5 reasons to visit Seattle in the fall

The days are shorter. The air is crisper. The Emerald City shifts to hues of red, yellow, and orange as the evergreens are punctuated by the changing hues of the deciduous trees scattered among them.

And there is something about the quality of the light this time of year that makes golden hour even more vibrant as it reflects off our shining cityscape. This, dare we say, may just be the most beautiful time of year to visit Seattle.

Looking for more reasons to visit in the fall? Here are five:

Aerial view of Seattle Japanese Garden Photo: Rudy Willingham for Visit Seattle

1. Color Explosions

Seattle may be the Emerald City, but as the leaves change in autumn, the green bursts into vibrantly hued foliage. At Washington Park Arboretum, highlights include the show-stopping Japanese maple collection at the Woodland Garden, as well as the Japanese Garden. Bike, walk, or drive along Olmsted-designed Lake Washington Boulevard for a stunning view of this alluring park. In Rainier Beach, Kubota Garden’s winding pathways—a mix of gravel, stepping stones, and bridges—pass by ponds and waterfalls, providing different perspectives on the changing foliage throughout.

Stroll Seattle Center’s wide promenades with diverse landscaping, which burst into varied colors each fall, framing the Space Needle. Comprising 500 acres on Magnolia bluff, Discovery Park abounds with brilliant fall foliage, which you can view from undulating paths leading to the beach with sweeping views of Puget Sound and the Olympics. Walk or bike any stretch of the 20-mile Burke-Gilman Trail, a tree-lined multiuse path that fringes several green spaces, including Gas Works and Magnuson parks.

Pro tip: the brief golden larch display in the North Cascades is not to be missed. Find your perfect hike and check trail conditions with the Washington Trails Association.

Fall fun at Carpinito Brothers Pumpkin Patch Photo: Kristin Gillespie

2. Local Harvest

The abundance of Pacific Northwest agriculture truly comes into its own at harvest time. From apple picking to pumpkin patches to corn mazes, there is plenty of fun—and cute photo ops—for the entire family. Explore a living playground during Oxtober at Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center. Make friends with the fauna at Swan Trail Farms’ petting farm. Or rent a private firepit in the corn maze at Bob’s Corn.

Of course, there are a plethora of local farmers markets in Seattle that give easy access to the harvest goods without leaving city limits. Pike Place Market is the cornerstone of the Seattle market experience. Or branch out and pop over to the Fremont Sunday Market or any of the other local neighborhood markets, each with their own loyal local following.

Glassblowing demonstration Photo: Chihuly Garden and Glass

3. Artistic Expressions

In Seattle, we embrace the outdoors in every season, regardless of what the weather may throw at us. However, the shorter (and wetter) days also mark the onset of a vibrant arts & culture season. From live theater to interactive museums to an eclectic music scene. Better yet, come in October for Refract: The Seattle Glass Experience. The annual multi-venue festival celebrates regional luminaries of glass art with special events, expositions, studio tours and demos—a truly transformative experience!

Photo: Climate Pledge Arena

4. Sports Culture

You don’t need to be a Seahawks fan, a Sounders fan, or even a sports fan—just come to Seattle for the sheer experience of a game. We don’t mess around in supporting our teams. Learn more about the professional teams that call Seattle home and the venues they play in.

Browsing titles at Elliott Bay Book Company Photo: Visit Seattle

5. Ultimate Coziness

With the onset of cooler temperatures, who doesn’t rush to embrace sweater weather? In Seattle, it’s a lifestyle. Picture yourself wrapped in cozy layers (hometown outdoor outfitters like Filson and Eddie Bauer make that easy), curled up with your latest literary find (our status as a UNESCO City of Literature embraces bookworms), while sipping a steamy craft latte (it is Seattle, after all). This northwest corner of the country has fully embraced hygge, the Danish concept of cozy living and simple pleasures. So come visit, snuggle up, and make yourself at home.