I was provided with a 2018 Mazda CX-9 to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own. 

Fall in the Pacific Northwest is pretty awesome. While we may not have all the deciduous trees like the east coast, our falls are rather mild and gorgeous in their own ways. In addition to our own fall beauty, we also have some fun fall activities in the area. I’ve compiled a few ideas, many of them focusing in the Seattle area, but others visit our neighbors to the North (Canada) and to the South (Oregon).

Fall Activities In The Pacific Northwest

1. Cornmaze – I’m pretty sure it has been about 10 years since I last did a corn maze, but I remember it being a lot of fun. There are a wide variety of them around, I have a friend who did one recently where they were able to stop for a campfire partway through as well.
2. Pumpkin Patch – Pumpkin Patches are perfect for fall, it is a great activity for a family, couple, or group of friends. Pick out the perfect pumpkin in the afternoon and then spend the evenings turning it into a fun Jack-O-Lantern.
3. Visit a Farm – Cute animals, delicious produce, and probably a hay-ride or two make for a great fall activity.
4. Take the Clipper to Victoria & Buchart Gardens – These gardens are absolutely gorgeous, Brad and I have visited in the past and there were so many awesome plants in the gardens. The Clipper is our favorite way to get into Victoria from Seattle, it is a high speed boat that arrives in just a couple hours straight into the heart of the city.
5. Snoqualmie Falls – Once we get a couple good rain storms, the falls really get moving. The falls are surrounded by gorgeous scenery and make a great day trip.
6. Fright Fest at Wild Waves – If you are looking for a fun night time activity, head down to Wild Waves for some roller coasters in the dark and other frightening sights.
7. Hood Canal Fruit Loop Tour – I checked out the fruit loop about a hear and a half ago when I was visiting Portland for a conference. There are so many wineries and fruit orchards just outside Portland that you could easily spend a day or two checking out the area.
8. Woodinville Wine Country – When I moved to Woodinville in 1991 I think there were all of 2 wineries in the area. Now there are over 100  (one of which is at my childhood home). You are sure to find a wine that you enjoy, and have fun checking out all of the local varieties while you are at it.

Last week, I headed down to Portland for a couple days and had this awesome 2018 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring for the drive. First of all, can we all agree that this red is absolutely gorgeous?

The CX-9 is a 7 passenger vehicle which features a 3rd row. I do wish I was able to take advantage of some shopping while I was in Portland. The CX-9 had lots of trunk space with the 3rd row down, but I managed to visit and only buy a box of Band-Aids. The middle row of seats also feature which is a nice addition if you regularly have passengers back there in the cooler months.

For my drive down, I ended up utilizing my phone for music through Bluetooth. The CX-9 featured satellite radio; however, I decided that I wanted to curate my own playlist for the 4 hour drive (it was rush-hour). I enjoyed the fact that I could still navigate through the playlist using the controls on the steering wheel.

I wish I could have gotten a good photo of the heads-up display, but considering that the best features of the heads-up display appear while driving, and only the driver can really see it, I opted against photos. The heads-up display features speed, upcoming navigation instructions, blind spot monitoring, and lane departure alerts. The car can also “read” street signs and will update the speed-limit in the heads-up display real time as you pass the signs.

Do you have any exciting fall activities planned? What sort of places do you like to visit to see the fall colors?