9 Reasons You Need To See Seattle in the Fall
1. The food
Seattle is good at a lot of things, including 1) scarf weather and 2)
You can start your culinary appreciation tour at the city’s outdoor farmers markets. While some are seasonal — those in the neighborhoods of Magnolia and Columbia City end in October — others are open year-round, like the ones in the U-District, Capitol Hill/Broadway, Ballard, and West Seattle. In the fall, you’ll find markets big and small all over the city, all with an incredible display of the fresh produce the region has to offer this time of year — think Chinese broccoli, yams, pumpkins, apples, and Jerusalem artichokes.
And then you have the fall restaurant menus. Expect local, seasonal ingredients and the sort of dishes that feel better than a warm hug. A case in point is the yuzu shio ramen at Northgate’s
2. Pumpkin spice pints
Photo: Seattle Cider Company
I have three magical words for you: Pumpkin. Spice. Beer. And nowhere does this seasonal treat quite as well as Seattle. Ideal hop-growing conditions (about 70% of American hops are cultivated in Washington), plus a serious approach to brewing, multiplied by Seattle being pumpkin spice ground zero, equals a drink that will make you say, “Latte? What latte?”
The whole Seattle area is home to
And you can find plenty of alternatives on tap at most of the bars around the city. Try
3. Football (and fútbol)
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. In fact, our dedication is known for causing actual earthquakes. Standing in the crowd at
Plus, going to a game is a great excuse for trying a cream-cheese-laden
4. Smaller crowds
Word has definitely gotten out that our city is full of “unrivaled natural beauty” and “incredible, unique experiences” — which means that on summer days the downtown streets can feel like a constant party, vibing with locals, travelers, jamming musicians, and everyone in between.
But we also liked Seattle before it was cool, and if you’re into the “see local bands at a tiny venue and explore hidden galleries and cafes” kind of trip, coming during fall. You get all of the upsides, but everything will be just that tiny bit less busy.
5. The fall culture
Photo: Mark Kitaoka for Teatro Zinzanni
We Seattleites might spend half the year climbing mountains and paddling the water, but when the fall days get cool…well, we’ve built up a city that lets us hang out indoors and still have an awesome time. Catch a show at
6. Oktoberfest
Lots of cities do an Oktoberfest these days, but there aren’t many that look like they’re set in a real Bavarian mountain village. Leavenworth is an
7. The music scene
The music scene here in Seattle is not a summertime thing. It’s January through December, every day of the week. If anything, since the days are cooling off and we’re getting out of the water and off the hills, the music scene explodes even more in the fall.
Check out
8. The Instagram potential
Photo: Shutterstock/Roman Khomlyak
Whether it’s the exquisite design and plant life of the
9. The Halloween festivities
Halloween might just be the perfect time to visit — there are so many seasonally appropriate goings-on. For example, you can check out the
Also make sure to hit up the
For something a little more kid-friendly, make your way to the Seattle Center for the city’s
The Puget Sound region also hosts a number of corn mazes and pick-your-own pumpkin patches, like
