As a local who literally wrote the book on this region, 100 Things to Do in Tacoma Before You Die, I’ll let you in on a secret: Tacoma and Pierce County reveal a surprisingly rich autumn palette. Embodying our ‘Mountain, City, Sea’ slogan, visitors will find alpine slopes at Mount Rainier and historic city parks transformed with vibrant autumn color. Fall also marks the harvest season on farms throughout the area, welcoming guests to corn mazes and other fun activities.
Highlights
- My go-to “Mountain, City, Sea”: Fall foliage hikes at Mount Rainier, urban kayaking on the Foss Waterway and my favorite local haunts.
- Tacoma’s Museum District: The ultimate rainy day getaway packed with world-class museums, live hot shop glassblowing and free Chihuly installations.
- Where I’d actually stay (and why): The top hotels I’ve personally stayed in or explored, from a waterfront suite with a heated rooftop pool to a lively historic temple.
- Local fall events & autumn escapes: The biggest festivals across Tacoma and Puyallup, plus peak color spots at Point Defiance Park and Mount Rainier.
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The Perfect “Mountain, City, Sea” Itinerary for Fall
We have a saying here in Tacoma: “Live Like the Mountain is Out.” The minute the sun comes out, revealing Mount Rainier’s peak, we are outside enjoying all the beautiful outdoor destinations that make this area so special.
Tacoma’s motto is “Mountain, city, sea.” Visitors can get up early and hike in Mount Rainier National Park. In the afternoon, enjoy an urban kayak from Foss Waterway Seaport. And in the evening, enjoy a Broadway show in the theater district.
So add a day (or three!) to your fall trip to explore my hometown and see the real Pacific Northwest.
Fall Events and Festivals in Tacoma, Puyallup and Mount Rainier
Caribbean Queens Festival
August 16 | Theater Square, 917 Broadway, Tacoma | 11:00 AM–6:00 PM | Free admission
This lively celebration in the heart of the Theatre District highlights Caribbean culture through live music, traditional dance, colorful costumes and authentic island food vendors.
Tacoma Moon Festival
September 12 | Chinese Reconciliation Park, 1741 N Schuster Pkwy, Tacoma | 1:00–7:00 PM | Free admission
Celebrating Tacoma’s rich Asian heritage and the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, this waterfront event features live music, dance performances, local artisan crafts and delicious mooncakes.
Washington State Fair
September 4-27 | 110 9th Ave SW, Puyallup | Daily from 9:30/10:30 AM, Closed Tue | Pricing: $15–$20 Adults, $13–$17 Kids/Seniors, Ages 5 & under free | Free Dates: Sept 4 and Sept 11, Military Free every Friday
As one of the largest state fairs in the nation, this ultimate end-of-summer celebration offers classic carnival rides, major concert headliners and legendary fair foods like Fisher scones.
Fall Color on Mount Rainier
October to mid-November | Various locations | Park open 24/7; Visitor Center daily 10:00 AM–5:00 PM | $30 per vehicle (valid 7 days), $25 motorcycle, $15 individual
Autumn is the best time to hike cooler trails and catch vivid colors without the summer crowds. See my favorite stops in the section “Visiting Mount Rainier During the Fall”.
Tacoma Night Market
Recurring monthly (Sept–Nov) | 5407 S Washington St, Tacoma | Sat 5:00 PM–10:00 PM, Sun 11:00 AM–4:00 PM | Free admission
Featuring Tacoma’s creative culture, Tacoma Night Markets is a vibrant mix of local craft vendors, live music and street food. It offers a great indoor-outdoor atmosphere to support local makers and discover unique hand-crafted goods, just in time for the holidays.
Oktoberfest Northwest
October 9-11 | 10 9th Ave SW, Puyallup | Fri 12:00 PM–11:00 PM, Sat 11:00 AM–11:00 PM, Sun 11:00 AM–6:00 PM | $10–$15 General (Fri–Sat), Free on Sun & for kids under 12
Bravo Bavaria! Washington’s largest Munich-style Oktoberfest features authentic German biers, traditional cuisine, live polka music and hammerschlagen games.
Year Around Activities and Sites to See
Point Defiance Park: Tacoma’s Best Fall Outdoor Escape
Sunrise-Sunset | 5400 N Pearl St, Tacoma | Parking free but lots fill fast
Tacoma has protected this section of old-growth forest for more than 100 years, and Point Defiance Park has long been a recreation destination for locals. Located overlooking the Salish Sea, the park has miles of trails for both hiking and biking.
