Where to See Fall Foliage Near Your Seattle Apartment

Washington State may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of fall leaves.  But this Pacific Northwest paradise is known for the diversity of its ecosystems, and its landscape has plenty of enticing deciduous trees to accompany their evergreen brethren.  If you live in a Seattle rental apartment, you probably already know this.  But perhaps there are a few places on this list that you have yet to visit during the peak of the fall season.

Bellevue Botanical Gardens

Free to the public and open daily, the Bellevue Botanical Gardens is one of the most highly rated outdoor attractions in the Seattle area.  With 53 acres of natural scenery, much of it woodlands, the gardens offer no shortage of colorful leaves this time of year.  Stroll along one of the gardens’ several paths and admire leaves as they fall to the ground.  In addition to fall colors, purples and pinks can be found in the facility’s Dahlia Garden this time of year.  Residents of AMLI’s downtown Bellevue apartments can walk to the Bellevue Botanical Garden in 10 minutes or less.

Discovery Park

Built on the historic grounds of Fort Lawton, Discovery Park is Seattle’s largest public area and boasts a range of scenery.  In half a day’s worth of hiking, you can see forest dotted with a mix of coniferous and deciduous trees; sand-swept bluffs; and secluded beaches.  If you are a birdwatcher, be sure to bring your binoculars with you.  If conditions are right, you may even glimpse a flock in migration.

Lincoln Park

If your Seattle apartment is located in the city’s western reaches, Lincoln Park may be the closest place at which you can appreciate fall leaves in all their splendor.  Cycle or jog along the park’s waterfront path, admiring the contrast of the warm fall leaves and the cool, brilliant blue of the Sound.

Kubota Garden

Kubota Garden offers a noticeably different opportunity for fall leaf viewing than the parks described above.  This is because the garden is arranged in accordance with Japanese garden design concepts.  If you are looking for a reflective fall leaf viewing experience, you can find it at Seattle’s Kubota Garden.

Washington Park Arboretum

Just across Union Bay from the South Lake Union apartment community AMLI 535, the Washington Park Arboretum is a floral gem that makes for a nice visit in any season.  In the fall, it is especially worth a visit because the diversity of tree species that can be found here turn a wide array of colors.  There may not be anywhere else in the SeaTac area where you can admire so many different fall colors in such a short period of time.  Even if you can only get away from your Seattle, WA apartment for an hour or an hour and a half, you will have the opportunity to see yellow, red, orange, gold, purple, and, of course, green.

If you are passionate about autumn colors and you have a free weekend coming up, you may want to venture out to Mount Baker, Mount Rainier, Granite Mountain, or one of the state’s many other well-preserved natural wonders.  If you don’t have the time, a visit to one of the aforementioned Seattle area locations should not disappoint.  Get out of your Seattle apartment and enjoy the great outdoors before the myriad of colors on the trees gives way to a mix of green and brown for the winter.