Kind of WR -- when is a good time to spend a couple days in Seattle?

tpender13 · September 2010

Hello, ladies! FI and I have been talking about taking a belated honeymoon next year, flying to San Francisco then renting a car and going to Seattle. Or vice versa. Our wedding is in November, and right after that we'll be busy w/holidays, and I'll be extra busy at work. Our original thought was that we'd go in the spring, but now we're thinking to wait until fall and go for our anniversary.

My question is, when do the leaves start changing colors in the Seattle area? We know we want to spend some time in the city, but thought it would be awesome to see the leaves colored. I've never been anywhere in the NW, so I guess I'm not even sure if there is a "colored leaves" season... Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Thanks!

niq24601 · September 2010

Oh, shoot. I wish I had taken photos of the leaves changing last year .... then I'd have the dates! I want to say it's early October but someone who's lived here longer than me is better equipped to answer.

Keep in mind that the weather gets worse and worse as fall wears on. September and early October are okay, but by late October and November

Also SF- />Seattle is a looooooong car trip. My sister is driving up for the wedding and I still think it's crazy. I hope you have ideas for things to do in the car or stops to make in Oregon!

.

mgoss228 · September 2010

The time of year the leaves fall is iffy. I saw some orange/brown fallen leaves last week near my apartment building. But as far as a general autumn "falling leaves" season, I would say September or October.

Ditto, niq, the earlier in the fall that you visit the better. September is still summery some years.

IMO, I would visit in the Spring. It might still rain (50/50 chance), but the weather will almost certainly be better than in November.

If you are driving up from San Fran, you could just stop in Portland. It has a similar vibe as Seattle.

jostina2010 · September 2010

This picture was taken near downtown around October 9, 2009. As a lifetime Seattelite, early-mid October is your best bet but it REALLY depends on our summer. This year I wouldn't be surprised if the leaves start turning in mid-Sept since we had a mild-cold summer (which TOTALLY bums me out since my wedding is early Oct and I wanted foliage).

Anyway, hope this helps!! The drive up the coast from San Fran is gorgeous but can be foggy/rainy in the fall which puts a damper on it (pun fully intended

). Best of luck and hope this helps!

jennlin · September 2010

the leaves have definitely already started turning this year...we had a half-butt summer this year and trees think it's fall full time. normally, i would shoot for late oct early nov if you want leaves..but be prepared for rain. september is a really good time to visit seattle because the weather is still on the nicer side, and you have a little bit of a fall vibe. spring is nice, too, but i like fall better.

Archel · September 2010

Yeah, the leaves have already started changing. Most are still green, for sure, but now through the end of October (and even first part of November) they will be changing and falling. I certainly saw a fair amount on trees in early November last year, so I fully expect to have some gorgeous leaves in pics for my (yours too!) wedding day! So you could totally do a anniversary trip!

I agree that Seattle to San Fran is a looong road trip, but FI and I did it a couple years back and did a few stops in Oregon and Northern Cali on the way. We were wine tasting - which is something you can't forget to do on a trip like that (if you are at all into wine). But on the way back, we didn't do any (overnight) stops, just a straight 9 hours (or however long it was).

Note: November is pretty much the rainiest month of the year in Seattle though.... So if you're looking for good weather and pretty leaves...yeah, Sept. is your choice.

carrieoz_76 · September 2010

Yea, I'd agree that September's probably your best bet for a fall experience without the all the fall rain. If you're looking at spring I like May, but it's still pretty wet then.

I've driven that drive numerous times, and I liked to stop at Shasta, in southern Oregon at Ashland and/or the Rogue River area and Portland along the way. If you go straight through it's like a 12 hour drive, but booooring. If you stop every once in a while it can be fun.

therickson · September 2010

If you want to stop somwhere for the night I would reccommend mcmenamins in Edgefield... Good beer and wine and lots of fun! It is about 15 minutes outside of Portland.

http://www.mcmenamins.com/?loc=3

ahuette · September 2010

I took my e-pics the first weekend in Oct last year and the leaves 1/2 way through changing, and mostly still on the trees. But as PP said, they have already started changing this year.

Personally, I love the fall, espeically here, but weather is a hit or miss. But our Summers (this one not so much included) are typically beautiful, not too hot but sunny and enjoyable as well. Mid - Late June is best for this. I'm not a fan of the spring as sunny days are one in fifteen or so.

tpender13 · September 2010

We were planning on staying overnight somewhere in between; 9 hours in one day is a little much. Maybe we will try September. If not, the not-so-nice weather in early November won't be a big deal. We are from Minnesota, anyway.

Thanks so much for the help!

Kind of WR -- when is a good time to spend a couple days in Seattle?

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