Don’t miss:
- Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium – Both a zoo and two aquariums for one price
- Fort Nisqually Living History Museum – Learn about how the pioneers lived
- The Gardens – Point Defiance has nine gardens with something blooming all summer
Museum District Highlights: Rainy Day Option
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (with extended hours on Thursdays) | Pacific Avenue and Dock Street between 15th and 21st Streets, Tacoma | Parking fees hourly or day rates
Get some culture in the Tacoma Museum District, home to six world-class museums:
- Tacoma Art Museum: Pacific Northwest Art and a Dale Chihuly Collection donated by the artist
- Washington State History Museum: I love the interactive exhibits, it makes learning Washington’s history fun.
- Museum of Glass: The sight of molten hot glass mesmerizes visitors to the hot shop, where visitors can observe glass artists at work.
- Lemay-America’s Car Museum: Even if you don’t love cars, you’ll be blown away by this collection.
- Foss Waterway Seaport: Learn about Tacoma’s maritime history.
- Children’s Museum of Tacoma: A variety of activities and programs for children
SheBuysTravelTip: Union Station is in the heart of the Tacoma Museum District. Show an ID card at the entrance to access the building lobby. Inside, enjoy five large-scale Dale Chihuly installations, including the stunning End or Day chandelier, and it’s free.
The Crown Jewel of Downtown Tacoma: Chihuly Bridge of Glass
Open 24/7 | 1801 Dock St, Tacoma (next to the Museum of Glass) | Free to the public
Fans of Dale Chihuly will love exploring his work in his hometown. Several museums are connected by the Chihuly Bridge of Glass. This unique bridge features three distinct public art installations.
Walk through the arches by the Washington State History Museum to the Seaform Pavilion. It features 2,000 glass pieces in the ceiling, giving the feeling of a coral reef.
Next, the blue translucent Crystal Towers resemble the blue glacier ice of Mount Rainier.
Lastly, the stunning Venetian Wall, featuring 109 blown-glass sculptures, many of which are among the largest examples of blown glass.
Visiting Mount Rainier During the Fall: Easy Day Trip from Tacoma
Park open 24/7; Visitor Center daily 10:00 AM–5:00 PM | Visitor Center Addresses | $30 per vehicle (valid 7 days), $25 motorcycle, $15 individual
If it is your first time in the Pacific Northwest, you should really make time for Mount Rainier National Park. It’s about a 2-hour drive from Tacoma. Elbe and Ashford, two charming small towns near the entrance, warrant a visit to shop and purchase snacks for your trip through the park.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Make sure to stop at the Rest Area in Elbe to use the rest room which are far apart once in the park.
Don’t miss my favorite stops, which are perfect for a day trip and offer a chance to experience park highlights.
- Twin Firs Trailhead – Exactly 4 miles from the Nisqually Entrance. Watch for it on the left side of the road. No parking lot, just a few spaces to pull over. Majestic old-growth trees line a short 0.4-mile trail.
- Naruda and Christine Falls – Easily accessible on the road to Paradise.
- Longmire – Visitor center, lodge, restaurant, museum and easy trails.
- Paradise – Large visitor center with museum, waterfalls, trails (Long and short options)
SheBuysTravel Tip: Most visitors turn back at Paradise, but if you go a little farther, you can visit Reflection Lakes. On a still day, gorgeous views of Mount Rainier reflect in the lake. In the fall sunrise is much later so you don’t have to get up quite so early if you want to watch the sunrise from this location. Well worth the early morning.
Tacoma Waterfront: Take in the Views on Both Sides of the Puget Sound
When I want water views, these are the spots I keep coming back to.
- Ruston Way: combines several parks, a waterfront trail and multiple restaurants with some of the best views in the city.
- Owen Beach and the Point Defiance Marina: offer opportunities to explore the Salish Sea. Drive across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to explore Gig Harbor, a historic waterfront village.peggy
- Gig Harbor: A cute historic waterfront town just across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge
Ruston Way
Ruston Way is a hub of activity every day. Early morning walkers and runners enjoy waterfront views as they get their miles in. Workers take a lunch break at one of the many picnic tables with views of Mount Rainier. In the evening, diners head to their favorite restaurants with a view.
- Tacoma Chinese Reconciliation Park – Shares the story of the Chinese expulsion from Tacoma
- Two Mile Paved Trail – Connects several parks on Ruston Way, overlooks the Salish Sea, popular with runners, walkers and bikers and lots of Fall foliage.
