The Best Areas Around Seattle for Fall Foliage

Bellevue Botanical Garden

Whether or not you’ve been to the Bellevue Botanical Garden, this is a stop you need to take when you’re looking for great fall foliage. The 53-acre gardens feature plants from different types of areas and climates. The trees here offer you a unique look at the changing of the season, plus you get the added benefit of seeing the variety of other fall plants and flowers. Bellevue Botanical Garden is open every day from dawn to dusk, and the visitor’s center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Discovery Park

The 534 acres making up Discovery Park are full of amazing natural views. This is the largest park in Seattle and offers dunes, cliffs, meadows, and wooded areas. Take a hike on the 11 miles of trails, or have a picnic in the picnic area and playground. As you’re walking around, don’t forget to take in the beauty of the changing leaves. No matter what time of year you visit, Discovery Park has something for everyone. Bring along your camera to capture everything you see.

Hood Canal Loop

If you’re looking for a beautiful day trip drive, head to the Hood Canal Loop. This is a 124-mile drive overall, between Bremerton and Bainbridge Island Loop. During your drive, you’ll experience the big-leaf maples that the area is known for. If you want the full experience, stop at Hunter Farms on Highway 106. Here you can pick up fresh produce at the farmers market, go through a corn maze in the fall, and even take a hay ride. On the weekends the farm has food vendors, so you could easily make this an entire weekend vacation of fall fun.

Washington Arboretum

If you have kids, make sure to stop at Graham Visitor’s Center before taking a walk through Washington Arboretum. Here, you can pick up an Adventure Pack that gives the kids a backpack with field guides, activity ideas, a magnifying glass, and scavenger hunt lists. Throughout the arboretum you’ll find a variety of beautiful trees, such as Asiatic maples. At the south end of the arboretum, there is a Japanese gardens area, which requires an additional fee. Take the time to appreciate the variety of trees throughout the 230 acres of well-cultivated land.

Whether you’re looking for a short adventure or a weekend getaway, Seattle and the surrounding area offer amazing fall views. Check out your local park or tree-lined streets for a close-to-home experience. While there’s no official date when the leaves start to change, once fall hits, the area becomes a vibrant explosion of color.

Image via Pixabay | CC0