LEAVENWORTH, Wash. — 59er Diner is the winner of Best Roadside Restaurant in 2024's Best Northwest Escapes viewer's poll.
Our Stevens Pass pig-out begins with a stop at the place you voted Best Roadside Restaurant, the always popular 59er Diner in Leavenworth.
"It's simple food," admitted owner Joe Cannata. "But it's made with the freshest ingredients and we go out of our way to have fun!"
Fun was the last thing on Cannata's mind in the Summer of 2016 when the diner burned to the ground.
"I remember walking through the rubble of the old diner and just sifting through things," he said.
But dressed as his hero Elvis Presley, Cannata led a comeback tour and the shiny diner, the waitresses named Flo and all the customers have returned.
"They only come once or twice a year but they always stop every single time," Cannata said. "They always stop and say hi."
And most of them order milkshakes. There are 20 flavors and the 59er Diner keeps count of each and every milkshake sold. You can find the running tally online. Our host Saint Bryan is responsible for three shakes this year.
These are shakes made thick enough to be eaten. Good luck using a straw!
"The milkshake machine guy comes every year and tries to sell me a soft serve machine like McDonald's has that can pour the shake out. I just send him away every year and say 'No, we got to hand scoop them because you got to eat your shake."
The Alps candy shop is the winner for Best Treat Stop in 2024's Best Northwest Escapes viewer's poll.
Ten miles closer to Leavenworth we pull over at The Alps Candy shop, your pick for best treat stop.
"We make about 300 products here in the store," manager Mandi Hall. "Down in our little kitchen."
That's where we meet Matthew Wilson, candy maker, hot sauce saucier and recipient of some of the best kept secret recipes in the state.
We wondered how he managed to stay so fit.
"I am not actually," he laughed. "I am prone to snacking."
Upstairs you'll find 30 different kinds of homemade fudge, their famous Peanut Butter Crunch and all kinds of sauces. Downstairs, Candyland comes to life. Here nostalgia meets fun, There are brands that will make you wonder if they're real "Betty White mints"?) as well as candy cigarettes.
Seems like they have so many different kinds of candy here a customer could put two nouns together and Mandi Hall could find it. Like "Unicorn Yak."
"Yes, we have that," she said. "We have it upstairs in our soda room."
You'll find it next to Kitty Piddle, Worm Ooze and Farrah Fawcett Cream Soda.
"They're all funny names but they have really good flavors," Hall said.
Health food you ask? Well we found popcorn made with apples and pickle flavored taffy. Some road trips are just more fun when you can pig out!
KING 5's Evening celebrates the Northwest. Contact us: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Email.