Fun Fall Activities in the Seattle Area
Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, and Salmon, Oh my!
Fall in the Pacific Northwest offers a myriad of fun activities all year round, but the fall is particularly festive. The abundance of activities in the area means there is something for every family and every budget – especially if you don’t mind a little mist or drizzle.
Down on the Farm
Nothing says fall like a trip to a pumpkin patch or corn maze! Farms offer fun activities for all ages, from the littlest kid in the family to the oldest adult. Many farms offer some combination of pumpkins for picking, farm animals for petting, playgrounds for climbing, corn mazes for wandering, and hot cider for sipping. Here are a handful of farms and corn mazes you can visit around Seattle. (Note: Many farms charge admission and/or fees for parking and/or activities, and some require you to pre-purchase tickets. Be sure to check websites before visiting.)
North of Seattle
Bob’s Corn & Pumpkin Farm, Snohomish
Craven Farm, Snohomish
Fairbank Animal & Pumpkin Farm, Edmonds
Swans Trail Farms, Snohomish
Stocker Farms, Snohomish
Carleton Farms, Lake Stevens
Biringer’s Black Crow Pumpkins & Corn Maze, Arlington
East of Seattle
Remlinger Farms, Carnation
Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center, Carnation
Two Brothers Pumpkin Patch, Carnation
South of Seattle
Maris Farms, Buckley
Carpinito Brothers, Kent
Picha’s Farms, Puyallup
Thomasson Family Farm, Enumclaw
Spooner Farms, Puyallup
Schilter Family Farm, Olympia
Color, Color Everywhere
Heading out on a leaf-color adventure? While the parents enjoy the tremendous leaf display, keep the kids entertained with a leaf scavenger hunt. Grab a bag or two for the kids and ask them to collect different types of leaves. They can search for different colors, sizes, and shapes. When you are back home, the kids can sort out their favorites and research which trees they came from. You can even press them in a book, make collages, or trace a leaf on a piece of paper for a fun art project or fall decoration! Looking for a new place to see fall color? Check out the parks we have listed below.
Washington Park Arboretum near the University of Washington
Kubota Garden in Rainier Beach
Discovery Park in North Seattle
Green Lake in North Seattle
Carkeek Park in North Seattle
A Far-Flung Fall Adventure
If taking a day trip is more to your family’s taste, we have a few ideas!
Take the ferry to Bainbridge and head over to Bloedel Reserve, which is beautiful all times of year but especially in the fall.
Take Highway 2 east over Stevens Pass and visit Leavenworth for a stunning fall trip full of colors.
Head down I-5 to Wright Park in Tacoma, where there are 145 species of trees from all over the world and the W.W. Seymour Conservatory.
Head north to the Cascade Loop for a road trip that many say is the prettiest drive in the continental US.
The Salmon are running, The Salmon are running
A uniquely Northwest fall activity is going to watch the salmon run up area waterways to spawn the next generation of fish. Your children are probably learning about our unique fish friends in their schools already, and a visit to a salmon run is a great way to continue the learning outside of the classroom. Sockeye and Chinook salmon run in September and October, while Chum and Coho salmon run in November.
These majestic creatures are tied into the great history of our state and our indigenous people and are a key component of the food chain that supports all manners of creatures in the Puget Sound and surrounding lands.
The easiest place to see them is at Ballard’s Chittenden Locks as the salmon climb the fish ladder. With plenty of family friendly restaurants and activities nearby, you can make a day trip to Ballard to enjoy all it has to offer.
Other places to see salmon making their run upstream include:
Codiga Park in Tukwila
Kelsey Creek in Bellevue has a fish ladder on the Mercer Slough
Cedar River in Renton has four sites where you can view salmon
Piper’s Creek in Carkeek Park in North Seattle has Chum and Coho in November and December
We hope these festive fall activities help your family create wonderful memories together and inspire your next adventure.
If you are looking for additional fall activity ideas check out the links below.
Fall fun: 8 ways to celebrate autumn with your family