Seattle, Washington is arguably one of the most overlooked vacation destinations in the United States. When people think of visiting the West coast, they think of cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. But Seattle has plenty to offer as a vacation destination, with the added bonus of being cheaper and less crowded. The atmosphere is much more laid back here, the art and music scenes are world renowned, and the nearby mountains and forests will please any nature-lover. If you've happened upon a cheap, last-minute flight deal to Seattle and a vacation here sounds appealing to you, then we’ve got just the thing for you. Here is our breakdown of Seattle in all four seasons.
Summer
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Summer in Seattle is the busiest time for tourism, thanks to warm weather that stops short of being sweltery, and less rainfall than other times of the year. This is the best time to visit if you want to enjoy the city’s parks and beaches, of which there are many. There are also more festivals and outdoor events during this time, including celebrations of music, art, culture, and more. Seattle also has several major league sports teams, which many people visit for.
The trade off to visiting during the busy season is that prices for hotels and flights are likely to be higher thanks to increased demand, and you will have to deal with more crowds. You can remedy this problem a little bit by checking their events schedules and avoid going when major events will be taking place. Since sporting events also bring in a lot of people, especially soccer and baseball in the summer, you can avoid going during those events to avoid higher prices.
Fall
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Fall in Seattle is one of the periods considered to be shoulder season in Seattle. In early autumn, temperatures start to cool, but it will still be relatively dry. Late September is when leaves start to change, making it the perfect time for leaf peepers. Football season will be in full swing, so fans of the sport can catch the Seattle Seahawks playing. Events like Fremont Oktoberfest, Local Sightings Film Festival, and various cultural festivals take place as well.
But by the time November rolls around, the dry season will officially be over. The leaves will have fallen and while you won’t likely see snow, you can expect rain often. The advantage to visiting during this time is that prices will be much better and crowds much thinner, and there are still festivals and events to enjoy, like Cloudbreak Music Festival and the Best of Northwest art festival.
Winter
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Now we enter the slow season, with temperatures around 40°F to 50°F. As winters go, Seattle’s isn’t too cold, and you can still expect more rain than snow. This is officially the wet season, so probably not a good time to go if you want to enjoy the outdoors. There are still festivals and other events going on during this time, but many less than during the summer.
This is a good time to visit if you want to experience Seattle’s indoor attractions, as prices will be much better and the rain won’t affect your ability to enjoy them. The Seattle Art Museum, the Museum of Pop Culture, the Seattle Aquarium, and the Pacific Science Center are just a few of the educational attractions, and each is well worth making the trip for. If you go in December, you can also partake in local holiday events and enjoy the decorations put up by the city.
Spring
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Finally, we have spring, the other period that is considered to be shoulder season. Like fall, you can expect prices to be better than in the summer, and for weather to be better than in the winter. With trees budding and cherry blossoms blooming, this may be the best time to explore local hiking trails and nature walks, as the area reawakens after its winter slumber.
The rainy season will continue into April, so be sure to plan accordingly, especially if you are adventuring into nature. Temperatures also won’t get quite high enough for enjoying beaches though, so a beach trip is best left for the summer. Festivals will also start picking up around this time, like the Taste Washington in March and the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in April, so check the schedule to see if there is anything that piques your interest.
