Weekend Escape: A Riverfront Chalet in Leavenworth, Washington

The Riverfront Chalet (IG @theriverfrontchalet) offers an idyllic weekend escape for nature enthusiasts, adventurous families, and those seeking tranquility. This charming two-bedroom, two-bathroom cabin blends rustic charm with modern comforts, providing a perfect base for exploring the natural beauty of Washington State, as well as visiting the charming Bavarian-inspired town of Leavenworth.

The Chalet Experience

The owners, Colin and Ania, have put a lot of love and thought into this vacation home (please note it’s not pup friendly). The chalet has large windows of the beautiful river views, a warm fireplace, cozy furnishings (so many shag throws and rugs!), a fully equipped kitchen, and comfy beds. The chalet includes a pellet burning fireplace indoors, smart screen TV, air conditioning, a washing machine, BBQ grill, and EV charger. Additionally, there’s great Wi-Fi and even an office desk, ensuring a comfortable and connected stay if you’re working remotely. The chalet is very family-friendly with board games (my daughters’ favorite), outdoor lawn games, and even a pack-n-play/play-yard. During the spring there were many beautiful flowers around the house. 

At night, we of course had to enjoy the firepit with lots of smores and looked at the clear sky for stargazing. The deck overlooking the river was our favorite spot to drink coffee in the morning, relax with a book, and enjoy dinner outside (all while listening to the running river!).

Exploring the Outdoors – Lakes, Wildflowers, and More

During the winter, the area becomes into a snowy wonderland, so we will have to come back to check this out. The chalet’s proximity to Stevens Pass and cross-country ski trails makes it an excellent choice for snow adventures. 

Leavenworth – Shopping, Dining, and Unique Activities

Leavenworth, known for its unique Bavarian charm and alpine-style buildings, is a short 25-30 min drive from Riverfront Chalet. We browsed local boutiques, marveled at the local art exhibits, and enjoyed the snow-capped mountain views. Seasonal festivals and cultural events add to the town’s vibrant atmosphere all year, and we were able to catch live Bavarian music during Maifest.

For eating, we enjoyed German-inspired cuisine at München Haus and hand-made pizzas at Leavenworth Pizza Company. We can’t say no to desserts, so we bought gingerbread cookies at The Gingerbread Factory and ice cream Whistlepunk Ice Cream Co (I highly recommend getting an ice cream flight). 

We visited the Nutcracker museum, which is one of the largest collections in the world (displaying over 9000 nutcrackers!) My daughters loved the Disney princess nutcrackers, and we had a good chuckle at nutcrackers featuring famous people and pop culture (from US presidential candidates to Queen Elizabeth to the Wizard of Oz to Harry Potter). 

The highlight of our trip was the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm tour; this farm is a 3 generation family business and you can feed / pet the friendly reindeer. In the spring you can see the baby reindeer. When we went, the twins Hansel and Gretal had been born (twin reindeer are extremely rare!) so it was extra special. We ate Norwegian food at their café, my daughters enjoyed the playground, and we shopped for unique reindeer souvenirs. 

A Wonderful Getaway

Meet the Hosts

I always love learning morning about the hosts behind the cabins and have the pleasure of interviewing Colin and Ania from Riverfront Chalet @theriverfrontchalet.

Tell us about yourself and what inspired you to create Riverfront Chalet

My day job is in the tech industry, and Ania works the dentistry. The idea of owning a river cabin took root after regularly staying at friends’ places in Central Washington. There’s a peace and natural beauty in this region that always reset us – and we found ourselves dreaming of building something together that went beyond our day jobs. A creative outlet. A retreat. A space to gather with loved ones and host meaningful escapes.

Hosting has since become one of our greatest shared passions. It’s been a wild ride – rewarding, humbling, and at times, nail-biting—but we absolutely love it. From the first days of outfitting the space to managing the rhythm of daily operations, it’s taught us a lot about ourselves, our relationship, and the kind of experiences we want to create for others.

Ania is the creative visionary behind the design and comforts of the home. I’ve focused more on the smart home tech and automation that allow us to respond quickly and manage remotely.