- Restaurants – Katie Downs, Dukes Seafood Tacoma, Harbor Lights and the Lobster Shop, iconic long-time waterfront restaurants. Woven is the new kid on the block and very popular.
Owen Beach and the Point Defiance Marina
The beautiful Owen Beach offers stunning views of Mount Rainier. Orcas often feed off the beach, especially early Fall when they follow the salmon into the Puget Sound. Take a beachfront stroll or rent a kayak to explore the shoreline. At the Point Defiance Marina, rent a motorboat, kayak or fishing equipment. The Marina store sells fishing licenses, bait, tackle and a variety of snacks and souvenirs.
Gig Harbor
The waterfront area surrounding Gig Harbor is known as downtown Gig Harbor.
Dine at one of the many waterfront restaurants or spend some time shopping in the boutiques and shops.
The Harbor History Museum has an interesting exhibit on “Galloping Gertie,” the nickname for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, which collapsed on November 7, 1940. An old film showing the bridge buckling and swaying before it fell into the water made it famous worldwide.
Where To Stay
The city has a variety of local chain hotels, but for an authentic Tacoma experience, stay at one of these three hotels. Each hotel has unique features that make it a perfect base camp for exploring the area.
The Silvercloud Tacoma at Point Ruston Waterfront
Trip Advisor 4.6 | 5125 Grand Loop, Ruston | Rooms from $329/night – 2 queens, Village View
Savvy locals book a room at the Silvercloud Tacoma at Point Ruston Waterfront for a luxury staycation. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer panoramic views of the Salish Sea. I love this hotel for one reason: the rooftop pool overlooking the water. It’s open year-round and heated.
The hotel offers valet parking, a full-service restaurant and bar and the well-stocked gift shop carries my book.
What makes it a perfect base camp: Park once and walk everywhere. Access Point Defiance Park and explore Point Ruston, a mixed-use property with retail, restaurants and a movie theater.
Hotel Murano
Trip Advisor 4.2 | 1320 Broadway Plaza, Tacoma | Rooms from $143/night – 2 doubles, Deluxe
The Hotel Murano should be added to the Tacoma Museum District for its incredible collection of art glass, including works by Dale Chihuly and artists from around the world. Art glass fills the lobby, displays on each hotel floor, and even the restaurant’s restrooms feature unusual glass sinks and decorative tile. Bite offers tasty dishes.
The downtown location is within easy walking distance of public transportation.
McMenamins Elks Temple Tacoma
Trip Advisor 3.9 | 565 Broadway, Tacoma | Rooms from $233/night – King Beds only
Tacoma’s Elks Temple sat abandoned for years until McMenamins purchased it and brought it back to life as an entertainment complex with a hotel, restaurants, a brewery and a gift shop. The Spanish Ballroom offers live music and entertainment four or five nights a week.
Make McMenamins Elks Temple your base camp for a younger, livelier crowd. Don’t miss the Spanish Steps to the right side of the building. Modeled after the ones in Rome, it is an iconic Tacoma spot. At the halfway point, enjoy coffee at the outdoor seating area.
If you want more things to do in Tacoma, check out my book, 100 Things To Do In Tacoma Before You Die, available at many local shops
FAQ
Yes. For the best experience, stay at the Silvercloud Tacoma at Point Ruston Waterfront, the Hotel Murano, or McMenamins Elks Temple. Use the T-Line light rail (it’s free and frequent) to hop between downtown hotels, breweries, and the Tacoma Dome transit hub. It’s well-lit and very popular with locals.
Skip the Uber. Take the Sounder Game Day Train. It’s a scenic 60-minute ride that drops you right at the stadium. It’s a total party atmosphere with other fans, and you won’t have to deal with $100+ event parking.
The Puyallup Tribe Fan Zone is the “official” move, but for a more curated vibe, head to Point Ruston. I usually grab a table at Katie Downs, order a craft beer, and watch the game with the Salish Sea right behind me.
Don’t sweat the 10-mile trails. Drive to the Paradise Visitor Center. You can walk the paved trails for about 15 minutes and get world-class views of the wildflowers and the summit. It’s “Mountain Lite” with all the glory and none of the gear.
Stay at McMenamins Elks Temple for the vibe. It has “secret” bars, a brewery, and a gorgeous ballroom. If you want a spa day and a heated rooftop pool to recover after a match, Silvercloud Tacoma at Point Ruston Waterfront is your spot.
Read More:
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- 15 Places to Visit in Washington State for Fun, Adventure and Beautiful Vistas
- Planning the Perfect Girls Getaway in Washington (Off the Beaten Path!)
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