As the leaves begin to turn all shades of yellow, orange, and red, the Emerald City of Seattle is hard to recognize. Famed for its cool, crisp air and vibrant foliage, spending Seattle in fall was magical, to say the least. Not only were the colors changing, but Halloween costume prep was also underway, and almost every food and drink featured pumpkin flavors! This scenic haven of iconic Pacific Northwest fall beauty boasted mild, cool weather with the occasional rainshower, making it perfect for us to enjoy both cozy indoor and marvelous outdoor adventures.
Whether it was the coffee culture, the warm cider and wine, the brilliant colors, the breathtaking views, or the crunch of the leaves, Seattle in autumn will certainly change the mind of even the staunchest of autumn non-lovers. Read this comprehensive guide to learn about enjoying an array of experiences catering to every taste during an autumnal vacation in Seattle.
Table of contents
Weather
Autumn weather in Seattle sees the occasional drizzle and a slight chill in the air, making for the ideal atmosphere for outdoor adventures of all kinds. The average temperatures usually stay within the mid-40s to mid-60s degrees Fahrenheit (7 to 18 degrees Celsius), with a chance of it raining on most days. While September is reasonably dry, the rain starts only around October. But even then, most of the events are either covered or indoors. Since the weather is wet, we’d advise everyone to dress in layers in fall jackets, fall sweaters, and travel fall scarves for women.
Oktoberfests
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Did you know that the state of Washington celebrated nearly 10 different Oktoberfest festivals? Yes! These Oktoberfests are one of the most popular Seattle fall activities and a favorite with travelers visiting the city during autumn. For three weeks every autumn, these Oktoberfests take over the city and the region, with German beer, music, food, and other activities.
We wanted to not just indulge in Oktoberfest, but also get out of the city. That’s why we headed to Leavenworth, a small and picturesque German-inspired town less than a two-hour drive from downtown Seattle. This Bavarian town is one of the best places to visit in Washington State, and it’s easy to see why. That’s because they put on amazing Oktoberfest celebrations, one of the biggest celebrations in the town besides Christmas. Scheduled to take place on October 25th, 2024, the dates vary slightly every year but mostly are during the last weekend of October. When we visited, we strolled through the gorgeous town, sampling Washington wines and digging into authentic German cuisine.
Bainbridge Island Ferry
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When we go on a holiday, we always want to find something great and inexpensive to do while exploring the city. In Seattle, that meant taking a windy ferry ride to the quaint and charming Bainbridge Island. It was less than a USD 10 round trip per person for us walk-in passengers as we entered the port harbor at Seattle’s downtown waterfront. The roughly 35-minute ferry ride was as windy as it could get, but thankfully we were spared of rainfall and could enjoy the wonderful fall colors all around. Moreover, the views of Puget Sound and the Seattle skyline were spectacular.
Bainbridge Island was the perfect spot to spend an autumnal afternoon. After visiting the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, we grabbed a bite to eat along Main Street. Of course, there are more adventurous activities for travelers too, like biking and hiking trails. Even if it’s a rainy day, we’d highly recommend that you simply grab all the appropriate rain gear and head out to Bainbridge Island.
The fall sailing season for the ferry is usually from the last week of September to the last week of December. Check the ferry schedule to learn about the details.
Haunted Tours
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Seattle has some places with some pretty spooky histories. That’s why one of the best ways to get into the Halloween spirit is to embrace the eerie vibe of the city and go along on one of the ghost or haunted tours. The Seattle Terrors and Ghosts Guided Walking Tour is one of the most popular haunted tours in the city. This spine-tingling journey took us through the city’s historic district where a local haunted history expert regaled us with ghostly tales at Union Street. Next up was a visit to the eerie Butterworth Building, which is now the extremely popular Kells Irish Pub by Pike Place Market. A former mortuary, the building is said to be an epicenter for haunted activity. Think figures in the shadows, shattering mirrors, creaking floors, and unexplained bursts of cold air.
