I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, fall is my favorite time of year. There are so many reasons – cool, crisp afternoons when I can sit outside and enjoy a book without worrying about mosquito repellent or sun screen, the grass in my yard not growing as fast meaning less time spent behind the lawnmower, and the chance to wear orange (the team color of my favorite college football team) everyday without anybody asking if I work in a construction zone.
Well, nothing has changed. I still love fall and I still think that Washington State is the best place on the planet to celebrate this amazing season. Our unique mix of gorgeous scenery, fantastic destinations, abundance of farms (hello, pumpkin-patches and corn mazes), cultural attractions and amazing local eateries, means that whatever your whim, there’s a way to get it fulfilled right here.
Some say Maine is the place to go to watch the changing of the seasons. We know better. As the leaves begin to change color, Washington is the perfect place for nature hikes. In our cover story, “5 Fabulous Fall Hikes,” we turned to the experts at the Washington Trails Association to be our guide to the best trails in the state where you can see autumn’s most colorful displays – from the deep reds of vine maple and golden yellow of alpine larches to the fiery oranges of huckleberry shrubs.
For another great view, take flight with Kenmore Air. There are no in-flight movies aboard their fleet of small, propeller jets and seaplanes, but who needs to watch another Bruce Willis movie when every seat offers an amazing, birds-eye view. Imagine flying in low past the Space Needle or cruising at gull-level above the blue-green water and forested land of the San Juan Islands. For more than half a century, Kenmore Air has been landing passengers on glaciers, lakes and harbors, among the mist-shrouded fjords and islands of the U.S. and Canadian northwest.
Fall is also a great time to nurture your cultural side – and there’s no better destination than Bellevue. You may have driven right by Bellevue on your way to Seattle or Spokane, but there’s more to this city than just a highway sign indicating the next exit. Parking is easier in Bellevue than at its big city neighbor, and the small town feel of the city means pleasant walking though downtown to check out the shops, restaurants and public sculptures. Bellevue is also home to award-winning museums, botanical gardens and theatres and concert halls playing host to local, regional and national performing arts groups. Bellevue’s artistic side is certainly on display for all to see.
Whatever your plans for fall, we hope you’ll take Washington Magazine along as your guide to some of the best the Evergreen State has to offer. Turn the pages and you’ll find stories on dog-friendly destinations, dessert wines, delectable dishes, and interviews with the cool, friendly people who call Washington home.
In Washington, every season brings something new to enjoy. We won’t try to convince you to make fall your favorite – in fact, come next issue, we’ll probably be saying the same thing about winter.
