Fall in Love with Seattle This Autumn

Travelers in the know have figured out that autumn is the best time to visit Seattle. We’ve partnered with former Seattle resident Keryn Means of Walking On Travels

Seattle will always get a bad rep for being one of the rainiest cities in America. It’s true. It does rain a lot. Spring sees heavy showers that make the roses bloom in a way you won’t see many other places in America, as the Seattle climate is more like England than the rest of the U.S. Winter can be brutal with misty rain falling, and wind whipping through the city, while summer sees nothing but blue skies and warm temperatures. Autumn though, well autumn is its own mysterious beauty, as the fog begins to roll back over Puget Sound, the leaves begin to change from green to yellow, orange and red, and Seattleites go back to wearing the layers they know and love.

Autumn in Seattle also means that the cruise crowds have vanished, and the city is easy to navigate again. Locals will begin to wander into Pike Place Market after a summer avoiding the market like the plague as tourists clog up the narrow passageways. Urban dwellers also head into the parks and mountains, enjoy al fresco dining on cool evenings and get back into their regular rhythm, whether it rains or the sun shines down for a few more weeks before winter settles in and everyone hits the local mountains to ski and snowboard.

Hit the Parks

The Emerald City comes alive in the autumn as residents enjoy the last days of summer sun, and welcome the cooler temperatures that make visits to their favorite parks less congested. For the best fall foliage, head to the south side of the city to Kubota Garden. This Japanese-inspired garden is free to visit, and picnics are encouraged. If you want a true Japanese garden experience, wander into the Washington Arboretum. For a small fee you can visit this perfectly manicured garden before you visit the rest of the arboretum, which is free.

The Olympic Sculpture Park might not be the traditional green space most people think about, but it is one of the easiest museums to visit with kids. Almost all of the exhibits are outside. Most are massive and will make your children feel like hobbits in a big world.

Dine Al Fresco

Take advantage of the great autumn weather to catch up with friends and discover what is new in neighborhoods across the city. One of our favorite parks to visit when we lived in Seattle was Green Lake Park. This manmade lake was the perfect place to run on a cool autumn day, but better yet, Red Mill Burgers was close by. If you aren’t a runner, you can also go to the Woodland Park Zoo with your kids before bribing them away with the best burgers in town. Get in line (it’s worth it) and grab a spot at one of the picnic tables outside. Everyone in the family will be happy you made this stop.

More outdoor dining happens at La Isla, an amazing Puerto Rican restaurant found in the Ballard neighborhood. Happy hour with mojitos and discounted appetizers, including empanadas, should not be missed on the front patio, which is a great spot to people watch in this fun, and family-friendly neighborhood. Ballard is also home to loads of shops, a great year-round farmers market, and plenty of al fresco spots to eat, including the ever-popular La Carta de Oaxaca and the Walrus and Carpenter.

Get Out of the City

Seattle residents love to flee the city on the weekends. The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is an easy drive from the city, or you can head down to Mount Rainier to see the mountain on fire as the deciduous trees change color. If you are really lucky, the wild flowers will still be blooming up near the Paradise Lodge. Don’t be surprised if you see skiers and snowboarders hiking up the mountain. Mount Rainier has snow year round, which makes it the perfect weekend trip for snow enthusiasts. Closer to the city, travelers can do a few easy hikes on Cougar Mountain, Snoqualmie Falls or Discovery Park.

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