We also explored the spooky legends of the Gum Wall apparitions and Post Alley before heading to the haunted Market Theater and learning about its unsettling history. Our final stop was the haunted ground of Suquamish Grounds. Pro tip: Ensure that you bring a jacket and wear comfy footwear, as the breeze from the Puget Sound could make everything chillier.
Pumpkin Farms
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Pumpkin picking is one of the best activities to do in Seattle in autumn. During this time, many farms in places like Snohomish and Puyallup offer hayrides, pumpkin patches, and whatnot, making it fun for the entire family. One of the most popular pumpkin farms is Bob’s Corn & Pumpkin Farm, which lies around 45 minutes from downtown Seattle in Snohomish. Not only did it have a “U-Pick” pumpkin patch, but it also had a jaw-dropping 12-acre corn maze, fall games, apple cannons, a country store, and more. We spent the entire day here wandering the grounds and indulging in fall snacks like kettle corn, caramel apples, and roasted corn.
However, please note that Bob’s is only open until October 31st, so ensure that you head here before then. Additionally, the Bob’s Corn & Pumpkin Farm Fall Festival begins sometime in mid-September, so keep checking their website for the exact dates. Did we mention the country store on the property that sells delicious fall treats, souvenirs, cooking essentials, and more? Yes!
Seattle Restaurant Week
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It’s no secret that Seattle is a veritable food haven and a mecca for foodies like us. So, what better place to put our appetites and stomachs to test than Seattle Restaurant Week? This event, which usually takes place during late October and early November, saw different dining establishments offering a wide variety of curated menus. What’s more, the prices started as low as USD 20 and went upwards from there. We indulged in everything from high-end seafood to locally sourced, seasonal delicacies, most with breathtaking views of Puget Sound. All in all, Seattle Restaurant Week and its special deals were perfect for keeping our palates delighted and our wallets intact.
Washington Park Arboretum
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One of the best leaf-peeping activities we indulged in during our Seattle autumn vacation was slowing down and watching and appreciating the colors change. Since Seattle is a bike-friendly city, we decided to rent bikes and visit the Washington Park Arboretum. We were able to soak in the changing colors both along the roads as well as throughout the Arboretum. This true hidden gem in the city was sprawled across nearly 230 acres and boasted diverse and vibrant plant life. As the cool breeze enveloped us, we wound our way around the scenic trails before finding a bench in a tranquil part of the garden for a break. Don’t miss visiting the Japanese Garden, which is worth visiting for the autumnal hues.
If you don’t want to be struggling up the hills, you could also rent pedal-assist electric bikes that will give you that extra kick so you can enjoy and focus on the gorgeous colors.
Snoqualmie
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We’re huge fans of the TV series “Twin Peaks,” so when we realized that the town that inspired the setting in the TV show was just 30 minutes from Seattle, there was no way we weren’t going to head there! Our day trip dawned crisp and cool as we set out from Seattle, first stopping at Twede’s Cafe. The old-school diner that featured in the TV series is famous for for its pies, burgers, and breakfasts, and so, we dug in heartily too.
We couldn’t be in town and not visit the equally famous Snoqualmie Falls, one of the most touristy sites in the region. Not only was the walk to the waterfall very easy, but also there was one huge waterfall at the end, measuring 268 ft in height! We even enjoyed a picnic lunch by the falls while soaking in the views around. Our day ended with a visit to Snoqualmie Point Park, which offered fantastic views of the Cascade Mountain Range, Mount Si, and the Snoqualmie Valley. Since there is a shelter, you don’t have to worry about getting caught wet in a downpour. Are you the hiking kind? This place also offers trail access to the Rattlesnake Mountain Trail.
Mount Rainier
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Seattle sits in the shadows of “The Mountain,” which is what the locals call Mount Rainier. Since we were in Seattle on November 11, we got the budget-friendly opportunity to visit Mount Rainier National Park for free. That’s because, the country’s national parks are available to the public for free on November 11 every year, thanks to free entry on Veterans Day to National Parks. So, we couldn’t pass up an opportunity to visit Mount Rainier, right?