Together we’ve tackled landscaping, maintenance, and a hundred little upgrades to make the space feel like a sanctuary – with all the creature comforts of home.

How did you find this property? Were you specifically looking for a riverfront spot, or was it serendipitous?

A little bit of both. Our search began in late 2019 and picked up momentum after the pandemic hit. We canvassed much of Central Washington. We looked at dozens of properties – then one day, we both spotted the same new listing and texted it to each other at the exact same time. That was the one.

We drove out the next day to see it. Snow had just started falling – maybe 30 minutes before we arrived – and when we stepped onto the porch and looked out over the river, everything was covered in fresh snow. It felt like we had entered a snow globe. We made an offer that night.

As luck would have it, the snowstorm prevented other showings that weekend, and our offer ended up being the only one submitted. It was accepted, and the Chalet became ours.

The cabin has so many thoughtful amenities—tell us which one is your favorite.

Honestly, the ones we didn’t build – the views and the stillness that nature provides. There’s something deeply grounding about waking up to the sound of the river or sitting out under a blanket of stars. .For our own contributions, we’d say the fire pit. It’s where we end most days when we’re there.

What’s the hardest part about hosting and running a cabin/Airbnb?

Hosting in a rural mountain town means expecting the unexpected. While we have an amazing local team, the cabin is a two-hour drive from home, so we’ve had to learn how to proactively manage it from a distance. That’s meant investing in everything from smart locks and irrigation to snow-melting mats and even a little robot lawnmower.

The biggest challenge, though, is designing everything – big and small – with resilience in mind. We’ve worked hard to anticipate issues before they arise, whether that’s entertainment options for rainy days, in-wall USB outlets for left-behind chargers, or reliable systems for dealing with snowstorms or power outages. Summers can bring wildfire smoke, so we’ve added air purifiers too. Everything from firewood to bug spray is considered.Ultimately, the goal is to make sure guests have a great stay—no matter what nature throws our way.

Describe your perfect day at Leavenworth, and what are your must-do local recommendations for visitors.

Our perfect day usually starts with a slow morning on the porch, coffee in hand, followed by a little cabin project or time in the yard. We love biking to downtown Plain, paddleboarding at Lake Wenatchee, or floating down the Wenatchee River. The trail system across the street from Thousand Trails is another favorite for afternoon walks.

When it comes to food and fun, we love:

• Epic milkshakes at the 59er Diner
• Craft cocktails and seasonal dining at Wildflour and Larch
• Live music and a casual beer at the Squirrel Tree or München Haus
• Mountain Springs Lodge (ziplining in summer, sleigh rides in winter)
• Skiing or tubing at Steven’s Pass or Leavenworth Ski Hill

What’s your favorite time of year in Leavenworth?

We’re a house divided! Colin loves winter – the snow, the stillness, the cozy feeling of the cabin wrapped in white. Leavenworth is a beautiful escape from Seattle’s grey skies, and the holidays are truly magical.

Ania, on the other hand, is all about summer. Long days, warm river breezes, and endless time outdoors. It’s hard to go wrong either way.

Riverfront Chalet is already amazing – any future goals or plans for the cabin?

Oh, the list is always growing. Long-term, we’d love to remodel the kitchen and bathrooms and eventually update to hardwood flooring throughout. But the big dream? A hot tub, integrated into the porch with unobstructed views of the river – ideally in a way that handles snow load and doesn’t require guests to shovel their way to a soak.

Do you have any memorable guest stories?

We’ve been lucky to host many meaningful moments, but one of our favorites was a surprise engagement just before Christmas. The couple arrived to the cabin fully decorated for the season, complete with a beautifully lit tree dressed in ornaments and evergreen garlands inside and out. The groom-to-be proposed the next morning by drawing a heart in the snow and outlining it with flowers he had picked up the day before.

They spent the weekend visiting reindeer, exploring downtown Leavenworth, and making pizzas by the fire as snow quietly fell outside. They left us the kindest note in our guestbook. It’s stories like theirs that remind us what a privilege it is to create a space where people can celebrate life’s most special milestones.