Favorite fall activities!

Woodinville is just a short drive out of Seattle and has some amazing breweries, wineries and even a distillery to help you stock up on some of Washington's finest alcoholic beverages (and do some tasting while you are there). Redhook Brewery, Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery and Woodinville Whiskey Co. are the most notable of each. Although the Woodinville Wine Association can provide more wineries for you to visit.

Alderbrook Resort & Spa is just outside of Seattle as well. It sits right on the Hood Canal, has an on-site spa and golf course and amazing, cute, fully furnished cabins as well as suites. It is the perfect weekend getaway without getting too far away.

I left this same answer in another question -- and I swear I'm not on their tourism dime -- but for Seattle getaways, I love  Bainbridge Island. It's a 40-minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle via Bainbridge Island Ferry, but you can take a car or a bicycle and stay overnight. I stayed at  Island Country Inn but heard good things about  Eagle Harbor as well. There are a few wineries, like Eleven Winery and  Bainbridge Island Vineyards and Winery, some non-swimming beaches filled with idyllic cottages, and some beginner hiking trails all around Fay Bainbridge Park. There's also a large Bainbridge Island Farmers Market, a cute bakery with many gluten-free options called  Blackbird Bakery,  and a very good restaurant,  Hitchcock Restaurant; Try the martinis. It's a good, quiet getaway, particularly if you are short on time. 

Hitting the  San Juan Islands (1.5h drive to the Ferry in  Anacortes - be there early!) is a great option.  Less touristy than the summer months and they hold onto the sunshine longer.  Of the Islands, I love Orcas, but they are all good.  Here are some random Orcas thoughts:

• Get to the ferry an hour early unless you're taking it at a weird time-- then maybe 45m early. I've missed tons of ferries... IF you miss the ferry, sometimes there are options to go to Friday harbor and go from orcas from there vs. wait for the next one. Costs the same, and you get to see another island (and it might be quicker).
• Inn at Ship Bay is very tasty if you like fairly fancy food (eastsound)
• New Leaf Cafe and Lounge has tasty breakfasts and I've heard good things about their dinners (eastsound)
• Allium is spendy but kinda meh-- weak ambiance and overrated. (eastsound)
• Fire Smokehouse & Grill is actually amazingly good BBQ.
• There is a tasty pie place in town-- can't racall the name, but it's right near the bbq place.
• Beaches are pretty much mud, but when the tide is low in eastsound, it reveals a magical bridge out to an island where geese hang out. In the mud are tons of clams, so in the low tide times, there are little spurts of water everywhere coming out of the mud. Bring good fairly waterproof shoes to do it.
• Turtleback Farm Inn is awesome if you haven't landed a place to stay. Great pastoral setting, and they have critters of various kinds (incl. 2 scottish cows). Great breakfasts.  Ask for their pancake recipe, which is (I kid you not) the most amazing pancake you'll ever taste.
• Mount Constitution is totally worth the drive up if it's not raining. One of the better views in the world. Lots of hikes around there ( Moran State Park).
• Turtleback mountain is gorgeous. There's a great hike (1 hr, pretty mellow climb) to gorgeous views. The better trailhead can be reached by going a mile or so west from West Sound on Deer Harbor Road & turn right on Wild Rose Ln. The parking area is about 300 feet up the road (gravel parking area). This bit just opened up in '07!
• Getting out on the water is really nice. Sea kayaking if you're feeling lively. Sailing is also an option-- lotsa charter folks.

Suncadia Resort a resort near  Cle Elum is a short 1.5 hour drive from Seattle and is a great weekend getaway. The resort that has everything from beautiful hikes through a 6,000 acre preserve to a wonderful spa as part of a first class resort. One of the more entertianing activites is the Harvest Festival that takes place every year the first two weekends of October. The festival has plenty of family activites including a pie eating contest.

Other Fall activities include watching the salmon spawn on the Cle Elum River (which runs through the middle of the Suncadia Preserve). There is a great hike along the river with seating on logs next to the spawning beds in river. The the two award winning Suncadia golf courses are still open, and  Sunday Farmers Markets in Roslyn (Washington) (aka Cicely Alaska from TV show Northern Exposure) is open until mid September. Swiftwater Cellars, inside the Suncadia Resort, has a nice resturant and is a great place to relax sip wine and gaze out at the wonderful view from their outdoor patio.

This time of year there is plenty of wildlife on display. There are herds of elk roaming the preserve bugling nonstop, and the leaves are starting to change. The 6000 acres has more than 40 miles of trails through out the resort.

1:  Leavenworth (Washington), Washington - The Bavarian-themed mountain town puts on an Oktoberfest celebration over several weekends in October. Polka bands, Bavarian dancing, great local and international beers, and tasty German food are part of the town's culture year-round, so you know you'll experience some of the best the Northwest has to offer in Leavenworth.

2: For those who love Jazz - The are more than 50 concerts in venues all around Seattle by Earshot Jazz October 1st - November 17.

3: Whether you're an avid  Washington State Fair  enthusiast who visits every year, or a fan who gets there at least once every few years, the Puyallup Fair (now officially called the Washington State Fair) is the kind of fun that draws you back again and again. Activities and attractions vary from day to day, and year to year, making each visit to the Washington State Fair a bit different. Yet there's many favorites you can always count on, such as fresh scones, huge pumpkins, and carnival rides.

overall there's a ton of other things to do in Seattle based on you're interests and the great thing about the NW is that there are so many different areas, landscapes, attractions and events to go to that are all local or just an hour or two drive.

Is there anything better in the fall than a beer? I don't think so.  7 Seas Brewing & Taproom in  Gig Harbor is a great tasting room, with a patio for a nice day. And downtown Gig Harbor is a quaint, nice place to walk and do some shopping. Of course, the  Tides Tavern has great chowder, a view of the water and is a great place for a meal.

In  Tacoma you can go to the  Ruston Way Waterfront and it's a great walking path, similar to Alki but with less development and people. It can be really peaceful. But, if you want to have a fall walk go to  Chambers bay and walk the paths and have a drink or a meal at the restaurant at the golf course. Sunset will blow you away. 

I went to Bellingham and went on a whale watching excursion that was amazing! I saw Orcas, seals, Minky whales, and even a bald eagle. I also learned a lot about the area. It was a fantastic day out and i would highly recommend it.  I went with Island Mariner Cruises. Great outfit! Great day!

Try hiking Poo Poo Point, which is off exit 20 of I-90 past  Issaquah

Snoqualmie Falls is pretty in the fall time, right before it's too cold to hike down.  

Leavenworth (Washington) is also worth visiting.  You've just missed Oktoberfest, but the city is still nice to visit during the fall time.  See here for a list of fall activities.

Suncadia Resort is a great place for a weekend getaway.  It's about 90 mins away from Seattle, and has beautiful cabins with spas, golf courses, and gorgeous nature all around.

When we lived in the area we loved going to  Rattlesnake Lake and hiking the Ledge trail, the view is amazing and even prettier in the Fall. 

A brunch at Salish Lodge atop  Snoqualmie Falls is also really nice, one of my best foliage pictures are from that area. 

We also liked going to  Carleton Farm in Everett to choose our Halloween pumpkins and eat fresh pumpkin ice cream or pie and corn on the cob.