These 11 Places Prove Fall is the Best Time for a Stellar Pacific Northwest Trip

Alaska in fall glows with autumn leaves and the aurora borealis, making for the most epic Pacific Northwest trip in autum. The weather is likely to be cooler and wetter than it is in summer, and some attractions are closed for the season. But there’s a lot to do and see here with great outdoors experiences, fascinating towns, amazing wildlife. Go to Denali, where the park explodes with color.

This achingly beautiful wine country is in full-throttle mode, with new wineries and different kinds of grapes going in all the time―nearly 60 varietals, planted all over the benchlands, hillsides, and valley floor. Add to this the Okanagan's pristine lakes, orchards, and wide range of non-wine-related things for the whole family to do (from riding the century-old Kettle Valley steam train to biking and hiking), and you have a wine-country experience like no other. Burrowing Owl has a 140-acre estate winery along with a plush guesthouse with 10 intimate rooms.

A little rain never hurt an Oregon coast weekend—especially with empty beaches to walk on and lots of art to see.  A road trip along the state's coast should include an overnight stop in Cannon Beach, where you can spend some time exploring the famed Haystack Rock. After a brisk coast stroll, cozy up to your fireplace at the Surfsand Resort, dive into a hearty dinner or breakfast at Lazy Susan Cafe, or gallery hop and get a jump on your holiday shopping. For a solid hike, go to Ecola State Park and hike Ecola Point to Indian Beach.

Autumn is always sunny in Sun Valley, Idaho, which sees few tourists in the fall. Days are warm, nights are cool―and rates drop at otherwise pricey hotels, like the storied Sun Valley Lodge. The newer Limelight Hotel has a sports store on-site, where you can rent bikes to explore the incredible outdoor offerings. On top of all that, this already dreamy town is also rising as a stellar destination for the arts.

More than half of the apples produced in the U.S. come from Washington, which has five big apple-producing regions ripe for exploring on a Pacific Northwest trip. In fall, the fruit still hangs in the orchards, poised for plucking. Local stands around Lake Chelan, Yakima Valley, and the Columbia Basin are filled with dozens of varieties, as well as local honey, melons, and squash. Just two hours from Seattle, Yakima is a good place to start. Go to the red barn at Barrett Orchards, spread across 45 acres and run by fourth-generation farmers. Another great gift of apple countries is their bountiful hard cider. Continue on to Tieton Ciderworks—one of several cideries in the area and one of the best in the West—where the drinks are made with heirloom fruit from the owners' Harmony Orchards.

Wine is the main attraction for many a Pacific Northwest trip in the fall with stellar wine countries in Washington, Oregon, and B.C. In Oregon, luxe inns and tons of tasting rooms, make Willamette—one of the West's great wine countries—prime time. You can get lost along the backcountry roads and always find a good glass of pinot around the bend. And now, with great hotels and tasting rooms mustering in towns like Carlton, you can experience the valley’s off-the-beaten-path vibe yet have the comforts of a soft bed close by. Hunker down at The Allison for a weekend (or entire week) of checking into tasting rooms like Elk Cove Vineyards and Lingua Franca. And, King Estate is especially beautiful.

Of all the great hikes in the West, the Pacific Crest Trail is an epic one. Early-to-mid-fall is a good place to find yourself in Washington's Cascades portion. At Cutthroat Pass, you'll see gold larches and fiery blueberry bushes. You don't need to do the whole PCT to earn the views, but it does take 10 miles round-trip to reach the pass.  Another great option for casual hikers daunted by the 2,650-mile haul, is the Kendall Katwalk trail, an hour east of Seattle. In six, not-too-demanding miles from Snoqualmie Pass to the Katwalk, a morsel of the PCT provides many of the scenic delectables of the full Mexico-to-Canada buffet.

The fall color is off the charts in Vernonia, a riverside logging town that’s home to more salmon than people this season. Bike along the Banks-Vernonia State Trail, slurp on homemade potato chowder from Café 47, take in local art, and pick the seasons best crops like apples and peppers at Dairy Creek Farm and Produce.

Just a 35-minute ferry ride from Seattle, this artsy Puget Sound island—one of our favorite islands in the region—is fast becoming one of the Northwest’s most happening wine destinations. Visit the island's buzzy tasting rooms, take a walk through a local park to overlook Manzanita Bay, and end the day with a bowl of French comfort food before retreating to your cozy room at Eagle Harbor Inn.

What better way to celebrate fall than by sipping hard cider and popping artisanal cheese, surrounded by ocean views and 1,000 young apple trees? Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse presses, ferments, and bottles on-site, while you get to sample its full line―made from traditional bittersweet heirloom apples―sitting at long wood tables milled from local trees. Try the dry, earthy Wild English cider, made from wild yeasts.

This Idaho town, with a 25-mile beltway and plenty of mountain trails in the surrounding hills, is made for riding,  especially when fall foliage at its peak. With its burgeoning food scene, scenic beltway, and welcoming people, this is just the kind of town that makes you want to move right in. On a perfect day in Boise, you'll shop at artist collectives and record shops, hobnob with locals at one of the many breweries, and stay at The Modern Hotel. This might just be the best town for a Pacific Northwest trip that combines outdoor adventure and urban kicks.