For the adventurous, Mount Rainier is a haven. One of its most popular hiking trails is the beautiful Skyline Trail Loop leading around the south side. The snow-covered, grassy, and dirt trail takes around 4.5 hours to navigate, so there are many easier hikes too. These include the Silver Forest Trail (2 mi) and the Sunrise Nature Trail (1.5 mi).
Cultural vultures like us will love the Longmire Museum named after James Longmire, who not only discovered natural hot springs up here but also cleared the roads for people to access much of the region. Today, that spa region is a designated national historic district and home to the Longmire Wilderness Information Center and the National Park Inn. While the museum has information about the area and hiking trails, restrooms, and picnic tables, the seasonal inn is the perfect place to stop for snacks and beverages.
Finally, the park is home to, unsurprisingly, many waterfalls. These include the Narada Falls, the extremely easy-to-hike Silver Falls Trail, and Myrtle Falls, one of the most scenic ones.
Don’t forget to click gorgeous photographs!
Kubota Garden
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Seattle is home to many gorgeous Japanese Gardens, and autumn is one of the best times to visit them. We visited the Kubota Garden in South Seattle during autumn and it was love at first sight. Blending native Pacific Northwest plants with classic Japanese garden design, the garden thrives in every season, but the fall colors are particularly vibrant. We made our way through the grounds leisurely, strolling alongside serene ponds, past waterfalls, and over picturesque bridges straight out of postcards. What’s more, the garden is a stunning 20 acres in size, with valleys, hills, rock outcroppings, ponds, waterfalls, and streams, along with exceptionally rich and mature verdure. This is one unique urban refuge whose tree-lined paths make for the perfect backdrop for photographs.
“We’ve never loved roaming a garden more than Kubota Garden. The verdure was simply gorgeous!”
WOW Travel
Pike Place Market
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No place celebrates the changing of seasons better than Pike Place Market, one of Seattle’s most beloved sights. It’s also Seattle’s tastiest neighborhood, and what better place than this to nosh on autumn delights while celebrating it? If all this doesn’t have you convinced, let us tell you that this is also the city’s source of seasonal, local, and fresh food. Pick take-home chai concentrates at Aditi Chai’s, dig into sticky buns at Cinnamon Works, and enjoy the best of Pacific Northwest peaches with pear crème brûlée pastries at Freya Bakery and Cafe. We ended our day with chocolate pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie lattes at Indi Chocolate — divine.
That being said, Pike Place Market is more than just food. We shopped for interesting and beautiful home accents and even quirky decorative glass pumpkins at Glass Eye Studio. There were fresh flowers, pottery pieces, scented candles, throw blankets — you name it, Pike Place Market had it.
However, the pinnacle of it all is the annual Harvest Festival, which takes place in the late/last week of October and is one of the best Seattle fall festivals. When we visited, there were seasonal goodies, free Market history tours, artist demonstrations, special photo ops, live music, and much more, including food, food, and food!
Where to Stay in Seattle?
- Graduate by Hilton Seattle: The historic 1930-built hotel perfectly fed our culture-vulture needs. One of Seattle, Washington’s best luxury hotels, it boasts modern rooms with fabulous views, swanky interiors, and a rooftop bar.
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- Inn at the Market: There’s nothing better than staying right next to Pike Place Market, and the Inn at the Market allowed us to do that. One of Seattle Downtown’s best boutique hotels, the hotel boasts floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning views of Elliot Bay, the mountains, and the surroundings. Did you know that some of the rooms even have furnished terraces? Yes!
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Places To Eat
- Local Tide: Food, especially their famous crab rolls, sells out quickly at Victor Steinbrueck’s seafood house, but there are a whole lot of options on the menu to explore. Check out the Smashburger, the rockfish banh mi, and the decadent, warm, and buttery shrimp toast.
- FlintCreek Cattle Co.: This steakhouse is one of Seattle’s best and serves simple but perfectly grilled and buttered 21-day dry-aged Washington steaks. We had options for Tomahawk, Delmonico, New York strip, and filet mignon, with game meats such as wild boar and elk also featured on the menu. Also, don’t miss the stunning vegetable dishes.
