Leavenworth is a great place any time of the year. I’m heading there today myself

My grandparents have a B&B there. The town itself is a bit touristy, but I always find myself stopping at the shops. Then there are some fun, lazy river floats people can do, and great mountain scenery and hiking. But yeah, in the winter it can be dicey going over the passes. Pretty much anytime from October through May you have to check the weather forecast. I’ve never had to deal with chains – just timed the drive. Maybe I've been lucky.